Letters to and from the Built Environment
A letter to the Built Environment
Dear Built Environment,
It’s 2024. We need you more than ever to live up to your full potential!
Why, you ask?
You are a protagonist in the stories of our lives, not just a backdrop.
You are everywhere, wherever we turn.
You situate all of our memories and dreams.
You stage our triumphs and tribulations.
You activate our senses and feelings.
You alter our bodies, minds and our brains.
You direct our behaviors and actions.
You foster belonging and connections.
You shape our sense of “who we are”
You shape our sense of “who we can become”.
Are you blind to your superpowers? You have boundless potential, but why are you falling short?
The potential to become a sanctuary...that strengthens our agency, resilience and sustainability.
The potential to bridge divides...that prevent us from feeling heard, valued and welcomed.
The potential to awaken deeper values...that direct us with insight, purpose and momentum.
The potential to connect us to a self-transcendence...that imbues our lives with mastery, meaning and wisdom.
So what’s holding you back?
What do you need from us to help you get your act together?
Let’s talk!
With hope and anticipation,
Your Architects and Designers
P.S. Well-being isn’t going to cut it. We need you to mediate flourishing.
A letter from the Built Environment
My dear Architects and Designers,
What a wakeup call!
Thanks for reminding me of my superpowers and my potential to change the futures of people, communities and cities!
However, I cannot do this alone! I need all of you architects and designers to consciously collaborate with me to bring about this profound transformation.
Now, I want to ask you - are you fully aware of your superpowers?
Don’t you understand that the quality of my “outer spaces” can only be a reflection of the quality of your “inner spaces”?
My buildings, neighborhoods and cities all spring from the conscious intention and feelings that you imbue your design process with and that’s what I communicate to the people who live within my walls.
I have some suggestions on how we can collaborate. I hope you are open to embracing them?
For me to become an outer sanctuary…
You need to design from your “inner sanctuary” where you consciously slow down time and embrace each “momentary design mind” as a resource for creative agency and resilience.
For me to bridge divides…
You need to “expand perspectives” by radically "listening with wonder and empathy" to all facets of the design process – site, materials, team, sketch, end-users, and more - breaking habits of implicit bias and conditioned thinking.
For me to awaken deeper values…
You need to design in sync with a “mental and emotional blueprint” of your deepest design intention aligned with your dearest design values.
For me to connect everyone with the a self-transcendence …
You need to touch the transcendent in your design process by embracing a borderless and interdependent “Contemplative Designer self" in the here and now.
Thanks for believing in me. I believe in you.
Together we CAN go beyond well-being. Together we can ensure that each and every one of my built spaces is a mediator of flourishing!
With gratitude and excitement,
The Built Environment
We are in an unending, ever-evolving dialogue with the built world as architects and designers. How often do we truly tune in – truly listen - to what each partner in this dialogue is saying?
It is an aspiration of this newsletter to help you become the conscious collaborators the built environment is asking for so that it can fulfill its boundless potential to bring about flourishing futures for everyone, everywhere.
I look forward to having you accompany me on this experiential journey….of learning, mastery, mattering and flourishing! I have no doubt we can be the partners the built environment is asking for if we begin to spend some time investing in the other protagonist of this story – you the designer.
What would your letter to the built environment say? And what would be its response to your call?
I would LOVE to hear from you! Share your thoughts, feelings or just say hi ! Please comment below or email me at sarika@contemplativedesigner.com !
With gratitude and profound optimism,
Sarika Bajoria
Founder, Contemplative Designer