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Understanding
Multisensory
Architecture
A look at why it is important to include a persons complete
body in the spatial experience, making it unique
A
rchitecture has the
ability to serve a
deeper function than
merely providing
shelter. It acknowl-
edges the feelings, desires and the
pleasurable capacities of the people.
Many buildings have become image
products that lack existential depth.
Multisensory architecture finds its
relevance in this context. As Finnish
architect Juhani Uolevi Pallasmaa
puts it, In memorable experiences of
architecture, space, matter and time
fuse into one singular dimension,
into the basic substance of being,
that penetrates our consciousness.
[.] Architecture is the art of rec-
onciliation between ourselves and
the world, and this mediation takes
place through the senses
Ocular centrism in
architecture
Since the built environment is
mostly designed keeping in mind Fig. 1: Interiors of Museu De FozCoa
Photographer: Nelson Garrido, Source: http://www.dezeen.
the visual appreciation or func- com/2011/05/16/museu-de-foz-coa-by-camilo-rebelo-and-
tion, there is always a tendency tiago-pimentel/: Accessed 01/05/14
scents and odours, which are powerful It is an accepted fact that vision designed from the perspective of the
tools of identity. reveals what touch already knows. sighted. Even though that is the case,
Induction of oral sensation: There The perception of light and colour they tend to filter out their acoustic,
is a delicate transference between tac- also relates to the tactile sensation olfactory and tactual qualities to
tile and taste experiences. Also, taste both light and colour radiate temper- understand such spaces. There exists
is generated by the combined action atures that can be felt on the surface a twofold potential of critique of built
of nose and tongue. Eyes collaborate of the skin. spaces by them:
with tongue as well. It has been found The loss of tactile experience is fos- i) In their day-to-day lives, they
that certain colours and delicate details tered by the weakening of materiality. confront several issues of being
generate oral sensations. Natural materials like stone and wood excluded from a major part of
The tactile experience: The skin allow us to perceive the integrity of the environment. This helps us
is capable of reading the texture, the built. Machine-made materials understand the problematic areas
weight, density and temperature of used today fail to convey their age or or building parts that fail them
an object. The tactile sense is the one properties since they are designed ii) They have an embodied knowl-
that actually establishes a connection to achieve ageless perfection for the edge of non-visual qualities in the
between our body and the world. It building. Reflective glass facades environment and how to rely on
is not just about physically touching bring about alienation. them in their activities.
an object but about accepting the
volume and temperature of space. The role of disability in Phenomenology in
Architects, such as Carlo Scarpa and understanding multisensory architecture
Alvar Aalto created designs that ap- architecture Phenomenology is the study of the
pealed to the eye and also invited one People with a visual impairment dur- phenomena or experiences of daily
to touch and explore. ing their daily life enter various spaces human life and is part of the develop-
Loyola Chapel
The chapel by Laurie Baker has mas-
sive walls pierced with jalies and the Fig. 5: An unknown destination (Source: Authors)
References
1. Pallasmaa, J. The Eyes of the Skin
Architecture and the Senses. United
Kingdom: Wiley-Academy, 2005.
2. Peter-WillemVermeesch. Less vision,
More Senses - Towards a Multisensory
Approach in Architecture.
Netherlands: Katholieke Universiteit
Leuven, 2012.
3. Maclachlan, D L C. Philosophy of
Fig. 6: Confined spaces (Source: Author) Perception. Englewood Cliffs, New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1989.
textures to the building elements. around, and experience the changes 4. NorberG-Schulz. C.Genius Loci.
Vision will compel the visitor to touch. in the haptic sensations generated Towards a Phenomenology of
Confined spaces awaken other senses, by the change in volume. Also, the Architecture (translated). United
namely auditory and haptic, as a result acoustical properties change drasti- Kingdom: Academy Editions, 1976.
of the urge to know what lies outside. cally. Playing with light and shadows 5. Dawkins, Rachel. Engaging
A sudden change in the scale of not only stimulates the sense of vision Sensibilities: An exploration into
the spaces can stimulate the senses at but also the haptic sense. Avoiding Architectural Techniques for
various levels. uniform lighting reduces monotony. Multisensory Environments,
For instance, a door leading to a Artificially regulated interior spaces New Zealand.
larger volume of space from a smaller have almost no multisensory qual- 5. Wikipedia.Phenomenology
volume of space is capable of making ity to them. Increased use of reflec- (architecture), http://en.wikipedia.org/
you raise your head and look up and tive glass should be deferred since it wiki/phenomenology_(architecture)
(accessed 12/1/2013).
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