Guest Speakers: Garden of Atriums

 During this particular lecture I found myself especially drawn in. The homes were genuinely breathtaking, and the sustainable practices behind them make them all that much better. From a philosophical standpoint, the project resonates with the concept of natural beauty. Philosophers like Plato argue that it is an objective quality inherent in objects, while others like Ponty believe it is a subjective experience that arises from the viewer’s associations and knowledge. The garden atriums, with their integration of living spaces and natural elements, seem to embody the idea that beauty is not just an aesthetic quality but also a reflection of harmony and balance with the environment. The sustainability aspect of the Atriums aligns with the philosophical discourse on the sublime and the picturesque. The sublime, often associated with vast, overwhelming natural phenomena, can be seen in the ambitious scope of creating a net-zero community. The picturesque, which involves the appreciation of nature as if it were a landscape painting, is mirrored in the careful design of the atriums to create visually pleasing and serene environments. In essence, the Garden Atrium housing project can be seen as a practical application of philosophical ideas about natural beauty and sustainability. It raises thought-provoking questions about our relationship with nature, the role of human ingenuity in achieving harmony with the environment, and the potential for architecture to reflect and enhance the beauty of the natural world.