You are on page 1of 8

IDL - International Digital Library

of Technology & Research


Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017

Architecture and Human Senses


R.Ragavendira
School of Architecture and Interior Design
SRM University
Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203
Mob: +91 9944443335
Mail Id: ragavendira.r@ktr.srmuniv.ac.in

Key Words:Architecture, Human Sense, intuition. The stores of experience in the


Architectural environment, Thermal long and short-term memories. Pure
consciousness within the inner self; this
Abstract: also involves emotion [2].

Architecture, an important part of our The most important is sight, which gives
environment, disturbs our experiences, us knowledge of three dimensions and
feelings, memories, and ultimately the colour.
decisions we make. To explore the
connection between architecture and the Listening helps us to feel the building from
human Senses was the intention aimed at a safe and relaxing point of view, so that
my paper. Whether positive or negative, we can sleep in comfort.
everything created or done by man has an
effect on his environment. Some people Touch is very important, as an
are more aware of their architectural architectonic feeling of each and every
environment some are less but at the end object is perceived by this sense, for
we all live with it and have at least an example, a faucet in a bath that is smooth
unconscious impression of it. We to the touch, a towel that is soft to the
understand buildings through our senses. touch, or soap that is leathery to the touch.
Although the five basic senses are often The sense of touch is the most intimate
studied as individual systems covering when buildings are considered.
visual, auditory, tastesmell, orientation
and the haptic sensations, there is interplay Well, smell gives us a sense of cleanliness
between the senses. or dirtiness, of a turbid or rotten or fresh
feel, and the ambience is felt first-hand
Introduction: with this sense.

If the body had been easier to understand, Taste is not directly effective in buildings.
nobody would have thought we had a
mind[1]. Thermal qualities warm, cool, humid,
airy, radiant, cosy - are an important part
- Richard Rorty (1979) of our experience of a space, they not only
influence what we choose to do there but
The five senses felt by the eyes, ears, nose, also show how we feel about the space.
mouth and skin. We understand buildings
through our senses. The integration of The light quality direct, indirect, natural,
senses using reason and logic. Rational artificial, diffuse, dappled, focused can be
thought expressed via self-awareness and

IDL - International Digital Library 1|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017


subtly manipulated in the design of a space function may be more fully expressed so
to achieve the desired effects [3]. occupants can have deeper, more
meaningful moments feeling the bouquet
- Heschong 1979 of their surroundings in all of its
dimensions.
Architecture and Human Senses:
An architect, who has internalized his
All too often, architectural designs trust trade, works in a similarly embodied
more heavily on the visual one. The other manner; senses of success or failure are
senses are unfortunately frequently sensations of the body rather than products
neglected. This is unfortunate since it is of cognitive knowledge. Sensation of
through the senses that architecture can bodily unbalance, deformation, irritation
have profound effect. For instance, and pain inform me that the work on the
architectural building can more truly relate drafting board has not arrived at a
to the surrounding culture through all of satisfactory resolution. This applies to
the senses. Addressing historic, traditional writing, as well. One cannot intellectually
or present-day cultural patterns can make a analyse what is wrong, but our body
work of architecture a success when the knows. Our body also knows when the
senses are not ignored. work has become a unified entity and
projects this condition through a sensation
The architect must act as a composer that of relaxed satisfaction and bodily pleasure
orchestrates space into synchronization for [4].
function and beauty through the senses
and how the human body engages space is The boundary line between the world and
of prime importance [4]. As the human ourselves is identified by our senses. All
body moves, sees, smells, touches, hears the senses, including vision, are extensions
and even tastes within a space the of the tactile sense; the senses are
architecture comes to life. specializations of skin tissue, and all
sensory experiences are modes of
The rhythm of architecture can be felt by touching, and thus related with tactility.
occupants as a result of the architects Our contact with the world takes place at
composition or arrangement of all the the boundary line of self through
sensorial qualities of space. By arranging specialized parts of our enveloping
spatial sensorial features, an architect can membrane [5]. The view of Ashley
lead occupants through the functional and Montagu, the anthropologist, based on
aesthetic rhythms of a created place. medical evidence, confirms the primacy of
Architectural building for all the senses the haptic realm (The skin) is the oldest
can serve to move occupants elevating and the most sensitive of our organs, our
their experience. first medium of communication, and our
most efficient protector. Even the
Architectural space is about layering for transparent cornea of the eye is over lain
all of the senses. Like a musical by a layer of modified skin. Touch is the
composition, spatial features come parent of our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
together into a symphony for occupants to It is the sense, which became differentiated
experience. Bringing a space to life means into the others, a fact that seems to be
that architectural function and form is not recognized in the age-old evaluation of
just primarily for the visual sense. By touch as the mother of the senses [6].
engaging all of the senses, form and

