The Ghost in the Shell

“Design is not always immediately perceived, nor is it meant to be fully understood. Design is not entirely definable even though the mind insists that it should be. Rather, design prefers the euphoria of epiphany and the steadfastness of growth. Revealed to consciousness through attachments and correspondences, design prefers to perpetuate an understanding between the seen and the unseen, between spirit and matter.” - Carl Garant, ‘The Tao of Design’ Design is the first signal of human intention. Architectural design is a prime example of tangible and intangible connections between matter and spirit. By looking straight up towards the ceiling, atrium or sky, we shift our point of view and create a gestalt revealing new information, compositions and feelings from spaces designed to form connections between the seen and the unseen. The title of the series is a reference to Arthur Koestler’s seminal book and his concept of holons - something that is simultaneously a whole and a part. This fractal like relationship of architectonic elements is meaningful in different levels of scale and perspective such as “in and out”, “up and down”, or “made up of, and make up”. In other words, a single detail of a structure can include within it the essence of the whole building - the “ghost in the shell”. The progression from indoor to outdoor spaces reflects the introvert/extrovert design polarity, while the selection of modern, postmodern and cosmogenic architecture allows for comparative viewing experience and a diverse showcase of contemporary architectural design. This collection consists of works from the EXPO Milano 2015 pavilions and from public buildings and landmarks from United States, Europe and Qatar.