What draws us to spend time in and admire monumental buildings? What do they point to, make us feel and connect to? And what about forests?
On my journey through Europe, I passed through France and Spain and going by train, I ended up in larger cities. And when I do, there are often some grand ”must-see” buildings. So I go and see them.
Alhambra, Granada, Spain and Beech trees at Rövarkulan, Sweden.
I visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Stanislas Place in Nancy, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and the Alhambra in Granada—four distinct places from different centuries, with various cultural expressions and meanings.
These buildings express both power and beauty. They stretch out in space and time. They are solid and stretch upwards. Humanity rising above nature, stretching out into the cosmos.
Alhambra, Granada, Spain and Beech trees at Prästabonnaskogen, Sweden.
Gaudí mimicked trees in his pillars. The golden ornaments at Stanislas’ place mimic the organic form of flowers. The gardens in the Alhambra are arranged in geometric squares. At the centre of the open space in the European Parliament stands a sculpture of planet Earth.
The Biosphere is present, but not in its own right. It’s tamed and used.
European Parliament, Strasbourg, France and Pine trees, Maglasäte, Sweden.
These buildings, made of stone and steel, isolate me from the biosphere. Living trees and plants form my cathedrals. They welcome all sorts of beings. No walls, no gated entrances, no mimicking or bending and cutting life into squares.
Place Stanislas, Nancy, France and a Beech tree, Tjörnarp, Höör, Sweden.
In my tree cathedrals, I sense my unconditional belonging as part of life on Earth. I see beauty everywhere around me. And yes, all this architecture is, of course, great. However, at this moment in human history, we need to turn our cosmic aspirations towards healing alignment with planet Earth.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain and Niederbauen, Luzern, Switzerland.