What makes architecture extraordinary is that you're looking at the building, but your peripheral vision is also seeing how it fits within a space. And it's seeing more than one part of the building at one time.

Sydney Pollack’s quote explores the immersive and spatial nature of architecture, emphasizing that its impact extends beyond the object itself. He notes that when you observe a building, your peripheral vision is simultaneously absorbing how that structure interacts with its surroundings. This highlights that architecture is not just about isolated forms or facades—it’s about how those forms exist within and influence a broader environment, creating a multi-dimensional experience for the observer.

The phrase “seeing more than one part of the building at one time” underscores the holistic perception required to truly appreciate architecture. Unlike art forms that are experienced frontally or sequentially—like paintings or films—architecture surrounds you. It’s encountered through movement, angles, and perspective shifts, engaging both your central and peripheral awareness. Pollack suggests that this quality is what makes architecture extraordinary: it’s not static but dynamic, responding to how we move through and experience space.

As a filmmaker, Pollack was deeply familiar with the power of visual composition, and his appreciation of architecture draws a parallel between the cinematic frame and architectural space. Just as a film director considers framing, depth, and the relationship between elements within a shot, he admired how buildings are framed within landscapes and cities. Architecture, for Pollack, is a form of spatial storytelling, where every angle reveals new relationships and meanings.

This quote originates from Pollack’s interviews and commentary around his 2007 documentary Sketches of Frank Gehry, in which he explored the work of the renowned architect. Through the film, Pollack translated his love for architecture into the language of cinema, capturing how buildings are experienced in real time. His insight reflects a profound respect for architecture as a living art form, one that engages the body and the senses in ways few other disciplines can.