Why is Privacy Important?

I like my privacy as I'm sure you do too. But why do we want it so bad?

In our class discussion on Place and Identity we talked at considerable length about privacy. The model of privacy is "Personal Space + Territoriality + Privacy. Personal space is the distance we keep between ourselves and others. It is the invisible boundary, the breathing room between us. Territoriality is the space we are willing to defend against intruders and unwanted visitors. When these two components come together we get privacy.

Privacy can be broken down into four different types:

Solitude, Intimacy, Anonymity and Reserve

And it provides us with five things:

Personal Autonomy, Release of Emotions, Self-Examination and Reflection, Protection of Communications, and Escape or Withdrawal.

Why is privacy important? We find increasingly invasions of our privacy. We see the traffic light camera, surveillance in stores, ID checks... the list goes on and on. Although we accept these invasions as for the greater good and to protect us, there is an unsettled feeling about it. In regards to this type of surveillance we need privacy in order that it does not infringe on our liberties and those in power not to abuse it. Personal privacy is necessary as it gives us a sense of self, control over our environment and freedom from others eyes. I think it important for us to always protect that privacy.

Image:

http://www.smugmug.com/

Our Filed Trip: Marcel Breuer

"I decided on a course of development that would lead me from individual units to increasingly larger projects. For that reason, I first studied smaller objects- for example, chairs and smaller pieces of furniture...

In accordance with my programme of work, I proceeded from design to private homes."

Marcel Breuer to Ise Gropius March 1932

On our class filed trip to the Museum Of Design Atlanta to see the Marcel Breuer exhibit our charge was to experience the Theory of Minimalism through his work. I think that was successful.

In the video interview Breuer said that he "works upwards form the details to the whole". I found this statement quite profound in reference to interior design. That is what we do. The smaller details form the design of the interior. He spoke on the design of his chairs and furniture. When asked the question where he got his inspiration... he responded... a bicycle. As soon as he said that I could see it. The design of his furniture and a bicycle are both visible to us. Nothing about the structure is hidden. Reduced to their bones. He said design is a "question of function... not just size".

The last part of the exhibit included some wonderful scaled models of his architecture. In seeing the design of these buildings I could see another foundation of Breuer's Minimalist Theory... of interior and exterior harmony and that it is all designed to work together.

It was very interesting to see the Theory of Minimalism expressed in such a unified harmonious way.

Image: Taken by Heather Marcet

Does Place = Identity?

I have long held the belief that you can tell alot about a person by looking at their space. For me home is a place I can express myself and my individuality. Home is where I feel I can be myself.

A little over a year ago, I got married and moved my children and I into his home. HIS HOME! The children had their things... their old rooms and furniture and decorated the way they wanted. I, on the other hand, had no space. I attempted to put my mark on the space by painting every wall adding some of my artwork and accessories... but still when my best friend came over she said, "It doesn't feel anything like you!". And it didn't... I felt it. I had to find my space. So I have now "taken over" the upstairs family room with my office. In it is my stuff and I feel very much at home. I do believe that if she came into this space she would say... "Now this is You!". Home is where you can have independence, privacy and control over your surroundings. When you don't you can feel lost and out of place. That was how I felt until I found my "place".

In Elsise de Wolfe's essay entitled Suitability, Simplicity and Proportion she says... "We are sure to judge a woman in whose house we find ourselves for the first time, by her surroundings. We judge her temperament, her habits, her inclinations, by the interior of her home.". I must say, not much has changes. I have been guilty of making those same judgements about people based on their home. Is it orderly, clean, odor free and well appropriated or is it disorganized, dirty, musty and outdated. In fact, I believe a persons physical surroundings is a reflection of their inner space. I'm not talking about whether it is "fashionable", I'm talking about suitability, simpliclity and proportions... that can be learned.

Sources:
deWolfe, E. (1968). Suitability, Simplicity and Proportion. In M.Taylor and J. Preston (eds.) (2006) Intimus: Interior Design Theory Reader. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons