floor of the niche was really on a higher level than the rest of the hall It was not. Nor was the difference in brightness between the niche and the hall as great as l remembered it,and l was disappointed by the dull light on the wall paneling.
This difference between the reality and my memories did not surprise me.l have never been a good observer, and l have never really wanted to be. | like absorbing moods, moving in spatial situations, and I am satisfied when l am able to retain a feeling,a strong general impression from which l can later extract details as from a painting, and when l can wonder what it was that triggered the sense of protection,warmth,lightness, or spaciousness that has stayed in my memory.When l look back like this it seems impossible to distinguish between architecture and life, between spatial situations and the way l experience them. Even when l concentrate exclusively on the architecture and try to understand what l have seen, my perception of it resonates in what l have experienced and thus colors what l have observed. Memories of similar experiences thrust their way in, too, and thus images of related architectural situations overlap.The difference in the floor levels often niche and the hall could well have existed. Perhaps it even did exist once
and was later removed? Or, if it was never there, perhaps it should be added, as an improvement to the room?
Now l have fallen back into my role as an architect, and l realize once
more how much l enjoy working with my old passions and images` and
how they help me to find what I am looking for.