IDL - International Digital Library 2|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017


Architecture of the Senses: intimacy and warmth. Instead of the
disembodied Cartesian idealism of the
Various architectures can be distinguished architecture of the eye, Aaltos architecture
on the basis of the sense modality they is based on sensory realism. His buildings
tend to emphasize. Alongside the are not based on a single dominant concept
prevailing architecture of the eye, there is or gestalt; rather, they are sensory
a haptic architecture of the muscle and the agglomerations. They sometimes even
skin. There is architecture that also appear clumsy and unresolved as
recognizes the realms of hearing, smell drawings, but they are conceived to be
and taste. appreciated in their actual physical and
spatial encounter, in the flesh of the lived
The architectures of Le Corbusier and world, not as constructions of idealized
Richard Meyer, for instance, cleverly vision. The eye is the organ of distance
favour sight, either as a frontal encounter, and separation, whereas touch is the sense
or the kinaesthetic eye of the promenade of nearness, intimacy and affection.
architectural (even if the later works of Le
Corbusier incorporate strong tactile Controlling How a Room Feels:
experiences in the forceful presence of
materiality and weight). On the other hand, Things like colour, lighting, interior
the architecture of the expressionist element placement; integrated (horizontal
orientation, beginning with Erich or vertical) lines and even mirrors can
Mendelsohn and Hans Scharoun, favors have a huge impact on the size, proportion
muscular and haptic plasticity as a and mood of a space. Where specifics are
consequence of the suppression of ocular explained about how to manipulate colour,
perspectival dominance. Frank Lloyd style, lighting and mirrors into the design
Wrights and Alvar Aaltos architectures of a room to actually change its perceived
are based on a full recognition of the qualities (Interior Design Optical
embodied human condition and of the Illusions).
multitude of instinctual reactions hidden in
the human unconscious. In todays It is interesting that such changes can alter
architecture, the multitude of sensory interior spaces subtly or boldly, depending
experiences in heightened in the work of on how you design them into the space.
Glenn Murcutt, Steven Holl and Peter Over time, occupants often want to change
Zumthor, for instance. a room to accommodate new functional
requirements. It is nice to know that there
Alvar Aalto was consciously concerned are ways to do this gain square
with all the senses in the architecture. His footage or perceive different moods.
comment on the sensory intentions in his
furniture design clearly reveals this With understanding into how the human
concern. Aaltos architecture exhibits a visual system works, designers can create
muscular and haptic presence. It a great variety of different room feels. You
incorporates dislocations, skew will be able to truly achieve great effects
confrontations, irregularities and (for both interior and exterior spaces) by
polyrhythms in order to arouse bodily, combining your knowledge of perception
muscular and haptic experiences. His with your knowledge of design.
elaborate surface textures and details,
crafted for the hand, invite the sense of Light Concept:
touch and create an atmosphere of

IDL - International Digital Library 3|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017


The common space is the first place;
which people pass when they enter the
building in the morning. The place will
always be the same but the time and
moods of the people change during the
day. Different colours in glass windows
and skylights are aligned to the sun path
and create different atmospheres inside the
common area over the course of the day.
The morning appears fresh blue. The noon
hours bring very focused red spots of light,
which can be used just for observation.
And finally, the afternoon will have a soft
yellow light, which ends day in a calm
mood.

