| dc.description.abstract | Language acts as the primary way humans understand themselves and
the world, and through the learning of languages, we are able to mediate
and enrich this exchange. As humans reach for understanding of the
world they inhabit, how can language be used to influence the design
and experience of architecture, and can it be used to bring together
communities with cultural and linguistic differences? How do these
parallel yet contrasting stories impact worldviews, imaginations, and
behaviors?
Minnesota has over 300 languages woven into its history. The people
who speak these languages use them to give life to their own art,
music, and stories, but most language education focuses on a select few
European languages, severely restricting the audience and interpretation
of these works and cultures. This library and learning center acts as a
convergence point for cultures, languages, and worldviews to overlap
and intermingle at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi
rivers. Its design translates stories from spoken and written language to
the language of architecture while encouraging the expansion of stories
through further translations and the building of relationships through
discourse, learning, and a connection to the physical world. | en_US |
