senses for architecture

Studio Proposal
Semester 2, 2014

Proposal

Senses for Architecture explores the value of experiential engagement as a way to construct space for
public use.

The studio proposes that an awareness of our senses - that is the visual, tactile, olfactory, aural, and oral
- are core to creating successful human-focused buildings.
Students will be asked to reimagine an existing public building and its context. Through a sensorial
approach, the final design output will be a community facility which focuses on creating atmospheres
and experiences for its users.

The studio is designed to be run over one semester and will be structured in four stages - research,
analysis, design experimentation, and final individual design.
Programme and Site

The programme is a library, one of the few democratic public buildings available to be used by all in a
community. Due to the evolving nature of the library in current times where technology change and user
groups flux, its role is constantly adapting and being shaped by its context. The library wears many hats -
aside from housing collections to be read and borrowed, it is a meeting place, a place to study, a social
space, and a community hub. This variety of uses provides ample opportunities for students to study,
reflect, and explore the potential spatial qualities.

The site of study is Footscray Library, in Melbournes inner west. It is a medium sized building situated in
the heart of a rapidly changing suburb and composed of a very diverse community. The library offers
many services, including childrens storytime, multilingual internet training, and books groups, to name a
few. The original building dates back to 1991 and while its function continues to the current day, there
are concerns for its capacity to adapt to changes in technology, demographic, and demand for space.
Central Ideas

We intuitively know when a space works - we gauge atmosphere from the moment we enter a space.
Atmosphere is first perceived as an experience, something which evokes certain feelings, and this
occurs before we identify and understand the physical elements which make it so.
What is architecture then, other than a composition of spatial experiences? How can we devise
atmospheres which are appropriate to their functions, typologies, and users?

This studio critiques an emphasis on form making in architecture. Drawing from Juhani Pallasmaas work
The Eyes of the Skin, it pushes the notion that architecture should not be objectified through a visual
bias, but engage in a multisensory approach to design. Key to the semester will be understanding the
relationships of the body to its context, both physical and social.

However, the studio recognises that experience is a subjective thing and spaces are perceived
differently by different individuals. The challenge is to create collective experiences for a diverse user
group while addressing the pragmatic requirements of the buildings programme.
Do certain volumes, lux levels, sounds and colours evoke a common experience and then can these be
configured to evoke an intended effect? By dissecting and analysing discrete elements, we can then
translate this into architectural form.

The studios position is that successful public buildings, in this case a library, should be in dialogue with
the community it serves through an engagement of the senses. This can foster shared dynamics for
users as certain innate responses to sensory input allow for the moulding of emotion and behaviour.

To focus our awareness on atmosphere and experience, we enhance our capacity to create human-
centred buildings.

Brief

For their final individual projects, students will be asked to propose a new design for the existing site
based on investigations throughout the semester. This can incorporate a part of the existing building
fabric and/ or the adjacent car park.

Programmes are to include, but not limited to, the following:

Library collections - non-fiction, fiction, media

Childrens library
Service area
Reading and study areas
Conference room
Small meeting rooms
Technology capabilities
Staff room and back of house
A public offering of their choice
Studio Contents

The studio will encourage a design methodology based upon sensorial understanding. Explorations
throughout the semester will revolve around questions of what is experienced, why it is experienced,
what if it were altered, and how to recreate.

There will also be a strong focus on communication. Students will be challenged to effectively represent
abstract ideas, subjective perceptions, and ephemeral moments in appropriate ways. To explore
multisensory environments, students are encouraged to balance 2D visual communication with
alternative modes of representation.

The studio will be divided into four as outlined:

Experience and Immersion (week 1)

The students will be asked to visit the site of study and immerse themselves in their own sensorial
understanding of the space. How does the space feel? What is experienced there? They are then
required to make an abstract representation of the experience through mixed media. Physical
representations are encouraged.

On-site design seminar in existing premises

In-studio discussion
Communication exercise using multiple modes of representation
Introduction to reading material

Dissect (weeks 2-3)

The students will analyse and dissect their experiences in space as a way to critique the successes and
failures of the existing facilities. They will compare commonalities between their own experiences and
those of other students. Are certain aspects shared? Why does the space feel the way it does?
In addition, students will study the librarys relationship to its physical context in Footscray. They will also
investigate how the library is used eg; the demographic, activities offered/ undertaken, and peak times
of usage.