The ceiling grid also defines the skylight


positions. The arrangement of the different
colour skylights is in a random pattern but
is always related to the sun path and the
daytime-light colours concept. Therefore,
the east-facing skylight will have blue
glass, the red glass panels belong to the
south oriented skylight and the yellow
glass is for the skylight facing the west.
The different heights of the skylight
structures create not only different light Figure 1: model showing the three
intensities inside the common room. different stages during the day morning
(blue light) noon (red light) afternoon
(yellow light).

Models used with artificial and sunlight


helped to study the light concept.

This model shows the three different


stages during the day (Figure 1) morning
(blue light) noon (red light) afternoon
(yellow light). The colour glass windows
will be arranged in a different order and
number as shown in the model but the
effect will be the same.

The Sense of Self

Paradoxically, the sense of self,


strengthened by art and architecture,
allows us to engage fully in the mental
dimensions of dream, imagination and

IDL - International Digital Library 4|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017


desire. In fact, we can focus our If you work and are spending one third to
imagination and dreams only within the one half of your day in an office setting,
closed space of a room, not outdoors. then your surroundings there are as
Buildings and cities enable us to dream important as those in your home. Although
and imagine in safety, but they also we usually have little control over the
provide a horizon for the understanding buildings we work in, being aware of
and experiencing of the human condition. problems that can affect us will enable us
Instead of merely creating objects of visual to take counter-measures and may
seduction, profound architecture relates, encourage the creation of stimulating and
mediates and projects significance. It nurturing environments.
defines horizons of perception, feeling and
meaning; our perceptions and experiences Over 80 per cent of staff in ordinary
of the world are significantly altered by offices suffer from the classic sick
architecture. A natural phenomenon like a building syndrome (SBS) symptoms of
storm is a totally different condition when headache, tiredness, itchy and sore eyes,
experienced through the device of throat and skin, upper body pains,
architecture as compared to untamed irritability and coughs, because all around
nature. Thus architecture consists of acts, magnetic fields, poor lighting, poor air
such as inhabiting, occupying, entering, quality, sound levels, poor design.
departing, confronting, etc. rather than
visual elements. The visual form of a
window or a door, for instance, is not
architecture; the acts of looking out
through the window and passing through
the door are genuine architectural Need Achieved by
encounters. The ultimate meaning of any
significant building is beyond architecture Physiological Good working conditions, attractive
itself; great buildings direct our salary, subsidised housing, free catering
consciousness back to the world. Profound
architecture enables us to see the majesty Safety Private health care, pension, safe-
of a mountain, the persistence and patience working conditions, job security.
of a tree, and the smile on the face of a
stranger. Architecture also directs our Social Good relationships, team spirit,
awareness to our own sense of self and company sports, office parties, informal
being. It makes us experience ourselves as
activities, open communication.
complete embodied and spiritual beings
integrated with the flesh of the world. This Esteem Regular positive feedback, prestige job
is the great function of all art [7].
titles, write-up in company newssheets,
Needs in the Workplace: promotion and reward.
Self- Challenging job, discretion over work
I love the light in the room where I work
and where things seem to change every actualization activity, promotion on opportunities,
day. The flowers are important. The room encouraging creativity, autonomy and
makes me want to work hard.
responsibility
- Andrew OHagan

IDL - International Digital Library 5|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017


