The Winners!
SENSORY ARCHITECTURE 2023
First Prize Winners
Rama Raghavan
India
Rama Raghavan is an Architectural Writer based in Pune, India. After working for several years in the Industry and Academia, she found her passion in Writing. She is also a trained musician and a self-taught artist who enjoys feeding her interests into projects through creative, out-of-the-box storyboarding. Rama strongly believes that multidisciplinary perspectives enrich design thinking and trigger critical discourses. She now works full-time as an Architectural Writer and several of her articles have been published on renowned platforms.
FIRST PRIZE WINNER _ SENSORY ARCHITECTURE 2023
FIRST PRIZE WINNER _ SENSORY ARCHITECTURE 2023
Second Prize Winners
Laurie Chetwood
U.K.
Laurie Chetwoods
U.K.
Third Prize Winners
Mashael AlDoy
Bahrain
Name: Mashael AlDoy
Age: 23 years old
Nationality: Bahraini
Major: B.Sc. in Architecture
University: University of Bahrain
Essay Name: SENSORY EXPERIENCE OF DIFFERENT
COGNITIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS
THIRD PRIZE WINNER_SENSORY ARCHITECTURE 2023
THIRD PRIZE WINNER_SENSORY ARCHITECTURE 2023
Introduction
• Can you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background in architecture and/or
writing? What inspired you to participate in the Sensory Architecture 2023 Essay Competition?
My name is Mashael AlDoy, and I am from the Kingdom of Bahrain. I am a 23-year-old architecture student who has freshly graduated from the University of Bahrain after studying the major for five years. Architecture has always been a fascination of mine since I was younger. My father is an electrical engineer, while my mother is a computer engineer. Seeing their enthusiasm for their major inspired me to pursue a career in a similar field. Architecture was the perfect major for me since I was always fascinated in the construction of a building. Having to convey the physical and emotional effects of a structure on people and their surroundings. I had been captivated from the beginning.
By gazing at a building, you can see how each feature was carefully considered, as if expressing the architect's tale. This inspired me to write and explore an architect's conceptual approach on a much deeper level. It sparked an interest in writing extensive analyses of what architecture comprises. It's like peeking behind the curtains.
As for the Sensory Architecture 2023 Essay Competition, I have discovered it through the beginning of my senior year, when I was working on my graduation project and report. Whiles researching, I have come across this amazing opportunity online to show the world my view on sensory architecture and how each person experiences it differently based on their cognitive and physiological level.
Essay Overview
• Could you provide a brief summary of your winning essay? What were the key concepts or
arguments you explored? What motivated you to choose this particular topic for your essay?
My paper simply discussed how most modern architects focus on a sense of vision, yet architecture stimulates all our senses. Human behavioural patterns in connection to sensory experiences are influenced by architecture, which includes cognitive and physiological components. My paper examines sensory perception in architecture, demonstrating how they operate and impact one another. For instance, sensory neurons collect information from external elements, like sunshine and sound, and convey it to the brain for synthesis and comprehension. By arranging structural perceptual components, an architect may guide residents through the utilitarian and aesthetic features of a designed space.
What motivated me to choose this topic for my essay was during my senior year of college. My graduation project is called” Al Mubayyat” (Cultural Museum of the Human Senses), which translates to a traditional wooden chest embedded with golden, Islamic design found in every household in Bahrain back in the days. The inspiration behind it was to encompass the history of Bahrain in the form of a chest-like museum. During my graduation report, I wanted to focus on the collaboration of psychology and architecture. So, I got into the full analysis on how the human senses is a key point to creating a place that brings back nostalgia to locals from the museum and how each space uses a specific human sense to showcase each cultural heritage.
Sensory Architecture:
• How do you define sensory architecture, and why do you believe it is an important aspect of the
built environment? How did you incorporate the sensory experience into your essay and highlight its
significance in architectural design?
Sensory architecture allows the architect to engage with people and highlight their relationship to each space of a structure. Every present component of the world influences the environment's essence or dimension. Despite evaluating each element individually, people obtain a full picture of the prevalent essence of the surroundings in the first seconds of visiting a site. When there is a deliberate objective to influence behaviour, the targeted behaviour patterns may relate to leading persons for tactical reasons, providing a certain experience, or assuring wellbeing and protection. To be able to discuss and consider this interdependence, cognitive notions must be incorporated into the argument in a well-defined array of resources and interpretation. The physiological features of post-vernacular society in architecture must be recognized.
The sensory experience was integrated in the form of interviews to a select group of architects and non-architects. Each group was shown two videos of differently styled architecture and had to answer a survey of questions relating the architectural design and how it stimulated each sense. The first video discusses the findings of a house tour of a modern cottage near Byron Bay for architects. The participants discussed the house being spacious and how the colour scheme matches a person’s idea of comfort and coziness. They also mentioned how the structure of the building is designed for smooth circulation, with the furniture placed in a way that is beneficial to a person’s experience when entering a space. Additionally, they mentioned taking into consideration the healthcare of an individual, or a group of individuals, and how designing a space can affect a person’s style, behaviour, and emotions.
