For the last two years LionHeart has been exploring architects’ approach to design in order to affect how we feel in spaces.
In December 2019 we invited LionHeart to read his poetry inspired by the series of residencies he carried out with architects and designers, as well as the Building Centre. Through his work, LionHeart aims to express his findings in a way that could shift approaches to design, wellbeing and architectural processes.
'Routine is Similar to Addiction' is one of his many poems we will be sharing with you these next few weeks, exploring what many of us might feel about our spaces and architecture.
Routine is Similar to Addiction
A poem by LionHeart, inspired by Richard Robinson from Metropolitan Workshop architecture and urbanism practice
Reclusion is when the brain hides from itself,
when all we have to turn to
for answers, is the same unbearable questions
we wish to evade.
Natural landscapes can’t evade us,
they’re our escape.
We wish to evade
what we’ve done to them,
and subsequently
what that has done to us.
Reclusion is when the brain hides from itself,
when it asks the landscape for some kind
of holiness. By holy, I mean the veneer of faith,
the sweet spot of relief, in something
existential we can’t get away from.
We wish to evade to
somewhere we’ve had no input in,
other than existing
this particular hill, is like
an emotional reset,
and then I go back to London
and feel like I can cope.
The wind and blue skies just blow everything
out of your head. Exhale, and reset.’
That’s nature, reserving the right to reset us,
recalibrate and cleanse, the world
is our MOT test for our mental health,
if only we could create a map of the brain
to leave our comfort zones,
if only that map
could contribute to buildings, to leave theirs,
if only routine didn’t comfort
our fears for change,
we wouldn’t build to endure
the test of time, but contribute
for a limited time only,
until we wish
for better.
LionHeart is a TEDx speaker, award winning poet and international spoken word performer. He is also the author of debut poetry collection 'The Mute's Rebellion', excavating memories of social anxiety, upbringing, emotional vulnerability and more. Thanks to the Arts Council England's DYCP which funded various residencies this year for this research.
