Sight of Sound: Designing for the Senses

It has been agreed that one of Interior Architecture’s primary roles is to create atmosphere. This is generally achieved by engaging the senses in specific spatial conditions that shift the emotions and create moods. This view of interior is more particularly relevant to the needs of inhabitants/ users with sensory impairment. The intention within this thesis is for individuals with hearing and sight impairment to experience space/ interiors, with at least the same, wholeness as those with the capacity of full range of sense.  Pallasmaa states that “it is evident that ‘life-enhancing’ architecture has to address all of the senses simultaneously” (Pallasmaa (C) 11). It has been suggested that if a sense is taken away there is a higher importance placed on the remaining senses. Early research has indicated that people, specifically children with sight impairment “perceive the built environment very differently and pay more attention to tactile, haptic, auditory and olfactory aspects” compared to a person with full sensory abilities (Vermeersch et al. 1). Engagement with all possible senses allows a connection with space and orientation within architecture. It is this engagement with surroundings which “is a key component of happiness” (Fox, “Emotion Science”). This helps to achieve the independence that is desired among the sensory impaired. “A dialogue between architects and people with visual impairment can therefore contribute to a more multi-sensory design approach to architecture” (Vermeersch et al. 1).  While specific senses engage with mood to stimulate a learning experience for those with hearing and sight impairment, this design research demonstrates how the play of light and water can be used as a tool in creating specific atmospheres. These in turn influence moods in creation of interiors for multisensory experience. Henry Plummer’s light categories are the basis for which this research invents categories of sound. It is also proposed as a tool for interior designers to think about space for people with sensory impairment and to design with specific guidance. This invention will be tested by applying a program, Gallery of the Senses, to a Wellington site.