Great essay! It reminds me of Immanuel Kant’s assertion that contemplation is integral to the experience of beauty. If one accepts that, then it makes sense that contemplative spaces feel more meaningful than single-minded ones. In fact, I would argue that any purpose-built space can be elevated to that contemplative plane through beauty—that that is the purpose of beauty in architecture and urban design. When ordinary buildings are made beautiful, the streets we all share become places where contemplation is possible.
Great essay! It reminds me of Immanuel Kant’s assertion that contemplation is integral to the experience of beauty. If one accepts that, then it makes sense that contemplative spaces feel more meaningful than single-minded ones. In fact, I would argue that any purpose-built space can be elevated to that contemplative plane through beauty—that that is the purpose of beauty in architecture and urban design. When ordinary buildings are made beautiful, the streets we all share become places where contemplation is possible.