Architectural discourses throughout the centuries have produced a broad range of theories about architecture’s essence, its abilities and tasks. I believe, in our century, man is continuously losing the connection to his essence and to his own mind, caused by the almost infinite power of technology. In the era of mass-production and consumption supported by this technology, the eye has proven its sovereignty due to its fast capturing and analysis skills. Although it is the most trustworthy sense of man, nowadays it highly illudes, interferes, and thus masks other sensory modes resulting in mostly form-obsessed outcomes void of supramodal characteristics. Therefore, this thesis categorized in three main parts, aims a thorough exploration of the relationship between human brain and the built environment for more stimulating environments and more intense experiences for a broad range of visitors. During the research process, a particular attention is payed to visually disabled segment of population which has been frequently neglected throughout the design and execution processes. However, a detailed exploration of blind perception is crucial in order to scrutinize different shades of perception which are far beyond visual aspects. I hope that, as a result, this research initiates further discussions and raises attention on the topic of inclusive design trying to involve all individuals of the society; triggering more intense and complete sensory experiences. Especially in the era of merely eye-based aesthetic judgements, a detailed pondering and an increased curiosity about all the sensory mediums would enhance one-of-a-kind environments rewiring man to his essence which has been disguised and suppressed through the hegemony of the vision. The multidisciplinary character of this research hopefully assists architects on establishing more beneficial and productive principles of architectural and urban design, elevating both the functional and perceptional features of new designs. Since man and the built environment have always had a reciprocal relationship, they continuously modify each other for better or for worse; therefore, the aim should be maximizing the productiveness that both protagonists share, in order for man to connect himself to his mind and for the built environment to shape the minds of those to come in the most intense way. I believe it is necessary to be somehow primitive again to fully understand at least the conscious degrees of perception and memories that have guided the human race throughout millenniums. In the highly visual world of fast-imaging and rapid consumption, 21st century has become a place more likely for machines, not people. Thence, to some extent, looking less and relying more on the other sensory modalities would engender more man-like environments and cities suggesting quality spaces that may be appreciated, felt and perceived by all, including visually disabled individuals. We should not let our eyes blind our mind and humanity. In this era, we can do better if we really try to.
I discorsi sull’architettura portati avanti nel corso dei secoli hanno prodotto una serie di teorie riguardo alla sua essenza, alle sue potenzialità e ai suoi ruoli. Sono dell’idea che l’essere umano stia gradualmente perdendo il contatto con la propria autenticità e la sua mente, a causa dell’ormai infinito potere della tecnologia. Nell’epoca del consumo e della produzione di massa, costantemente fomentate dalla tecnologia stessa, l’occhio umano regna supremo per via delle sue capacità di rapida analisi e cognizione. Pur essendo il senso a cui l’essere umano si affida maggiormente, esso tuttavia illude, distorce la realtà, occultando gli altri modi di percepire la realtà e generando risultati puramente concentrati sulla forma, venendo così a mancare una completa conoscenza sensoriale. Detto ciò la seguente tesi, strutturata in tre parti principali, ambisce ad una profonda esplorazione del rapporto tra la mente umana e l’ambiente costruito, e a porre le basi per la realizzazione di ambienti più stimolanti, le cui esperienze raggiungano un pubblico più ampio. Nel corso della ricerca, è stata riposta particolare attenzione alla popolazione non vedente, alla quale questa attenzione è stata spesso negata. D’altronde, l’esplorazione della percezione da non vedente è indispensabile per ottenere diverse sfumature percettive, che vadano oltre il mero aspetto fisico. Spero che questa ricerca sia uno stimolo per ulteriori dibattiti e che attiri l’attenzione dei più sulla progettazione inclusiva, che vada incontro a tutti gli individui della società, e che inneschi più intense e complete esperienze sensoriali. Soprattutto in un epoca in cui i giudizi estetici si affidano prevalentemente all’occhio, una meditazione approfondita e una maggiore curiosità riguardo a tutti i sensi favorirebbe ambienti one-of-a-kind, riallacciando l’essere