Sensual Perception in Architecture

Abstract

From the five senses (according to Aristotle), the sense that first comes to mind when thinking about space is the visual sense. Indeed, much of spatial experience is derived from vision. In this article, it is postulated that an equal consideration of all senses however can lead to a refined architectural design architectural design method and designed space. In particular, spiritual spaces offer often an experience beyond the visual. The space reception is thus multisensory multisensoryfive senses; influenced by such factors as incense, darkness, coldness, and awe. All those stimuli constitute an intense, dense architectural atmosphere. If such an overlay of senses is possible, is it also possible to void a space of its stimuli? A study at the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg came to the conclusion that a neutral space is impossible to design. Senses are essential to the human being and as soon as a space is emptied of this quality, its abstraction is perceived as nonhuman (mad-house) and thus as a negative space. Thus, the creation a positively perceived space was aimed for: one in which a majority of users feel welcomed at and comfortable in. This architectural answer can be utilized for test laboratories to avoid the potential negative perception by the sixth sense: that of anxiety when entering a testing environment.