HOUSING BUILDING HOMES - A 'CYBEREMPATHIC' PROCESS PART 1: THE MODEL

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model

PETER SCHMID

HOUSING BUILDING HOMES - A 'CYBEREMPATHIC' PROCESS PART 1: THE MODEL Kokazone. Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.

Abstract:

The Meta Model Integral Bio-Logical Architecture - IBA Meta Model is both - a systematical check list for quantities and qualities of our built environment and a 'mandala' for contemplation and meditation on the place and meaning of architecture, building, and planning. The IBA model is based on an holistic approach. It can be beneficially applied in education, in research, in R&D as well as in design - dynamically balancing between the parts and the whole...

www.CyberEmpathy.com

PETER SCHMID Rome, 1935; Univ. Prof.

Emeritus, Mag. Arch. (MA = magister architecturae), Ing. (Building Technology), Dr. h. c. (Yoga); Studies with Clemens Holzmeister and Konrad Wachsmann; work in paintings and graphics; Architectural design practice in several countries, freelance and as studio director;

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model

HOUSING Building Homes - A 'CyberEmpathic' Process

PART 1 - THE MODEL

The author had the opportunity of – a very short but well – a meeting with Norbert Wiener, the inventor of Cybernetics (a term of Greek origin). And ‘Cyber’ is coming from Cybernetics. This meeting happened in one of the late 1950ties International Salzburg Summer Academies in Austria. Those summer courses’ artistic director was the famous painter Oskar Kokoschka with his ’School of Seeing’, while art collector and gallery owner Max Welz acted as administrative director beside. As a participant of the Salzburg Summer Course ‘Building in Our Time’ the author thanks to Konrad Wachsmann, who invited Norbert Wiener in that time. Wachsmann was a highly creative and stimulating architect, innovative researcher, brilliant team leader, and writer of the rather amazing Turning Point in Building.

‘Empathy’, while being a newly used term for what in German language means‘Einfühlungsvermögen’ (from where ‘empathy’, in a way was translated, also by taking a Greek term), is a – demanded – quality, which already plays an important role within theYoga philosophy, long before the Love Message of Christianity. It is particularly an attribute to be exercised according the Eight-folded Path or Asthanga Yoga, eventually described

by Patanjali possibly a half millennium ago. The author had the privilege of being a disciple of Sri Swami Yogeshwarananda Saraswati during two decades. In this time he used the opportunity of theoretical and practical integration empathic and similar features in life and work.

More over it also appeared that those features take essentially part in a Buddhist approach.

The following contribution focuses on both the steering and skills of steering (or governing and feed back) concerning the process of building, housing, and dwelling. Naturally it includes care for people regarding their homes in the www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model broadest sense of this term. This very elaboration is done from the viewpoint of a professional architect,teacher, and researcher in building technology with a broad interest and engagement in culturally relevant questions especially World / Peace.

If we distinguish between what we could call as something like a creatively conceptual energy and a possibly nearly endless shapeable stuff (Reality or Imagination ?) it might be a kind of Empathy, which is responsible for the creation of the whole universe or even all universes what may be somewhere once. Similarly, humankind is continuously active in creating its culture and civilization : all might be based on Empathy although some persons or people often seem to limit Empathy to themselves or to very selected groups. The challenge of our time the beginning of the 21st century of usual time calculation might be to extend Empathy – without borders !

To house people, particularly the uncountable home - and roofless, and steering – cyber – housing in order to reach the desired results efficiently and effectively might be another important challenge.

Both challenges come together in an Integral Bio-Logical Approach, which is described already in different languages and visualized in The Meta Model Integral Bio-Logical Architecture.

Introduction If we observe our domesticated humankind empathically we have to conclude that many, many influences determine the ongoing process of designing, planning, producing, and building our housing and built environment with all results around and in between. Many influences continue to be relevant for the changes and maintenance of the built environment, and for eventually mostly demolishing, or demounting of the built objects, which brings the building materials towards reuse, or dumping in the environment – back. The rough sketch of this important human behavior has to be completed with the increasing number of effects towards lots of directions, and unexpected, or unwished side effects as well. Some of them might bother future generations on long term. It differs from pyramids, castles, and temples, et cetera.

More over – still empathically observing – we recognize that there are www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model millions of home- and roofless on Earth. Related researchers expect that one billion of people nowadays living in inhuman sheds or poorest and much too small rooms within shantytowns or slums will be doubled in less than two decades.

