I had spent quite a bit of time transcribing an idea (of what a Writer's Shed should look like) onto paper.
It did not gain me an entry card into the builders' club. This evening I listened to a back and forth between Ed and Dave (former attorney-turned-Mennonite-and-thus-someone-who-is-no-longer-willing-to-engage-in-legal-dscourse-but-happy-to-dispense-construction-advice-to-the average-shed-builder) that left me thinking that I am perhaps the most incompetent individual south of Verona.
Both Ed and Dave glanced at my sketches. Ed commented: "no one writes 6.5 when they mean 6ft. 6in." And Dave asked: "what's that?" pointing to a rectangular shape at the edge of one of the sketches. To this, Ed answered with amusement: "Ignore it; that's her bed."
Yes, I know that construction people would find it to be a silly inclusion on a sketch of what's to go where, but how am I to give guidance about the placement of windows if I leave off such essentials as to where I should doze off when the writing's not going so well?
Anyway, the drive to the countryside (where Dave, the potential co-builder resides) was nice.
Sort of. If you can forgive the rain and the misty coldness and my hunger for sensible conversations about the key elements of building a Writer's Shed. Like where to place a bed, or even a large hook to hang a coat on at the end of a long and weary day.
Do you know about the book "A Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander? Wonderful, wonderful book about building design that understands the importance of incorporating ideas about hooks and beds, right from the get-go.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's the difference between designing and engineering. Without your input, you'll get a box, and for that you might just as well mount a discarded crate and sit/work in that.
ReplyDeleteHope the engineers will pause and listen to your creativity -- they might learn something (but don't bet on it!).
q2
Nina, It seems to me that your concern about where to place the bed and coat hook -- a thoughtful concern about how the building is to be used -- is an architect's approach to designing a space to suit practical as well as artistic needs. Architects and builders look at the same building through different points of view. Don't let the "experts" push you around. Your creative instincts are right.
ReplyDelete