BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303)

SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2019)

Name: Vanessa Huang ID No.: 0331528

Lecturer: Dr. Filzani Illia Tutorial Time: 16-17 pm
Reader/Text Title: The Eyes of the Skin: Synopsis No: 3A
Architecture and the Senses Author: Juhani Pallasmaa

In his book, Juhani Pallasmaa laments on how modern culture is occupied by the visual sense more than the
other senses in perceiving the environment. In response to what the author terms as ocularcentrism, he points
out how experiences of architecture is, in fact, a collaboration of sensory modalities.

The author professes, quoted from Merleau-Ponty’s statement, that “human bodies are the center of experiential
world." The sensory stimuli are biologically integrated into the body and the constant gathering of our immediate
surrounding forms the realities and our perception of the world. Pallasmaa then emphasizes the consequent
fullness of experience through the conjoined sensory. This he expresses by giving vivid examples such as how
as we venture through forest, our sight, touch, and smell works simultaneously creating a more meaningful
experience (p.41). Hence, he refers to architecture as “an extension of nature into the man-made realm”.

The eye for Pallasmaa is a flattening and distancing organ. By isolating the retinal organ, we experience spaces
without a bodily closeness and as such push phenomenon to an abstract plane, leaving us as a distant observer.
In contrast, by touching it connects and brings you closer, lets it invade your experience.

Indeed, in the current society, our senses have been dulled and we grow to be detached with “human
rootedness in the world” (p.22). However, I feel that his critique of the hegemonic eye is a little too fanatical and
idealistic. It seems that, from what he previously stated, he is suggesting we can fully control our sensory
organs. But how could one grasp the human sensorium while most of the time senses is something we felt
unconsciously? Essentially, our senses are working synchronously as a whole mechanism. It is just to some,
possibly layperson, that they can’t be completely aware of what they perceive from the other senses. E.g. as the
waft of new oil paintings hit one’s nose, would the so-called layman paused and savor or ponder what is that
scent as it does for the artists? They would hardly even notice the smell since it doesn’t evoke the same rooted
memories with actual artists.

Hence raise the question of how architecture can encourage the suppression of visual perception and enhance
other sensual awareness? Perhaps, as the author proposes, by infusing several elements that are clear enough
which may heighten one’s awareness of the intended sense, such as how in Zumthor’s Therme Vals the play of
light create a dimly lit room where and the ripples of the water are amplified and reflected by the stonewalls,
evoking a contemplative experience (Zumthor, 2006).

To conclude, I share the same thought on how architecture can strengthen the stimuli to the senses, however, it
cannot be done by consciously controlling one’s sense, it has to be evoked through the architecture itself.

Word Count: 503 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No. 2