Pantheon of Wonder
Essay
Human Movement Influences How You Perceive Buildings
by Maria Lorena Lehman
Neuroscience
Moving Influences "Seeing"
As an occupant travels toward, around and through a building, their perception of that building deepens. Each view challenges and adds to the next, as a complex montage comes together to influence that occupant as they perceive architecture.
Human movement is important for you, as an architect, to understand — not just because of how a person’s body might relate to a design, but also because of how that body influences the rest of that person’s perception. This includes physiological, intellectual and emotional elements.
Piece It All Together
Movement by an occupant allows for a type of sequence, where they can capture architectural stillness through a series. (1) As sight, sound, smell, touch and taste senses are activated, movement helps occupants piece together that stimuli.
Even the height and position of an occupant’s head, eyes and ears impact how they perceive your building — influencing not only how they interact within it, but also, how they will remember it and explain it to others.
Design A Narrative
As you design, you need to remember this: Your building should become more than an arrangement of functions that meet programmatic needs. It must be so much more.
Architecture should become a type of narrative, where certain systems overlap or flow to lead occupants on experiential journeys. Just imagine how some of the best films you have seen do this. Then, create your own, in three-dimensional form.
By doing this, you give occupant’s the freedom to project themselves into the space so they can “interpret” your design — allowing for personalized reactions to universal and timely architectural elements.
Each occupant will then be able to capture something truly meaningful.
Reference:
(1) As, Imadat and Schodek, Daniel. Re-Visions – Recording Architecture I. School of Design. 2004.
Image Credit: © alefbetac | Flickr
Maria Lorena Lehman has received the following awards and has been seen in the following publications: