1. THE IMPOSSIBLE NECESSETY
project 1: mapping the edge
“May Contain Nudity”
- a personal story on the edge of an accident -
Benjamin Barth, BAS 2009

2. MICRO SCALE: t h e fra c tu re
THE LEG FRACTURE
• a broken linear
• a physical edge, where my body has surrendered
• consequences `a trillion times´ its physical size
• torsion fracture - bone twisted apart
• fracture runs like a spiral on the bone’s long axis
process

3. MACRO SCALE: t h e h o s p i t a l o f B e r ge n
HAUKELAND HOSPITAL
• micro cosmos of Bergen a house of birth, death & all
kinds of illnesses in a lifespan
• biggest hospital in Norway
• 10 000 visitors per day
• the single largest employer in Bergen
• built on the ideals of modernism (effectiveness)
• an architectural responce for a series of functions
• a system designed to make itself `invisible´ in society

4. SCALE: t he rel at i o n s b e twe e n p a ti e n t & a h o s p i t a l
?
WHERE IS MY `EDGE´
Somewhere in between the fracture & the hospital, &
within the boundries of
• physical limitations
(beeing paralyzed)
• social relations (letting
go of personal control)
AT THE HOSPITAL
• Surroundings adapted to immobility
• Needs are provided by doctors & nurses
`Bar-coded´

5. SCALE: t he rel at i o n s b e twe e n p a ti e n t & h o s p i t a l
s
ne
ici d
me
r se s , po r t e r s &
s, nu
tor c
do
ol
nt
co
l
na
o
rs
s
pe
nd
ie
fr
&
ily
am
f
by
its
is
lv
na
atio
occ
LIFE AT THE HOSPITAL
• Organized surroundings adapted to immobility
• Basic needs are provided by doctors & nurses
• Regurarely prepared meals
• Scheduled routines (e.g. medicines every 6th hour)

6. SCALE: t he rel at i o n s b e twe e n p a ti e n t & s o ci a l n e two r k
s o c i a l n e t wo r k
from
elp
h
&
e
tiv
a
iti
in
ic
ad
or
sp
l
nto
co
t&
en
gm
na
a
m
l
a
n
so
r
pe
LIFE AT HOME
• Surroundings NOT adapted to immobility
• Needs are provided either by struggle or help from others
• Social network make out sporadic interventions, like friends taking turn in prepaing meals
• Series of accidental happenings, dependent on different social relations
• Each day different to each other (hence, many positive experiences despite lack of control...)

7. THE EDGE I: bo rd e r l i n e o f p a ra l i z a ti o n & fu n c ti o n
PRIMO PROJECT
MEDIO PROJECT
ULTIMO PROJECT
HOW TO GET WELL? - FIRST PERSONAL PROBLEM:
• wanting to get well fast = struggeling
• actively to move out of the (unpleasant) paralyzed state
• actions based on static parameters (stubborness/willf/feeling of control)

8. THE EDGE II: bo rd e r l i n e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s
PRIMO PROJECT
MEDIO PROJECT
ULTIMO PROJECT
HOW TO GET WELL? - SECOND PERSONAL PROBLEM:
• lack of control is not necessarely a negative thing...
• is it possible to return to the previous state for further studies?
(e.g. go back to hospital after getting well)
• situation in flux
• new examinations of the personal consciousness

9. THE EDGE III: borderline of unconfortable choices
`l
i
ne
f
su
o
r re
nder´
PRIMO PROJECT
MEDIO PROJECT
ULTIMO PROJECT
HOW TO GET WELL? - FINAL PERSPECTIVE:
• I find that accidental situations lead to new, interesting perspectives
• as the `the line of surrender´ changes, I progressively learn more about
myself & my surroundings
• level of comfort is proportional opposite with loosing control (!)
• the more I trust the uncontrolled, my body rests more & recovers faster
• my personal edge is the the `line of surrender´

10. MAPPING t h e m i n d s c a p e
Comfort
Discomfort
THE `LINE OF SURRENDER´:
• mapping degree of comfort/discomfort of all
personal choices for one week (inner circle),
in juxtaposition to outcome (outer circle)

11. “
A LIMINAL PHASE
Liminal / l i m i n æ l /
1. Of, or relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process
2. Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundry or threshold
`Liminality´ may also characterize the result of a personal crisis:
• A psychological, neurological, or metaphysical subjective, conscious state of
being on the “threshold” of or between two different existential planes
• A rite of passage that marks a change in a person’s social status
• Characterized by ambiguity, openness, and indeterminacy
• One’s sense of identity dissolves to some extent, bringing about disorientation
• Normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior are relaxed
- a situation which can lead to new perspectives

12. LOGO of liminality
A SCAR
• symbol of a transitional period
• manifistating sudden experiences (not planned)
• may represent new ideas other than the obvious
• may also apply for architecture & urbanism

13. THE EDGE: a map of the liminal phase