Dissection and analysis of the abstract representations from Week 1

Research into precedent buildings and studies in sensory-based design
Site analysis
User-group workshop
Communication and representation of data and analysis

Deconstruct (weeks 4 - 5)

The studio will explore the effect of taking spaces out of context and disrupting the programme. The
group will be divided and each subgroup will be given a new location. The students are to insert a library
reading room and small collection into a conflicting programme. The intended effect is to explore new
and unexpected typologies. Students are asked to push the boundaries of what is accepted or
commonly understood to create new and more creative environments.

Site visit
Analysis of new site and programme
In-studio discussions and seminar
Design charette
Redesign (weeks 6 - 12)

Students will be asked to go back to the original building with a fresh pair of eyes. The students will re-
evaluate the site of study and propose a design based on the learning from previous weeks. This will be
their final individual design project.

Guest contributions
In-class discussions and seminars
Ongoing design feedback based on weekly in-class presentations
Refining representation of ideas
Final submission and presentation

Studio materials

Selected readings
Case studies of relevant local and international examples
Workshops with library user groups
Other references and resources

Initial bibliography:

Borch, Christian. Architectural Atmospheres: On the Experience and Politics of Architecture. Basel:
Birkhauser Verlag AG, 2014

Gideon, Sigfried. Space Time and Architecture. Cambridge: Harvard Press, 1967

Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons, 2013

Norberg-Schulz, Christian. Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. New York:

Rizzoli,1980

Zumthor, Peter. Atmospheres: Architectural Environments - Surrounding Objects. Basel: Birkhauser

Verlag AG, 2006

Case study architects and projects:

Steven Holl, Daniel Libeskind, SAANA, Alvar Aalto, Peter Zumthor, Diller +Scofidio, Olafur Eliasson,
Docklands Library, Ringwood Library, Eltham Library.

Students are encouraged to engage in their own research of concepts and precedents.
Assessment

Assignment 1: Abstract representation 10%

Assignment 2: Analysis 10%
Assignment 3: Precedent study and research 5%
Assignment 4: Proposal for relocation of the library 20%
Final project and final submission and presentation 50%
Attendance and participation 5%

Tutors

Yvonne Meng is an architect at the City of Melbourne and currently works on many community projects,
in particular libraries. Prior to this, she has also worked on several cultural centres for China with Studio
505. She is interested in the role of public buildings in Melbourne, and believes that healthy social
spaces are based on an understanding of psychological behaviours and a strong engagement with its
users.

Yvonne is active in the architecture community and interested in the changing face of the profession for
the younger generation. She currently curates Process at Loop Bar, a series of monthly talks which
engages speakers to discuss issues in design, practice, and the industry. She was the co-chair of the
Victorian Young Architects and Graduates from 2012-2013 and was also a member of Chapter Council
through this role.

Yvonne is a sessional tutor at Monash University and has taught classes in 19th and 20th Century History,
Communications, Contemporary History and Theory, and First-year Design. She is a regular guest critic
at RMIT, Monash, and University of Melbourne design studios.

Marta Callizo graduated from the School of Architecture in Barcelona (ETSAB) in 2007 and has since
been living and working in Melbourne. Upon her arrival Marta joined the team of Billard Leece
Partnership where she worked in numerous health related projects, including Melbournes Royal
Childrens Hospital, as well as being highly involved in residential development. After a few years Martas
many interests and curiosity led her to take a new path to focus on other aspects of her creativity and
over the past few years she has spread her tentacles into numerous disciplines, involving writing, events
reviewing, illustrating, music, public events, tutoring and architectural design.
As well as her experience in architectural and urban planning firms, Martas teaching experience spans
over a decade and includes co-lecturing elective subjects in the School of Barcelona, childrens
workshops and language tutoring.
Marta currently finds herself halfway between two of her truest passions; favouring well-being through
design, and the studies of human experience at the Melbourne Institute of Experiential and Creative Arts
Therapy where shes currently undertaking her course.

Guest Contributors (TBC)

Guest contributors will participate throughout the course of the studio to provide the students with
different angles and perspectives in theory as well as via their own experience as users. As well as other
architects, this will include library management and staff from both City of Melbourne and City of
Maribyrnong Library Services.