A thesis that partially fulfills the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture. The research culminates in an analysis of the sensory approach to architecture in the local context of KwaZulu-Natal.
PART ONE
BACKGROUND RESEARCH ON ISSUES
CHAPTER ! INTRODUCTION
- INTRODUCTION
- DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- SETTING OUT THE SCOPE
- CONCEPTS AND THEORIES
- RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIALS
Unfortunately, the importance of the environment for children's development has not yet been fully integrated into the design of children's spaces. The research covers the psychology of the senses and their use within the built environment, i.e.
CHAPTER2
PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SENSES
- CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AS A VISUAL ART
- THE MODERN DESIGN APPROACH
- THE NEED FOR REINVENTION
- THE USE OF THE SENSORY SYSTEMS IN THE EXPERIENCE OF ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE
In the writings of modernists, evidence of the dominance of this visual sense is strong. In many cases it is this unconscious sense of touch that determines the pleasantness of the experience.
CHAPTER3
ARCHITECTURE AND THE SENSES
- THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BODY
- RETAINING MEMORY THROUGH BODILY EXPERIENCE
- ENHANCING PERSONAL IDENTITY WITHIN SPACES
- SPIRIT OF PLACE
- ENHANCING THE BODY THROUGH BUILT FORM
- CONCLUSION
It is through the movements of the body, posture and activity (kinesthesia) that one is constantly engaged with the environment and thereby redefined (Pallasmaa, 2005: 40). Here one can understand how the use of the senses plays a major role in the experience of the spirit of the place.
CHAPTER4
CHILDREN AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTS
- COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
- CHILDREN'S SPATIAL EXPERIENCE
- THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT AND SPATIAL EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE
- THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PLACE EXPERIENCE
If architects and planners look at the way children actually use the environment, one would have a better idea of the way the environment can be designed or adapted to be used by children (Ward, 1978: 87). Once this information is established in the memory of a child, a "configurational" understanding of the environment is obtained. These differences between children's perception of the environment compared to adults are certainly not minor.
Furthermore, children's participation in features of the built environment and the natural environment generates a sense of satisfaction with their place experience, thus retaining the experience as part of their memory. Research shows that children's perception of the environment is very different from that of adults.
CHAPTERS
- REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- THE PROVISION OF VARIETY
- INSPIRATION FROM NATURE
- CONCLUSION
The discussion starts with a closer look at Reggio Emilia's approach to education, to create the framework for the discussion of more specific elements of the architectural facility. In the wake of the aftermath of the war, parents wanted to establish a new approach to the education of their children that opposed the fascist dictatorship they had been exposed to. A final note added here is that in such schools it is considered essential for the children to participate in the design and manipulation of their environments.
In the childcare center designed by Ton Venhoeven in the Netherlands, the use of the natural environment in the design is evident. The structure of the school is purposefully designed to promote questions of structural forces.
CHAPTER6
APPROACHING ARCHITECTURE AS A SENSORY STIMULATOR IN CONTEMPORARY BUILT FORM
General Information
This building is designed in such a way that the experience of the human body and stimulation of the senses are completely central.
Concept
The use of such materials is well demonstrated in the design of the changing rooms. The bather's experience is manipulated through the water temperature and how the water has been enhanced through the building design. In several private pools lit from below [plate 6.6], the opposite is the case, making the water appear brighter.
With such a design, it is clear that the experience of the body through the senses is of primary importance. Light from below [plate 6.6] and from above [plate 6.7] changes the perception of the water and thereby enhances the sensory experience.
Spatial Experience
Various swimming pools have been designed to enhance the acoustic effects of bubbling water, fountains and still water according to spatial proportions, material selection and absorption or reflection properties (O'Grady, 2009: 1). Within the spatial arrangement, the combinations of light and shadow, open and closed surfaces and narrow linear elements resulted in a restorative and sensory experience. Around the massive stone shafts that form monolithic walls, the fragments of sunlight seen in Plate 6.9 can enter from above and through vertical slits in the stone (Ryan, 1997: 44).
General Information
Concept
The intersection of three lines formed within the city fabric is the generator of the architectural design (Lecuyer, 1998: 46). Significantly, the experience of the building begins in its context, not just when one enters through the doors. The most important aspect of the design is to instead offer space and possibilities for different interpretations and understanding (Kiser, 2009).
Visitors can slowly immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the museum via a long, curved ramp that connects the different floors. THE HORIZONTAL LIGHT FROM THE NORTHERN LATITUDES ENTER THE BUILDING AT MULTIPLE ANGLES THROUGH SKYLIGHT.
Tactility
The use of natural lighting prevents the building from becoming static by allowing the interior of the building to constantly change with the time of day and year (Lecuyer, 1998: 48). The sound of moving water can be heard when walking through the building, activating the auditory sensory mode. The water is allowed to freeze during the winter months, further enhancing the ever-changing seasons and strengthening the connection between the building and the environment it occupies (Kiser, 2009).
The building also highlights an understanding of the way in which children interact and learn from the environment, through physical experience, stimulation, exploration and play. The essential role that the physical environment plays in increasing a child's curiosity and shaping their sense of well-being is expressed in the focus on the natural landscape and its relationship to the interior of the building.
Indoor I Outdoor Relationship
Changes in ceiling height between roof levels create a sense of transition as you move from one space to another, even though there is no formal threshold. The concept of fluid spaces continues into the relationship between interior and exterior through visual and physical access.