The here briefly described situation around our housing is not unknown.

As a consequence there came lots of reports, publications, various research projects, divers rules, some new movements, and also numbers of loudly protests against the usual way of handling our quest for housing – worldwide. Nevertheless, it seems that this - for humankind itself rather dangerous - situation is hardly changing towards a better one.

Under these dark circumstances we are forced to offer an approach for running our affairs in a harmonious way, striving towards a dynamic equilibrium. That approach might be a ‘natural’ approach also without the current problems.

Figure 1 IBA Meta Model Integral Bio-Logical Architecture The IBA Meta Model serves as an integral checklist for all engaged participants in design, production, and use of housing in its broadest sense

www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model

A MODEL FOR A HARMONIOUS REALITY We assume that there has to be an idea or a purpose in order to move matter independently of whatsoever kind. Subsequently we developed an approach, an idea, a theory, or simply a base, which shows the opportunities of a balanced building of our civilization and culture. By bringing the components of influencing powers in their interrelationship, structurally into our mind and – heart, we get the ability to take them into consideration for practical application.

Fundamental ‘ingredients’ are the building blocks of the basic philosophy for an integral – holistic – approach. Their mutual relationships are finally simultaneously visualized in The Meta Model Integral Bio-Logical Architecture, shortly IBA Meta Model.

The terms in the name of the IBA Meta Model cover various dimensions: Integral - in this context - is a synonym for holistic, inclusive, in German language – sometimes borrowed – ‘ganzheitlich’.

Bio-Logical, shows a stripe between bio and logical, which underlines the difference to all what already is traditionally part of the discipline Biology. The double-term refers to the fundamental phenomena of bios and logos (being ancient Greek), understood as Nature with its Laws and Human (bios) Mind and Spirit (logos) and, in our vision, in their interrelationship. In terms of the oldest known philosophical tradition, the Indian Vedas, logos and bios can be interpreted as the ever lasting Purushaand Prakriti.

Architecture should be seen in its broadest meaning. It is what humankind is building as civilization and culture. Building and Housing is an essential and important part of them. And, Architecture is the art (technique and science) to bring parts together to a new whole.

www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model

Figure 2 The centre or core of the IBA Meta Model The fundamental constellation of humankind with its culture and civilization within the natural environment

The IBA Meta Models’ main elements are shown in nutshells: The center represents humankind within nature and the man-made culture, expressed in the silhouette of a house. That simplified, fundamental constellation will be elaborated in the following descriptions.

The square under the center contains our natural environment (biosorientated). In four layers there are representative features given, which roughly might engulf the wholeness of human being.

The square above the center is dedicated to our human constitution (logos-orientated). In four layers there are representative featu res given, which roughly might embrace the whole of our ‘outdoors’.

In the left hand side square, we find the columns of civilization and the quantitative scales of the builtenvironment. Civilization is represented in production of food and goods, trade, social service, right sand duties, and governance. Building deals with the scales of detail, interior, room, grouping of rooms, building, complex and grouping of buildings, rural and urban agglomeration, and physical planning. www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model

In the right hand side square, there are the cultural columns and the qualitative aspects of the built environment. Culture is represented in education, science and research, philosophy, and (particularly noninstitutionalized) religion.

Within civilization and culture you find empty columns, which are reserved for any other field or sector within our society. Hence we can use them for localizing i.e. management, or medicine, physics, or chemistry, electronics, or traffic, et cetera.

Figure 3 Four squares, each with 4 x 4 pictograms show in a nutshell nature or bios (down), human (above), and‘quantitative’ civilization(left), and ‘qualitative’ culture (right)

The fields in the ‘corners – diagonally’ include the essential, polar phenomena of variety and oneness, internal and external, one and all, space and time, quality and quantity, positive and negative, everything and nothing, here we find female and male, plus and minus, taking and giving, movement and rest, analysis and synthesis, … within our human(e)-ecological behavior in all corners of our world/society.

All those aspects, components, or factors play their role – from bottom to top – between relative andabsolute features.

www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model

Figure 4 Polar phenomena, pervading all life

The surrounding circle of the IBA Meta Model shows our passive (sensorial), and our (less known) active sense organs at the bottom: - seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and our sixth sense or extra sensorial perception(djnanendriyas according Indian traditions) – left hand side; - grasping, moving, expressing, excreting, conception, and the fundamental impulse or instinct(karmendriyas according Indian traditions) – right hand side; - both types of senses are in mutual connection with our thinking, feeling, wanting, and acting.

