The Study on The Perception and Experience in Architecture Based on Architectural Phenomenology: A Sensory Institute on The Firth of Thames River

Abstract

With the rise of various contemporary social media, the design of architecture has gradually been dominated by the visual aesthetic without much concern for other senses and the actual perception and experience of the users. However, the space occupied by the visual has suppressed the most crucial thing for us, which is the spatial experience that we are invited to. Consequently, this thesis argues that phenomenology underpinnings are deeply rooted within the field of architectural design, and architecture has the responsibility to offer people places in which they can become aware of their bodies, of their own emotions and perceptions in the presence of nature. Disentangling architectural design from the mere retinal art of the eye underpins the motivation of this thesis. Analyzing how the elements of architectural space stimulate the sensory perception of the experiencer is the central research question of the study. This thesis uses phenomenology and human sense as the theoretical framework, explores the multi-level perception and experience of the architectural space, discusses the interaction between architecture and the user from the experiencer’s perspective. The study investigates a series of detailed elements and physical environments of architecture, such as form, interface, material, temperature, components, scenes, and activities, and how these elements can be involved in the design to stimulate perceptual dialogues between the user and the space. The project proposes a design of a sensory institute to analyze the connection between architectural elements and the body perception of the experiencer through a series of sensory laboratory facilities. Trialists, visitors, and residents will experience different environments depending on the purpose of their stay, leading to the experimental explorations of sensory perception. The project sets on the beautiful and quiet bay on the Firth of Thames in Miranda. As one of the few wildlife habitats in New Zealand, this area is unique in its natural environment and rich in species diversity. The design incorporates the sense of poetic and surreal into the multi-sensory architectural language. It utilizes collage, physical modeling, onsite experiments, observational studies, and other creative methods to seek a deep emotional and psychological connection to the Firth of Thames beyond the visual. The various detailed elements of the architectural space that are potentially associated with sensory perception have been explored in response to the initial research questions. The project suggests that the designers can translate ecological processes and natural features into a perceptual architectural form through architectural phenomenological and multi-sensory design thinking. Utilizing the details of architectural spaces that tend to be neglected, such as texture, reverberations, odors, temperature, to stimulate the sensory perception of the experiencers and achieve communication with space and place that beyond vision. It points out that architectural spaces are able to translate and communicate emotional and ecological messages to the viewers through the integration of the perception of aura and atmosphere of a specific environment. To conclude, this dissertation argues that rather than concentrating just on the visual aesthetic of the building, architecture should focus more upon the emotions and experiences that it facilitates, and the way it encourages people to perceive, interpret and engage with the natural environment.