THE ACT OF BREATHING

Somewhat unconsciously, I have been using the term 'aspiration' to describe the pursuits of the various figures in architecture, engineering, and aeronautics that my research has led me to. It has become one of my favorite terms or even ideas over the past number of years. Most often I use the term not in relation to its primary definition, as in the act of breathing, but in relation to its alternate meaning, as in the desire to achieve something high or great. The appropriateness of the term in the context of a thesis dedicated to lighter than air flight and impossibly large hangars is a nice bonus.

Among my thoughts this fall is a question of what makes up the wonderment that plants itself in our stomachs, say when we walk across the Brooklyn or Golden Gate bridges, or fly aboard a Boeing 747. For that matter, what is it about images of the great Zeppelins that still inspire awe, 60 years after their demise. It seems impossible not be to be captivated by the tremendous size and graceful forms of the Zeppelins, and in the same way, impossible not to be captivated by a span stretching out, to touch down at some point beyond belief.

For me, as I am sure it is for others, it is not just the stretch of the engineered span and accumulated volume that is captivating. It would seem that it is the inherent aspiration present in these graceful spans and evident in the form of the great Zeppelins- the aspiration of its designers, embodied within these structures that captivates us.

And so it seems that we are, as a whole, attracted to Zeppelins and large span structures not just because of the distance from support A to support B, but because materialized within, is the aspiration and perseverence of its designers and those that have built them. -KD