The ‘sides of the circle’ remind you on the human, who is designing building and habitat – in the depth, width, in balance, and wholeness (left hand side) towards sheltering, comfortable, cozy, snug, andprotecting – Integral Bio-Logical Architecture - IBA. On the top of the circle you see the more or less guiding states of Consciousness: - awake (and day-dreaming), or sleeping and dreaming; - sub- or under, and eventually higher or super; - we can make use of awareness, memory, know how, reason, www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model ingenuity, and intellect on the one hand; - we have the opportunity to use intuition (from body and belly), inspiration, emotion, assumption, experience, and spirit (and ‘heart’) on the other hand.

Figure 5 The circle around the manifold aspects, components, factors of ourselves, our artifacts, the built environment and ideas behind within the natural environment – literally and figurative

THE APPLICATION

The IBA Meta Model offers at least two opportunities of application in the process of research & development, education, and design: The aspects, components, or factors are structurally grouped. This gives the possibility to use them systematically as check lists during designing all kinds of artifacts, and – ranking, or judging them within this process.

Already existing artifacts can be ranked similarly. The integral – holistic – feature of the model helps that none of the always and ever influencing components can be forgotten in building our environment – physically as well as socially. More over, in case of gatherings and consultations, theIBA Meta Model can function as a kind of accompanying road map for localization of problems and / or goals.

Another – attractive and seducing – invitation for using the IBA Meta Model is to experience it as a‘Mandala’ for contemplation and mediation www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model – individually or i.e. in a team. The pictograms, used for illustration of most of the aspects, components, or factors may be helpful in focusing them, separately as well as in groups, and finally in the totality of all the interrelated issues. All practically happening design and building processes – in the broadest sense of ‘building’ – are more or less under influence of those issues. It might be impossible to take all of them into consideration – although a computer program perhaps could help – but an internalized view on the complex whole can give the proper holistic approach to the designers, the makers of our built environment.

Figure 6 Once more : The IBA Meta Model in its totality The IBA Meta Model – a ‘Mandala’ for mediation, contemplation, and meditation

www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model CONCLUSION

In this Part 1 of ‘Building Homes – A ‘CyberEmapthic’ Process’ we presented The IBA Meta ModelIntegral Bio-Logical Architecture as one base for, and in Steering of (Cyber)Empathic processes. Soon we go to offer in a Part II the MHP Method Holistic Participation, as another base, instrument and tool for effective, efficient, and enjoyable teamwork.

For the time being, the human(e)-ecological, (w)holistic IBA Meta Model was discussed and explained in order to support balance, or equilibrium – dynamic balance, or dynamic equilibrium between all partners and parties for all projects in relation to Housing as well as to our whole common natural, social, and cultural environment.

A contribution to World/Peace can be done by empathic and practical application of the obvious as well as inherent, or intrinsic items of the IBA Meta Model in the process of shaping our world – ‘empathically’.

www.CyberEmpathy.com

CYBEREmpathy ISSUE 2/2012. Cyber Sky Peter Schmid, Housing building homes – a ‘Cyberempathic’ process part 1: The Model REFERENCES

The author gratefully acknowledges the cooperation with Gabriella Pál-Schmid; and the conscious and unconscious contributions of students, colleagues, friends, and teachers.

A Selective Bibliography Yukteswar Giri The Holy Science, SRF - Self Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles, 1956; Konrad Wachsmann Wendepunkt im Bauen, Krausskopfverlag, Wiesbaden, 1959; Konrad Wachsmann Turning Point of Building, structure and design, Reynold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1961; Peter Schmid Bio-Logische Architektur, Ganzheitliches Bio-Logisches Bauen, ein Hand- und Lehrbuch als fundamentale Einführung in die Grundlagen eines integralen, menschen- und umweltfreundlichen Planens und Bauens, Verlagsgesellschaft Rudolf Müller, Köln-Braunsfeld, 1982, 1983, 1986; Gabriella Pal-Schmid & Peter Schmid Meta Model Integral Bio-Logical Architecture, International ‚inbar’ Congress on Bio-Eco-Architecture, Silandro / Schlanders, Alto Adige / Süd-Tirol, Italia, 2006. http://www.gabriella-peterschmid-red.com

www.CyberEmpathy.com