Lifespan Extending Villa

When friends enter our new apartment, I have to reassure them that they are not dizzy, the floor is definitely sloping — as it happens often in century old houses of the Plateau neighborhood in Montreal. But then I read this nytimes story about the house that architects and poets Arakawa and Madeline Gins just built in East Hampton.

The house (is) officially called Bioscleave House (Lifespan Extending Villa). Its architecture makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium, and that, she said, will stimulate their immune systems.

Like the undulating floor, Arakawa and Gins, as they are known professionally, tend to throw people off balance. In 45 years of working together as artists, poets and architects, they have developed an arcane philosophy of life and art, a theory they call reversible destiny. Essentially, they have made it their mission — in treatises, paintings, books and now built projects like this one — to outlaw aging and its consequences.

“It’s immoral that people have to die,” Ms. Gins explained.

I love these people!

First, I can’t recommend enough to view the audio-slide-show that can be found on the nytimes page linked above: there are wonderful pics of the house.

Also, I dug a little and found somewhere else a floor plan of the house. They also did a park in Japan called “Site of Reversable Destiny“…

I could link to everything: “Zone of the clearest confusion”? “Critical ressemblance house“? What? “If thrown off-balance when entering the house, call out your name or, if you prefer, someone else’s. Should an unexpected event occur, freeze in place for as long as you see fit. Then adopt a more suitable (for being more thought out) position for an additional twenty seconds or so.”

I am no more apologetic for my slanted floor: thanks to Arakawa and Gins, now people will visit us to live forever.

Story by Bruno for Vu d’ici.

Travelling Dreamer

Some of my prints and magnets can now be bought at Boutique Mixi, 958 avenue Cartier, Québec (Québec), Canada. Tel: (418) 522-6129 (and on Etsy as usual!)

Letting go

I’ve been lately asking the universe for changes. Changes outside – more movement, excitement, aliveness – and changes inside me. I’ve been working on shining light on some of the beliefs which keep me away from the outside changes i wish to see, so i can transform these same beliefs and move on.

Since then, i can feel change is happening. Nothing that could be seen on the outside, but i feel i am slowly starting to learn to manage many things at the same time, something which have been sucking energy out of me for years.

I am getting to realize that what i want is to be Productive, and Wise at the same time. Take actions, but stay loose and confident that all will fall in place, even without me watching over every details.

I am learning that if i can trust the force – the one which i can see in action in nature, the one which is taking care of everything everyday without any human noticing – this trust will be one of my best investments in life. The Jedi knew it.

I now look at my agenda and can see that there’s much going on (hence the slow posting lately), yet i dont feel like a headless running chick as i would usually do. I see i can do so much, but i’m learning to let go.

It is my wish not to waste my energy at trying to have everything in control – and believe me, this is the major shift i am going through – taking action towards what i want, and at some point just relax and let go because i can’t have my hands on everything, i cant have control over other people’s thoughts, and i cant match the clock’s spinning.

I must rely that while i take my time to be fully into the fun parts of what i do, working or in the bathtub, the universe is taking care of the details, watching over me, preparing the road so i can move on. The good news is, it can do the same for you.