Source: (CIBSE 1999, Huczynski 1991) skills. Music in the workplace, either from
piped-in music or from a radio, is
We live and work through our five senses sometimes used to mask sounds. Music
and to thrive we need to use them. If can provide mental stimulation while
they're blunted, we feel dissatisfied and performing monotonous tasks, which can
creativity suffers. They suffered sensory help to reduce stress levels in the office.
deprivation and died of boredom. When Some people, however, find music in the
this sort of deprivation occurs in the office intensely annoying, especially if it is
workplace, SBS symptoms result. They too loud or inappropriate. I have found that
lower the immune system, so we succumb soft, up-lifting music is very essential to
more readily to, say, a cold or flu. The the office atmosphere. There is literally
solution is intelligent buildings; many a mirage of good background music
offices are neither. Intelligent buildings available on CDs. Search out the Internet
need not be expensive. An igloo, for on what is right for your office.
example, is very intelligent. Workplaces
should be demand-led. They should be Lighting: Studies suggest that natural light
designed for the individuals using them increases human productivity and reduces
[8]. fatigue and stress. By simply replacing
your antiquated fluorescent tubes with full-
Colours:Colour therapy has its roots in spectrum tubes, you can instantly enhance
ancient Egypt. Scientific studies recognize your environment and your well-being!
that colours bring about emotional Full spectrum lighting emits a natural,
reactions to individuals. Our reactions and balanced spectrum of light that is the
attitudes to colours differ from person to closest you can get to sunlight indoors.
person. That colour affects us all is an Based on years of study not only do they
undoubted fact. Its significance has been bring out true, vibrant colours but they can
investigated and the results utilized in also ease eye fatigue, improve your mood,
merchandizing, selling, home decorating, reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels,
the workplace environment, industry, plant slow aging of the retina and reduce glare.
growth, nutrition, physics, physiology,
psychology, ecclesiasticism and art. In Make it smell good: Fresh flowers can be
fact, colour is so much a part of our lives sweet smelling enough. But you can also
that we tend to take it for granted. Colours choose to have air freshener in a can or
that are useful in the office are: orange spray. Scented candles are better
stimulates creativity; yellow intensifies alternatives, though. Besides the nice
the intellect and heightens motivation; red smell, scented candles promote warmth in
energizes; blue calming, fights the home office. An oil burner is also a
physical and mental tension; green fights natural way to make your office smelling
irritability and has a healing effect on the good. Aromatic therapy is good for you,
body. For the office, use colours that you too. According to researchers, scents of
are drawn to as these are the colours that lavender and citrus are the most soothing.
will benefit your health. These scents, along with lemon and
jasmine, improve productivity also[10].
Music: Just about all offices have some
type of music playing in the background. Conclusion:
Music can affect emotional well-being,
physical health, social functioning, As the science of brain plasticity develops,
communication abilities, and cognitive architecture can make use of new findings

IDL - International Digital Library 6|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017


and gadgets. The human senses basically University of California Press,
collect data from stimuli (like light and Berkeley.
sound) and feed it into our brain for 6. Montagu, A. (1971) Touching: The
assembly and interpretation. By arranging Human Significance of the skin,
spatial sensorial features, an architect can Harper & Row: New York.
lead occupants through the functional and 7. Pallasmaa, J. (2009) The thinking
aesthetic rhythms of a created place. hand: existential and embodied
Architectural building for all the senses wisdom in arcthitecture / Juhani
can serve to move occupants elevating Pallasmaa, Chichester, Wiley.
their experience. 8. Clements-Croome, D. (2000)
Creating the productive workplace:
Reference: edited by Derek Clements-Croome,
E & FN Spon: London.
1. Rorty, R. (1979) Philosophy and 9. Pallasmaa, J. Touching the World -
the mirror of nature, Princeton architecture, hapticity and the
University press: New Jersy. emancipation of the eye, Helsinki
2. Allwright, D., & Bailey, K. M. School of Architecture: FINLAND
(1991). Focus on the Language 10. Lehman, L. M. (2009)
Classroom. New York: Cambridge Architectural Building for All the
University Press. Senses: Bringing Space to Life
3. Heschong, L. (1979). Thermal [online], Available from
Delight in Architecture, The MIT http://sensingarchitecture.com/585/
Press Cambridge, London. architectural-building-for-all-the-
4. Pallasmaa, J. (1996) The eyes of senses/, Accessed: 25-02-2011.
the skin: architecture and the
senses, Academy Editions.
5. Levin, M. D. (1993) Modernity and
the Hegemony of Vision,

IDL - International Digital Library 7|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017


IDL - International Digital Library
of Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Science And Research-2017

IDL - International Digital Library 8|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017

You might also like