To stand on the highest mountain, to walk on a seashore at dusk, or to cross a desert, and arrive at a house built around a water body. At such moments a subtle response is set off in the mind: invigorating, tranquil, mindful, rejuvenating. All perhaps, half-forgotten memories of a primordial landscape. Hence, the environment plays a significant role in shaping our sensory experiences and perceptions, often on a subconscious level affecting emotions and feelings. Thereby, nature has an incredible ability to stimulate our senses in profound and multi-faceted ways. From the gentle rustling of leaves to the vibrant colors of a sunset, nature offers a rich sensory experience. But the real question is how a positive sensory response can be incorporated into the built environment.
Haptic architecture is architecture involving the senses, how humans interact with the surroundings about touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. Our senses register subconsciously the space around us, and this consciously influences how humans feel. Thereby every space about the color, light, material, and spatial arrangement can be associated with a sense of attachment to our surroundings and these experiences dictate the way we think and direct our consciousness.
Thus, haptic architecture is closely linked to designing spaces one has already witnessed, felt, heard, and smelt in the collective consciousness. This sensitivity to spaces dictates moods and emotions. Hence by tweaking the surroundings and creating a certain attachment with the help of color, light, and material, there is a possibility of communicating feelings and emotions through spaces.
Sense of Touch vs sense of vision
“The elements of architecture are not visual units or gestalt; they are encounters, confrontations that interact with memory”. – Juhani Pallasmaa
The sense of vision is crucial to extol aesthetics. Often the architectural emphasis is on visual aesthetics and the dominance of the sense of sight in our understanding of spaces. The prioritization of the visual sense has led to an imbalanced and superficial experience of architecture, where the tactile, auditory, and olfactory dimensions are overlooked. However, the sense of vision alone may lead to the impoverishment of experiences through architecture. But when coalesced with the sense of touch leaves a seemingly greater impact on perceiving environments.
Pallasmaa in his book introduces the concept of “The eyes of the skin” to emphasize the idea that our skin is not just a barrier that separates us from the world but a sensory organ that perceives and interacts with the environment. He suggests that the skin, as the body’s largest sensory organ, plays a crucial role in how we experience and understand architectural spaces.
Building a story, not a building
A well-crafted story unfolds with layers of meaning and experiences; architectural narratives go beyond functional structures to evoke feelings, memories, and connections.
Every material tries to convey a story, the textures and depth talk volumes about life.
Light may talk about the emotion of space, the sound about the context of the place it occupies. Hence, it conveys a place, time, person, or even an emotion.
The choice of materials can significantly affect the tactile experience within a space. The warmth of wood, and the coldness of concrete, whereas mud evokes a sense of transience, the material stone a symbol of strength. Other textures such as smooth glass, or soft fabrics also set the tone for the environment.
The lyrical qualities of light and shade, texture and tone, the power of color, and beauty can be found in humble materials, and create joy in woven narratives in space. The built environment acts as a medium for expression, a backdrop for storytelling, and a repository of collective identity.
Space and Place
At this point in the article, it becomes crucial to understand the difference between space and place.
“Space” refers to the three-dimensional, measurable area within a structure. It is the volume enclosed by walls,
“Place” encompasses the idea of a space that holds meaning, context, and emotional significance. It goes beyond the physical dimensions.
Architecture is a tool to shape the environment around us, it is difficult to picture ourselves anywhere without a built environment.
Proving that place gives space meaning. Haptic Architecture has the potential to respond to various stimuli creating a place within a space and giving a strong sense of orientation within the environment.
Tools of Haptic Architecture
Architects like Charles Correa, Peter Zumthor, Steven Holl, and Tadao Ando to name a few have considered senses as an integral part of the design. However, due to the strong emphasis on visual aesthetics, most of the time haptic architecture is not prioritized by architects, overshadowing the significance of tactile engagement. Haptic architecture should create an inclusive and immersive experience that engages people’s senses, emotions, and memories. Nature can be a source of close inspiration and can provide cues for architects to design spaces. Parameters such as Acoustics, Lighting, Thermal Comfort, Furnishing, Layout, Odour, and Volume of spaces are a few parameters that relate to the stimulation of certain senses and can help architects design.
If a toolkit of sorts was created for architects to incorporate haptic architecture it would include aspects like:
- Material Selection: Choosing materials with varied textures, temperatures, and surfaces that encourage tactile exploration.
- Tactile Features: Design elements such as textured walls, patterned floors, and 3D surfaces that invite touch and interaction.
- Kinetic Installations: Create kinetic elements that respond to touch or movement, enhancing the interactive nature of the space.
Future of Haptic Architecture
The future of haptic architecture holds exciting possibilities as technology, design philosophy, and our understanding of sensory experiences continue to evolve.
- Technological Integration: Emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) could play a significant role in haptic architecture. These technologies could enable architects to design virtual environments that offer tactile sensations through wearable devices or haptic interfaces.
- Responsive Environments: Interactive surfaces and objects could change in texture, temperature, or form to enhance the sensory experience.
- Research and Experimentation: Collaborate with researchers in fields such as neuroscience, psychology, and material science to better understand the impact of haptic experiences on human perception and emotions.
Hence, Haptic Architecture has the potential to push the boundaries of conventional architecture producing immersive places that could potentially be stepping stones to create environments that have never existed before.
References
Lee, D. (2021). Experiencing architecture through the senses [Youtube Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/experiencingarchitecturethroughsenses
Pallasma, J. (1996). The Eyes of Skin. Wiley.
Using Materials to tell a Story (An Architectural Essay) [Youtube]. (2016). In 30 X 40 Design Workshop. https://www.youtube.com/usingmaterialstotellastory
Yoo, A. (2015, March 26). Cutting Edge Art and Technology Installations at STRP Biennial Defy Boundaries of Space. My Modern Met. Retrieved August 21, 2023,
https://mymodernmet.com/strp-biennial-cutting-edge-art-technology-installations/
