The logbook catches a stream of experiences grasped in an isolated and individual way in a world that is experienced collectively. By materialising thoughts, a starting point and direction are laid out, giving orientation. The interdependence of the lived, the told and the written supports memory. The value of the archive is in how it affects continuously the past, the present and the future. It is more than a travelogue collecting objective matter-of fact notions, but such unreflective descriptions are the first step. As the flow of creative thoughts and observations accrues, an entry rarely stands for just itself but rather evolves, ready to be compared and to develop further. This is the strength of a collection of ideas, an open field of conceptualisation as a process without ending. There is no pressure to provide concrete answers or products. Ideas and lessons compiled in the logbook subconsciously find their way into materiality as catalysts in the daily design process.
Carrying a notebook that wants to be filled with content takes up a lot of energy. There are many times that I do not make any entries for weeks or even months. Many things get lost that way, but a notebook leaves intentional room for error. I want to open perspectives and discussions about the tools that we as architects can make use of, not stressing material outcomes or manifestation of creativity, but path and process itself. With a loss of theoretical background in the profession due to the focus on aesthetic objects, the logbook has become the foundation of my own theoretical ideas. It questions the boundaries of conventional architecture and conventional ways of using books, images and words. The logbook serves only myself, not foreseeing where it will direct me. It is a critical tool reflecting on and finding access to the discipline and principles of architecture, describing my personal journey to the basics of the profession. Even though it was never my plan, my logbook has turned out to be an important companion on my learning path to become an efficient architect: as a compass it navigates times of uncertainty and unclarity. c
Evelyn Osvath
Evelyn Osvath holds an MArch from Bauhaus University and after several years of travelling she currently works as an architect in Leipzig, Germany. Her work is driven by a deeper understanding of the intersection of architecture, politics and philosophy.
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