The essays comprising this new volume by Finnish architect, educator and critic Juhani Pallasmaa are drawn from an intensive decade of teaching, lecturing and writing in the new millennium. New intellectual territories are explored, focusing on concepts of 'vagueness' and 'atmosphere'.Importantly, a series of artistic and architectural 'portraits' are nested inside the thematic structure and amongst the more abstract contemplations. These specific critical commentaries and personal appreciations have a prominent place in the author's repertoire.Portraits are drawn of prominent Finnish artists such as Kain Tapper, Juhana Blomstedt, Maaria Wirkkala, Jorma Hautala, and Raimo Utriainen and notable Finnish architects such as Alvar Aalto, Reima Pietilä, and the partnership of Mikko Heikkinen and Markku Komonen.These are all leavened by further commentaries on Steven Holl, Fred Sandback, and Rachel Whiteread and the great Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala as well as the award-winning Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki.Also available is a new edition of Encounters 1 by Juhani Pallasmaa.