umano alla sua essenza, la quale è stata mascherata e soppressa dall’egemonia visiva. Il carattere multidisciplinare di questa tesi aiuta l’architetto nello stabilire principi architettonici e urbanistici più benefici e produttivi, valorizzando ulteriormente sia l’aspetto funzionale che quello percettivo. Dal momento che uomo e ambiente costruito hanno sempre avuto una relazione reciproca, essi si modificano continuamente a vicenda; perciò l’obbiettivo deve essere massimizzare la produttività che entrambi i protagonisti condividono, per far sì che l’uomo si connetta alla sua mente, e l’ambiente costruito interagisca con la dimensione cognitiva di chi verrà nella maniera più intensa. Credo che sia necessario tornare ad “uno stato primordiale” per cogliere pienamente le percezioni e i ricordi che hanno guidato l’essere umano attraverso i millenni. Nel mondo delle immagini a raffica e del consumo sfrenato, il ventunesimo secolo è diventato un luogo adatto alle macchine, più che alle persone. Guardare di meno e affidarsi ulteriormente ad altre modalità sensoriali genererebbe dunque ambienti e città più umani, promuovendo spazi apprezzabili e percepibili da tutti, compresi i non vedenti. Non dobbiamo permettere ai nostri occhi di accecare la nostra mente e la nostra umanità. Oggi, si può fare meglio, se lo si desidera veramente.
Blind insights. A neuroscientific approach to spatial perception and sensory design in architecture
ONCEL, DIBA
2018/2019
Abstract
Architectural discourses throughout the centuries have produced a broad range of theories about architecture’s essence, its abilities and tasks. I believe, in our century, man is continuously losing the connection to his essence and to his own mind, caused by the almost infinite power of technology. In the era of mass-production and consumption supported by this technology, the eye has proven its sovereignty due to its fast capturing and analysis skills. Although it is the most trustworthy sense of man, nowadays it highly illudes, interferes, and thus masks other sensory modes resulting in mostly form-obsessed outcomes void of supramodal characteristics. Therefore, this thesis categorized in three main parts, aims a thorough exploration of the relationship between human brain and the built environment for more stimulating environments and more intense experiences for a broad range of visitors. During the research process, a particular attention is payed to visually disabled segment of population which has been frequently neglected throughout the design and execution processes. However, a detailed exploration of blind perception is crucial in order to scrutinize different shades of perception which are far beyond visual aspects. I hope that, as a result, this research initiates further discussions and raises attention on the topic of inclusive design trying to involve all individuals of the society; triggering more intense and complete sensory experiences. Especially in the era of merely eye-based aesthetic judgements, a detailed pondering and an increased curiosity about all the sensory mediums would enhance one-of-a-kind environments rewiring man to his essence which has been disguised and suppressed through the hegemony of the vision. The multidisciplinary character of this research hopefully assists architects on establishing more beneficial and productive principles of architectural and urban design, elevating both the functional and perceptional features of new designs. Since man and the built environment have always had a reciprocal relationship, they continuously modify each other for better or for worse; therefore, the aim should be maximizing the productiveness that both protagonists share, in order for man to connect himself to his mind and for the built environment to shape the minds of those to come in the most intense way. I believe it is necessary to be somehow primitive again to fully understand at least the conscious degrees of perception and memories that have guided the human race throughout millenniums. In the highly visual world of fast-imaging and rapid consumption, 21st century has become a place more likely for machines, not people. Thence, to some extent, looking less and relying more on the other sensory modalities would engender more man-like environments and cities suggesting quality spaces that may be appreciated, felt and perceived by all, including visually disabled individuals. We should not let our eyes blind our mind and humanity. In this era, we can do better if we really try to.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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0000000- THESIS FINALE da caricare.pdf
Open Access dal 14/05/2021
Descrizione: thesis book
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28.69 MB
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28.69 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/164991