On SURVEILLANCE architecture

 

Psalm 127:1

King James Version

127 Except the Lord build the house, 

they labour in vain that build it: 

except the Lord keep the city, 

the watchman waketh but in vain.

This will be a short feature on surveillance architecture.

No, not on the design of cctv's and all that.

But more on the shape of buildings.

And what is housed in those structures.

A few come to mind:

Jeremy Bentham and Willey Reveley's "panopticon":

"Bentham commissioned drawings from an architect, Willey Reveley. Bentham reasoned that if the prisoners of the panopticon prison could be seen but never knew when they were watched, the prisoners would need to follow the rules. Bentham also thought that Reveley's prison design could be used for factories, asylums, hospitals, and schools."

-- Wikipedia

America's "NSA":

"The main NSA headquarters and operations building is what James Bamford, author of Body of Secrets, describes as "a modern boxy structure" that appears similar to "any stylish office building."[161] The building is covered with one-way dark glass, which is lined with copper shielding in order to prevent espionage by trapping in signals and sounds."

-- Wikipedia

UK's "The Doughnut":

"The Doughnut is the nickname given (due to its resemblance to a doughnut) to the headquarters of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ),[1][3] a British cryptography and intelligence agency. It is located on a 71 hectares (176 acres) site in Benhall, in the suburbs of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in South West England."

-- Wikipedia

America's "33 Thomas Street":

"33 Thomas Street (formerly the AT&T Long Lines Building) is a 550-foot-tall (170 m) windowless skyscraper in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States... Designed in the Brutalist architectural style, it is a telephone exchange or wire center building which contained three major 4ESS switches used for interexchange (long distance) telephony, as well as a number of other switches used for competitive local exchange carrier services. "

-- Wikipedia

Curiously-shaped buildings, right?

Surely, it's for both function, and form.

As student of architecture, we were asked to think on those two.

Not enough times.

Form, versus function.

Which matters more in our digital surveillance societies?

Why the surveillance at all?

Who are we spying on?

What privacy have we got left?

What about you?

What is your occupation?

What is your pre-occupation?

May it be of the LORD, instead of the world.

Ephesians 5:11-12

King James Version

11 And have no fellowship 

with the unfruitful works of darkness, 

but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things 

which are done of them in secret.

Colossians 3:1-2

King James Version

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

1 John 2:15-16

King James Version

15 Love not the world, 

neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, 

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.

1 John 2:17

King James Version

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: 

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Related material:

JESUS sees THROUGH us

The way of nations

Sins of society

On NOT spying

born again looks at tech

Image: Clipart Library

All other images: Wikipedia

Now I UNDERSTAND

 

2 Corinthians 5:1

King James Version

5 For we know that if our earthly house 

of this tabernacle were dissolved, 

we have a building of God, 

an house not made with hands, 

eternal in the heavens.

GOD made me study Architecture for a reason.

He made my father make me take it up.

He made me love writing.

He made me think independently.

He made me do research on my own.

He made me figure things out on my own.

He made me study, instead of socialize.

So many things make sense now.

Like I just finished listening to Amir Tsarfati's sermon:

"The Next Temple"

Now, it's clearer than ever.

There was a first temple.

A second temple.

A third temple to come.

And a fourth temple in the future.

Many of the things Tsarfati said, ties up with where SPIRIT led me.

With the NEW Jerusalem, there will be no need for a temple.

Revelation 21:3

King James Version

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 

Behold, 

the tabernacle of God is with men, 

and he will dwell with them, 

and they shall be his people, 

and God himself shall be with them, 

and be their God.

Revelation 21:22

King James Version

22 And I saw no temple therein: 

for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb 

are the temple of it.

My soul knew there would be no need for structures one day.

Perhaps, that's why I've never really been interested in structural engineering.

Or anything that pertained to construction.

Much less catering to people's egos.

Now, I know why.

John 4:24

King James Version

24 God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

GOD made me take up Architecture, through my father.

That I may know ancient and modern structures.

That's how I got to know about builders and architects.

That's how I got to know about primitive "mounds".

That's how I got to know Greek, Egyptian, and Roman structures.

Such as the Parthenon, the pyramids, and the Vatican.

All useful to my Scripture studies under SPIRIT now.

I've always loved "theory", now it's all "practice".

GOD mad me take up Architecture, for another reason.

That I may know about "perspective".

That I may see from many "points of view".

As born again, I now see from GOD's point of view.

And that's all that matters.

Proverbs 29:18

King James Version

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: 

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

He made me love studying, and writing.

That I may be a good student to SPIRIT.

He wanted me to share GOD's WORD with you.

2 Timothy 2:15

King James Version

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, 

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

All these things only make sense, when GOD makes you born again.

Now, I know I was really doing something right, early on.

Even if it seemed contrary to how the world ran.

I never wanted to be caught up with its ways.

As if, on a deeper level, I know I shouldn't.

Who was guiding me then?

Surely, it was the SPIRIT of GOD.

Isaiah 30:21

King James Version

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, 

saying, 

This is the way, walk ye in it, 

when ye turn to the right hand, 

and when ye turn to the left.

Everything I did had to be clear, simple, easy, purposeful, thoughtful, caring, fuss-free, economical, and efficient.

My motor really ran differently, even when I was a kid.

Now it really makes so much sense, all my curious ways.

I'm eternally grateful GOD saved me.

That I may be of use to GOD, and you.

All that I was, is all that I really am.

According to GOD's will.

For He had a purpose.

Related material:

Lessons from Architecture

Image: Clipart Lbrary