The Psyche of a Building: An Exploration of how Buildings Relate to the Human Psyche Through a Renovated Farmstead

Abstract

Farmsteads have been steady reminders of how this country got its start. Hard work, family, faith, and community were all aspects of farm life. Each home was built with the help of neighbors, children learned how to do chores early in life, people respected the land and knew how important it was to the survival of the family. Now as people move into the cities for the comforts of modern day living the old farmsteads are falling into disrepair or torn down for land development. The cost of repairing the old buildings seems like a daunting task, one that many people deem unimportant. What are we losing with this line of thinking?

Buildings not only have their own psyche; they also contribute to ours. How we interact and what happens within a building adds to our emotions. Think of your favorite place to be, is it big or small? Spacious or intimate? Dark or light? How did you feel in that space? Attics, basements, corners, all of these are connected to our consciousness. This project explores these situations through the texts of Gaston Bachelard and Anne Bordeleau, while situating these inspirations within the renovations of a farmhouse and surround structure in the rural Mid-West.