Parasol
2021
; examines the dichotomy between the built environment’s physical makeup and its non-tangible qualities. Through the harmony of touch, sight, sound, and the rest, the external world is processed. As a space is multisensory, an atmosphere is created which can alter one’s experience. An exploration of atmospheric architecture and the way they interact with the brain.
Whilst typical architecture tends to focus on the more technical and structural components of a building, the consideration for its inhabitants- humans, is just as important, yet often neglected. Relating to our emotions and intellect, ‘Parasol’ a and its surrounding atmosphere provides a personal encounter as it breathes a sense of life into a lifeless object.
Architectural Atmospheres
The atmospheric qualities of a space are just as important as its structural makeup. This excerpt also unpacked the different types of atmospheres such as environmental or cultural. When designing a space, the placement of this material is able tp pick up on the environment’s overlooked features such as light, shade or sound, guiding and subsequently enhancing one’s experience.
Juhani Pallasmaa’s words “as we enter a space, the space enters us” were highly important, as he emphasised the connection between humans and their habitat. He reminds us of the significance of architectural atmosphere and the way that it influences one’s understanding of their reality. Many pieces make up the ambience of a space, such as materiality, lighting and music. All of these elements collaborate to create a feeling, reinforcing the prominence of sensory design. Overall, the reading reminds us as spatial designers to consider atmosphere as a tool to create more emotional and temporal designs.