The second video of a Japanese-traditional household in Hoian had similar results between the architects. The house was described as unique with the colour scheme, but they were concerned about how the place might look during the night. The openings on this house are larger, creating a stronger connection with nature, and the components are a little harsh and bristly. The colour combinations are dark and dreary, but the openings make it bright and chilly. The house's construction is excellent in terms of openings, both inside and outside. The first video was too simplistic, but this one is more fascinating.
This process is significant to architects and designers as it can help create a space that is more suitable to the occupants and visitors. Stimulating the human senses as they enter the space will help with creating a non-forgettable memory of the place. Textures, fragrances, and noises may all have a significant impact on the individual's perception. Given that, sensory architecture has the potential to deepen the relationships of individuals with their physical surroundings.
Research and Analysis:
• What research methods did you employ to gather information and support your arguments? Were
there any significant challenges or interesting discoveries you encountered during your research
process?
Qualitative research is an essential scientific subject that helps architects comprehend their constructed surroundings effectively. The physical context, in which most humanity's living processes occur, has a profound and long-lasting impact on the people who utilize it. This was the best method to use to gather the required information and to help support my arguments as shown in the methodology section of my paper. It examined the primary human senses, their stimulation, and their physiological and emotional effects on the individual frame. It will evaluate various senses, from the most prominent to the least obvious, based on the immediate context. It showed the demonstration of qualitative research methodologies on structural building evaluation by both architects and non-architects, as well as a scientific study that consists entirely of displaying a representation of the built form and requesting that its evaluation be managed to carry out. The results of a qualitative study on correlations associated to specific elements of experiencing architecture were analysed as well. The research method helped with eliminating any challenges along the way as I was going with a unobjective approach.
Impact and Application:
• In your opinion, how can a focus on sensory architecture positively impact individuals and communities?
Sensory architecture can help create a more positive experience to both an individual and a whole community by taking into consideration the cognitive and physiological factors. The materials of the walls, floors, and decor, in addition to the ambient temperature of the space, moisture, and airflow, affect most of the touch satisfaction. A steel stool, for example, can be intriguing as well as frigid and uneasy based on the weather; temperatures may turn more enjoyable and engaging with the addition of a cool-mist humidifier; the breeze on a drapery may change an area while promoting engagement with contact. Therefore, adopting smooth and flexible substances or active gadgets can be an effective way to strengthen the body-built environment interaction. Looking at it from a community standpoint, the sensory architecture is, for instance, based on how it is respecting the site. How it can bring awareness by focusing on their sensorial experience and the neighbouring architecture.
Future Directions:
• Based on your research and insights, what do you envision as the future of sensory architecture? Are there any emerging trends or developments you find particularly exciting? How can architects and designers incorporate sensory considerations into their projects to create more immersive and meaningful experiences?
Based on my research and insights, I envision a great and more modern approach in the future of sensory architecture. Architects and designers are researching advanced ways of sensory architecture. For example, there is the Hazelwood School for the visually impaired. Hazelwood School was created particularly to accommodate kids who happen to be blind and deaf and have dual sensory impairment. That is, the sense of touch was vastly more important in encouraging their self-reliance and assisting them in navigating themselves about the space. These new ideas and development were particularly exciting as it aids in many types of individuals and caring about their needs. Referencing my paper, I have analysed two different groups. Taking from that, it can be interpreted to design a place accommodating to all individuals of different cognitive and physiological factors. With that, it gives a great chance for future architects to design a place accommodating to all with new trends and developments.
Architects and designers must analyse and take into consideration the people occupying the space. The process of designing a place is basically creating a specific experience for each space. Making sure all senses are activated to make it memorable. The fundamental process of a building is, for instance, the site analysis. Which basically is to accommodate the site by either trying to respect it or try and stand out and make a point. Creating individual, or a community, analysis is essential as it will help provide the experience required.
Personal Reflection:
• How has participating in this competition and winning affected your perspective on sensory architecture and its importance in the field of architecture? Have you discovered any new passions or areas of interest through the process of researching and writing your essay?
Participating in this competition and having the honour of winning has influenced my perspective on sensory architecture by promoting sensory architecture as an important component of the architectural industry. It allowed me to demonstrate how sensory architecture might impact an individual. The merger of psychology and architecture, which both offer the ultimate experience, has sparked a fresh interest in these two professions. They both seek a person's well-being but go through distinct procedures, which was fascinating to investigate. It provided a more detailed definition of what constitutes a space and how each area might be imagined using each human sense.
Advice for Aspiring Writers:
• What advice would you give to aspiring writers and researchers who are interested in exploring sensory architecture or entering similar competitions? Based on your experience, what are the key elements that make an essay stand out in a competition of this nature?
Find something you are passionate about. It makes the process easier and enjoyable experience when analysing and researching the point you are trying to make. Architecture is not something general as it can be interpreted into many ways, and psychology is one of them. Sensory architecture showed me a much more deeper understanding of the making of a building. My essay was not just about writing. It was also about interacting with others to broaden my knowledge on the matter. The interviews and surveys created were a unique addition to the essay by showcasing the architects and nonarchitect’s thought process. As the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”
Special mention
Honorable mention
Tushita Thumati
Shreya Tripathi
Srishti Savant
Tushita Thumati
India
HONOURABLE MENTION
HONOURABLE MENTION
Shreya Tripathi
India
HONOURABLE MENTION
HONOURABLE MENTION
Srishti Savant
India