Integrated Environmental Design
Exterior timber cladding has been used on the wall and the underside of the extended roof plans. Space has been vertically broken down and varied, reducing its apparent scale to match the scale of the child. The use of a greater variety of materials would improve the tactile qualities of the building.
It is used at the edge of the buildings to disperse rain and prevent rain splashes from ruining the exterior walls. This shading method creates contrast between light and solid elements, further enhancing the experience qualities of the space.
Recognition of the Scale of the Child
Children can climb the structure, hide in the small niches provided for it and use it as part of their play. This is an important aspect of the design of such facilities as it reduces the need for additional toys and playground equipment, which may be difficult to finance or obtain in poor communities such as this one.
REGIONAL RESPONSE TO SENSORY STIMULATION AS A TOOL IN THE DESIGN OF CHILDREN'S SPACES
ROSEWAY WALDORF SCHOOL, ASSAGAY
- INTRODUCTION
- LOCATION
- HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF CASE STUDY
- EMPIRICAL DATA
- Spatial Layout and Planning Principles
- Materials and Tactility
Natural materials have been chosen for a large part of the building design and for the outdoor space. The Roseway Waldorf School reflects the importance of the sense of touch in the varied use of materials. A variety of materials used on the building's exterior enhance the tactile qualities of the space.
It is clear that the importance of the floorscape, due to the lower eye height of children, was recognised. In many areas, wall motifs and mosaic work add to the tactile experience of the space.
SEVEN FOUNTAINS SCHOOL, KOKSTAD
- INTRODUCTION
- JUSTIFICATION OF CASE STUDY
- LOCATION
- HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF CASE STUDY
- EMPIRICAL DATA
- Materials and Tactility
- CONCLUSION
An aspect of sensory architecture, very evident in the Seven Fountains School, is the importance of tactility. In general, the sensory qualities of architecture seem to have been given less consideration in school design. Through the work undertaken by the community and their involvement, a sense of security and trust is instilled in the children who attend the school.
The permanent exhibition features artwork by children at the school during construction. Second, greater awareness of the importance of sensory stimulation in designing spaces for children could lead to a more holistic experience for children.
SHAYAMOYA COMMUNITY CENTRE, KOKSTAD
- INTRODUCTION
- JUSTIFICATION OF CASE STUDY
- LOCATION
- HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF CASE STUDY
- EMPIRICAL DATA
- CONCLUSION
This building remains untouched on the western part of the site and is still used occasionally. A Training Center forms the final part of the project and is located on the west side of the location. Placing the preschool and nursery school in the center of the site gives the entire building life and spirit.
The Shayamoya Community Center operates efficiently and serves many needs in the community. The methods used are visible and have become part of the architecture of the community center.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
- MEMORY, IDENTITY AND SPIRIT OF PLACE
- CHILDREN'S INTERACTIONS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
- THE APPLICATION OF MULTISENSORY ARCHITECTURE IN THE DESIGN OF CHILDREN'S LEARNING SPACES
- THE APPLICATION OF NEW APPROACHES TO THE DESIGN OF CHILDREN'S SPACES SPACES
A partial understanding of the way in which children interact and engage with their environment is reflected in the case studies examined. The scale of the child has influenced the design of some spaces, as well as the importance of play. A variety of materials and texts are used at Roseway Waldorf School and Seven Fountains School to encourage exploration of the tactile senses.
Similarly, Shayamoya Community Center's Seven Fountains Preschool and Kindergarten and Kindergarten are also not designed according to such a philosophy. Seven Fountains School shows little recognition of the importance of play in the natural environment as all surfaces have hard landscaping and minimal vegetation.
CHAPTER9
CONCLUSIONS (AND RECOMMENDATIONS)
CONCLUSIONS
On a psychological level, architecture that appeals to all the senses helps to form and preserve memories of spaces through the physical experience of the body. Through physical interaction with the environment and objects in the environment, children learn, develop and enjoy spaces. Viewed in this way, it is obvious that the architect's role in designing these spaces is paramount to ensure that the environments created promote positive development in these areas.
Environments where the senses are engaged encourage children to explore and create personal spaces that help develop their individual identities. Three ways in which this can be practically achieved is through creating variety within the architectural space, using the natural environment as inspiration in the design of the built environment, and creating the architectural facility to be an opportunity for teaching.
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
A VENUES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
This thesis has fulfilled its goal of providing synthesis of information related to children and architecture through the study of sensory stimulation; however, further research is still needed in this specific area. In particular, the importance of sensory stimulation and how it can be incorporated into the design of children's spaces in an appropriate way is an area of research that has been found lacking.
ARTICLES
APPENDICES
Do you believe contemporary Perhaps there is a lack of general sensory input in most contemporary buildings today lack sensory buildings. What do you believe are what I would think that being surrounded by architecture that is constantly primarily physical and psychological stimulating many senses at once would naturally increase one's multisensory benefits, having a strong impact where mind and body would be more architecture. What do you think Architecture is primarily about creating suitable, pleasant spaces for a primary physical and psychological function.
Play and exploration are essential for the development of imagination, reality testing, visual perceptual skills, social skills. Do you believe current In school environments, classrooms rarely seem to be specifically designed environments for children are to stimulate children I provide sensory input.
PART TWO DESIGN REPORT
