EXPERIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE

In today’s time contemporary time, architecture is more of a building that has emerged
out of necessity rather than something which is more than just physical elements.
Architecture should be something more than just function which are derived as pe
necessity. It should be combined of necessity and art to create involvement of its use.
Architecture should be designed in such a way that it evokes human awareness and
make users to understand surrounding. Today architecture has become too functional
that people have been detached from having a greater experience. In a way
architecture should be part of human experience rather than a place where things
happen.

Various aspects of experience in architecture are there, one of the major aspects is to
involve elements which can generate a dialogue with human senses. To make
architectural experience memorable, one will have to relate with the senses. For that
one must consider designing with focusing how the environment through senses affect
the user. It is more important to understand that senses experience architecture which
is largely influenced by space, light and material.

But, “how architecture is experienced?”

Experience is an interaction between user and architecture. This interaction is physical

and notional. Experience can create points of interest, that human senses acknowledge
and that attracts users towards it. Such points of interest are consisted of elements that
awakens senses.
For example, a source of light from corner in a dark room. It will not only brighten the
room but will also create a point of interest. This type of elements can naturally lead
users towards itself. And this is how interaction between architecture and human
happens. Various type of phenomena can lead or direct user towards itself.

Moreover, this type of elements can make journey playful and interesting by adding

elements that can evoke senses other than usual.

Another example of this can be the sound of flowing water which awakens user’s
auditory senses and at the same time can attract one to itself. Other example can be
the corridor spaces in IIM Bangalore which offers a play of light and also covered
vegetation on sides through which enhance the experience of user when going
through it. It is important to note that amongst all five senses, visual sense is given
more importance and thus architecture in modern time is more of a visual form. So, by
balancing all other senses in architecture, experience can be greatly enhanced. This is
achieved with natural elements that evokes other senses like sound of flowing water or
smell and shade of seasonal trees and may other things.

Creating experience means creating an environment that engages people. This

engagement is discovery to users, unfolding spaces step by step, allowing them to
explore where their senses is their guide, making a pause to choose path and reaching
a destination. Organization of spaces combined with senses evoking elements
generates an experiential journey in architecture.