Bachelard Poetics of Space [ch.2+3]

chapter two:

In chapter two of Poetics of Space, House and Universe, Bachelard makes a great connection alluded to previously in chapter one about "reading a space" because spaces such as houses or rooms are psychological diagrams. He speaks of the designers as the "writers" of these readings.

On pages 46-47 Bachelard speaks of the relationship between the house and the universe ( in the form of weather). He relates the house to a human body and how a house reacts to the storm with resistance by bracing itself against the winds, even bowing if necessary. A particular favorite quote I have from this section is on the bottom of page 46, " It is an instrument with which to confront the cosmos." Continuing onto page 47 with this dialogue of storm vs. structure he metions that "inhabited space transcends geometrial space.." This sense of a fortress, a safe place of refuge is a very comforting thought. In the tradition of Bachelard, it makes me think back to when I was a little girl and we had tornados come through in Memphis. We didnt have a basement but still I felt safe and more then anything thankful for the house that we had. Still to this day I think about my home in that same sense. It truly is a instrument that we can use for our safety, a refuge of comfort and warmth, and a place we can feel at ease at ourselves no matter the troubles we may face.

chapter three:

In chapter three, Drawers, Chests, and Wardrobes, the title alone starts to bring back the fuzzy warm memeories of scavenger hunting through my mom and memaw's treasures when I was a little girl. He refers to these places as "hiding places" ( p.74). I think of course these are hiding places but there is also a correlation between these places and places not so secret and the owners of the two contrasting lifestyles of products. For instance, many people who have lots of drawers and chests filled with trinkets, papers, and memories of the past might be considered a "packrat", holding on to the past. Many times older people are like this because it has to do with their life growing up ( if they went through the depression) and were taught not to waste. But now many people want a simpliflied, clutter free life. Their furniture reflects this and everything is minimal, streamlined and clutter free. Or are they just hiding their secrets under a facade?
He alludes to metephors between these objects, comparing drawers to concepts of knowledge, but goes on to say that really any metephor is dangerous and an accident of expression (p. 77).
He makes an interesting point on page 85 about the actual act of human interaction with the object of a chest. Because a chest is an object that has to be opened to be utilized ( differently then a drawer because a drawer is a piece of a whole). Chests symbolize curiosity and surprise. " When a casket is closed, it is returned to the general community of objects; it takes its place in exterior space. But it opens!" This is interesting because he is comparing the functionality and form of this item. When it is closed there is a solidity about it and its function is changed in its space. But the fact that it can still be utilized as storage, and a hiding place brings about the discussion of inside vs. outside.