Abstract:
“Memories establish the past; Senses perceive the present; Imaginations shape the future.”1 - Toba Beta, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut Every individual perceives things differently as each of us have strong and weak senses unique to each individual. If architects are the “seeing people”, the musicians are the “hearing people”, the dancers are the “touching people”, the sommeliers as the “tasting people” and the perfumers as the “smelling people”. However, this does not mean one shuts off all the other senses in order to do the work, but that we each have a particular sense (or two) that is more developed and attuned to our world view than others. Our senses work together to send information to the brain. The rapid growth of new and smart technologies in the 21st Century has changed the way we live and the human well-being. The world is getting more intelligent with smarter technologies made by humans but ironically the smarter technologies are making humans more debilitated. Obesity, neck and back aches, hearing loss and vision disorders are some of the negative side-effects of today’s technologically “advanced” world. When intently focusing our eyes on something, blinking decreases, which can lead to blurring and irritations on our eyes. This is what is happening to our society at the moment with almost every household having at least a television, computer, tablet PC or smart phone which can trigger premature impairment of our vision. As technology is becoming more accessible to people, even spaces that were once considered a place for recreation and relaxation - such as parks and squares - are becoming moribund with users who seem transplanted in 1 “Toba Beta,” Goodreads. Accessed May 28, 2013, http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3336353.Toba_Betaanother world through their electronics. This thesis explores the symptoms of such technologically-induced vision disorders by investigating various types of vision impairment. It also explores how such ‘side-effects’ could be minimised by counterbalancing our reliance on sight, and by enhancing our appreciation of other senses: hearing, touch, taste, and smell. The thesis will investigate the physiology of the five senses and will explore how vibrancy and diversity can be included to existing public spaces, by designing five therapeutic transformable architectural stations that stimulates the sensory experience. The architectural design is not only designed for the visually impaired and the blind but also for the urban dwellers who are concerned about their well-being. This thesis proposes five “sensory stations” in an endeavour to help rediscover our senses that have become muted due to the excessive exposure of visual media and commodification in modern society. The critical question is, can the blind people, or otherwise those visually impaired, experience beauty in architecture through embodiment of non-visual elements? This idea will be explored by understanding the physics of the five human senses; vision, sound, touch, smell and taste. The interest lies in architecture transcending the fashion of the urban scheme by incorporating the “beauty” of architecture through the “fun” therapeutic sensory experiences. The building encourages three ideas; independence, integration and normality where it reflects the idea that blind people may have no sight, but they are not necessarily unobservant.2 2 John Penton, “A Building to Stimulate the Senses.” Architect’s Journal 198, no.16 (1993 Oct 27): 42.