Page 62 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Storytelling in regenerative architecture

me. My parents are waiting at the top of the stairs. There
is a puddle on the hallway carpet. A dog slinks out of
the front door. Unfamiliar shadows are dancing through
my consciousness. Mist is rolling in from the sea. I am
surrounded by seawater. Far below me, I can just discern
the pale flesh of a body in the water. My cold arms are
gripping a stalk. I close my eyes and whisper, “At a morning
hour yet to be determined; I am witnessing a body whose
identity remains unknown in a submerged state within
the surrounding waters. This I observe from an elevated
position overlooking the scene.” My teeth begin chattering
from the cold, but I am determined to continue. “The
body’s complexion appears notably pale, possibly due to
restricted oxygen supply and submersion in the water.
This characteristic pallor aligns with the natural effects
of reduced blood circulation and oxygenation during
submersion incidents.”
I look down again, summoning every moment of my
training. “The head and upper body are partially visible Figure 9. Caged bird. Source: Original work by the author
above the water’s surface, indicating that the corpse is either Acknowledgments
bobbing or in a state of semi-submersion. The hair floats As of the publication date, I am no longer affiliated with
on the water, moving in synchrony with the undulating the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture,
current. This observation is consistent with the buoyancy Campus Sint Lucas, KU Leuven, Ghent, Brussels, Belgium.
of hair strands in an aquatic environment, as influenced by I would like to thank Professor Rachel Armstrong for
the laws of physics.” inviting me to contribute an artistic interpretation to the
My arms slip on the greasy beanstalk. I slide closer to Special Issue: Regenerative Architecture of JCAU.
the water. Funding
“The observation is being made from an aerial None.
viewpoint, allowing for a fairly comprehensive view of
the incident scene. No additional details regarding the Conflict of interest
circumstances leading to the body’s submersion, nor of The author declares that he has no competing interests.
any potential rescue efforts, can be discerned from this
perspective.” Author contributions
My feet are now just above the floating body. My This is a single-authored article.
mouth is too cold to form words. What I want to say is
that further investigation by appropriate authorities is to Ethics approval and consent to participate
be recommended. Further investigation by appropriate Not applicable.
authorities is to be recommended to ascertain the exact
cause and sequence of events. The exact cause and Consent for publication
sequence of events— Not applicable.

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 15 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1335