Monte Alban, Oaxaca, is a mystical place that forever impacted me. It was one of the first sites where I was aware of a “vibe.” Places have vibes, falling on a positive and negative spectrum. I don’t mean just because it’s ancient, or that precisely who lived there over the centuries is speculation/filling in the gaps, based on the archeological evidence, although those two factors certainly do contribute to the creation of a mystical place. No, I believe that it’s the location itself that has something, and that something is why this location was chosen as a spot to build a civilization. The builders of the ancient city saw back then the same qualities that I did centuries later.
Sometimes it may be appropriate to build on these locations, and other times, the existing nature there should be preserved, that is, when the vibe is so far off the chart that it is in sacred territory. This also applies to sites where something important (good or bad) occurred, leaving there permanently, a mark (On a side note, that’s the reason I think a park/memorial would have been much more appropriate for the Ground Zero site).
When I went to Monte Alban, I was just starting to learn what architecture is (I’m still learning, of course–I don’t believe that ever ends), and I think this visit affected me in some way. I acquired a feeling of awe for places with “the vibe,” and since then I have always wanted to seek them out.
What is it about Monte Alban? It’s situated on a plateau, and when the fog rolls in, it seems like you’re in the clouds, just floating in the clouds. I don’t know how often this happens, but I was fortunate to be there when it did.
All cities have their own vibe and are living systems like a body. Some are sick, and some are healthy. I try to get a feel for every place I visit, and then think about why that place felt positive or negative, and what made me feel that way.