The writing by Alison Smithson, on the different habitats of Saint Jerome, is based on a series of paintings belonging to the renaissance period. Saint Jerome was the subject for numerous painters between 1400-1700A.D. With the aid of these Paintings the author has tried to explain the concept of an ideal existence.
Saint Jerome has been portrayed in three distinct habitats, which are- Isolation, Sheltered, and The Grotto. The first two Habitats are Bipolar in nature. In the first example, he is completely isolated from civilization, unsheltered and one with Nature. In the second he is shown in a study, protected from the natural environment in a built space with access to basic daily amenities. Also in the second habitat, even though he is in a built space, nature is present in the foreground. In the third depiction, there has been an overlay of the isolation and the study. Saint Jerome is seen studying in a cave, with animals around and the city in the foreground.
The overlay and dispositions of the three factors -isolation, shelter and civilization leads us to the concept of “fragments of enclaves”. The essence of the isolation has been captured within the cave (which acts as the study), and the city in the foreground connects him to the civilization. If we try applying this concept in the present time, it would mean creating a space that acts as a study in an isolated environment within the built space and yet connected to the cityscape. This concept is similar to the readings of House N by Sou Fujimoto, where the house consists of three nests, one inside the other. And the city made up of infinite nests.
In conclusion, if we start building with the above principle along with minimalism, we might be able to create the ideal living condition which will benefit man and nature. In my opinion this will tremendously improve the state of our existence as a whole and also protect nature from being exploited for its resources.
Future Research Topic – I would like to explore more into the topic of Encapsulation in Architecture. Along with that, I would also like to research on the different mediums available to help construe the research.