An architect can work with a scale of "tension." Just as in good sculpture we see some muscles tensed and others relaxed, in design there are tools to convey a state. For example, a classical column that thickens toward the base creates a feeling of tension in the structure, as if it's straining under gravity; we sense that it's solid and grounded.

Good buildings, though actually static, have a distinct visual energy. We create homes that look ready to move, or, on the contrary, rooted to the ground. A cottage's detailing can be muscular, lean, or excessive.

Like a person, a building struggles against gravity. Equilibrium can be achieved either by distributing forces evenly or by straining individual parts of the "body" that take the load asymmetrically, freeing up other parts. The viewer clearly understands and feels the degree of this tension. This is how architecture evokes real empathy.