Image: rox sm | Flickr

The experience of mobile architecture can be quite a powerful thing. Take for instance the BMW Guggenheim Laboratory that was constructed in New York — there, on a rather small lot, this lab was assembled to serve as think-tank and community center. And the beauty of this is that such architecture does a lot to uplift an area.

To explain further as to why this is the case, the following are seven reasons why mobile architecture can be a good thing for a local community:

Top 7 Reasons Why Mobile Architecture Can Leave a Permanent Positive Mark

1. Mobile architecture can revitalize an area, turning an abandoned or difficult-to-use space into a notable place that sparks community pride. Plus, depending on its function, mobile architecture can be set up for events that also help to boost community participation and spirit.
2. Mobile architecture can be transformed. Thus, there is a changeability factor that comes into place when considering mobile architecture. With some prescience it becomes possible to provide for a variety of functions within a given area over a period of time. Again, events can be more truly celebrated.
3. Mobile architecture can be built quickly, and as such it can be transported to different parts of the world. Thus, a place (or an event) can become global — giving multiple cultures a chance to experience a particular idea of place.
4. Mobile architecture doesn’t have to follow all of architecture’s rules. In other words, it can be assembled and disassembled repeatedly — something more traditional architecture doesn’t do. This means that mobile architecture can fit into unique space, can be constructed at unique times, and can be used in unique ways.
5. Mobile architecture can create “spirit of place”. Because mobile architecture can be tied to events so easily, it can quite inherently take on a “spirit of place” as a community gathers around its intended functions. Just because an architecture is mobile does not mean that it makes less of an impact because of its impermanence. Instead, it has the power to launch both individual and collective experiences of curiosity, pride, memory, and so on.
6. Mobile architecture can test new ideas. Because mobile architecture is less permanent and can travel, it is a great way to test new ideas within architecture. Almost like a portable laboratory, mobile architecture is a great way to see how different people (even of different cultures) react to given architectural compositions.
7. Mobile architecture can be timelier. Because mobile architecture can be erected quickly and can travel, it has the ability to react in a timelier fashion to current events within a community. Thus, it can smooth-over a difficult time, or it can conjure up great excitement for an area. Mobile architecture has this advantage of being able to respond more quickly.

Thus, I will leave you with a time-lapse video of the BMW Guggenheim Laboratory that went up in New York. Think about the latter seven benefits of mobile architecture the next time you are presented with an opportunity to design such a structure.

Here’s the video:

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image Credit: rox sm | Flickr

Architecture surrounds occupants, it engages them, and it guides them. A well designed work can make an experience brighter, livelier, happier, and more meaningful. So, why are so many buildings today designed at the status quo, where they are there to meet the bare essentials? Perhaps it is because many architects today do not think in terms of holistic design thinking.

You see, holistic design is a work that considers all of the senses. It is a place where aspects like attention, focus, learning, and memory have been addressed. Holistically designed places can be soothing, comfortable, inspirational, and even beautiful.

The main idea is to not get rid of function in hopes of amplifying aesthetics. No. The main strategy is instead, to further unify function with aesthetics — where each is designed consciously from the perspective of all the senses. In doing this, an architectural design will be richer and more universal, being able to meet the needs of both the individual and the collective.

So, I invite you to think in terms of a holistic design perspective. Understand that this is the true language of how humans perceive, and that is the language which you should use to best communicate with your building occupants. After all, that is how you will make a positive difference in their life, by designing to meet their needs in a way that contributes proactively to the very aspects of life they wish to experience.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image Credit: szeke | Flickr

Did you know that there is memory bias? That is, memory can be changed, boosted, or impaired. So, if this is the case: What makes building occupants form stronger architectural memories than others?

Well, according to a Memory Bias article in Science Daily, there are many ways that memory bias can occur – but there are three main aspects. They are humor, positivity, and self-generated memories. Each of these latter aspects can boost memory in people. So, with this, I wonder how these play a role in architectural design.

After all, there are times where a design can be funny (or fun). There are times when a design can accentuate the positive over the negative. And there are times when a design can help an occupant self-generate information to remember through the act of engaging with them more interactively. So, does it then become safe to assume that architecture that does these things will be more memorable? And memorable at the exact moment where these memory boosters occur?

As you design, you should ask yourself how your occupants are likely to remember your building and their experiences there after they have left. Are there places within your building where it is fun? Positive? Or engaging?

Thus, to design and build a memorable building you may want to strive for those three goals: a design that is fun, positive, and engaging. Your building will likely be more enjoyable to experience, will function better, and will leave a longer lasting impression on your occupants. And of course, a great reason to be concerned with leaving an impression upon your occupants is that it can be one of value, that brings them benefit well after they have left your building.

So, remember: Fun + Positive + Engaging = Memory Boost

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image Credit: Wolfgang Staudt | Flickr

A recent study was done, mentioned in The Economist article entitled Pricing and the Brain: Hitting the Spot, where actual changes within the brain occur that substantiate this: If told something is more valuable, then a person actually enjoys it more. As the article explains, there may be something to this involving expectation. So how does this relate to architectural design?

Well, what if upon entering a building, someone told you that it was designed by a very famous and prestigious architect? Do you think you would enjoy your experience within that building more than if you didn’t know this fact? Perhaps you would pay more attention to the building, its details, and engage with it more than if you had never known about its renowned creator. Would you take extra time while within the building to savor it? My guess is that the average person probably would.

But the implication of this notion of heightened perceived value affecting architectural enjoyment doesn’t end there.

What about the exterior of your building? Do you think this might have an effect upon how well-received and enjoyable your architecture is for occupants? Just as when proper marketing can boost product enjoyment, as explained in The Economist article, perhaps the way you “guide” your occupants into your building plays a role in their enjoyment of it once inside.

Within this way of thinking, your building exterior becomes ever more important as it sets the stage — and your occupants’ expectations about their impending experience. An exterior that is well designed will automatically send triggers to your occupant which let them know that what awaits them on the inside will be of equal or higher value for them. And since you would be setting this high expectation, it is important to get the design of the interior right — so as to not fall short of reaching their expectations.

So, the important thing for you to remember here is that you are always setting or meeting expectations for your occupants as they travel about your building. You’re setting them up for value, and your goal is to reach that value for them with your design. Thus, as you design, you should always think about what you are showing your occupants about the perceived value of your building. And I’m not talking just about the actual cost of the building, but also the design attention given to details that indicate it is a building design of high quality: a one-of-a-kind and valuable architectural experience.

Additionally, your clients will like this way of thinking as well, since they often want to promote some sort of experiential enjoyment within their buildings. The key is to understand how to design your work so that it communicates value to occupants early-on in their experience. This will help to ensure that their experience will be one of enjoyment, if their expectations are met by your design.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Advancements involving architecture are most always a great thing. But what happens when such advancements like technology detract from an architectural design? I think the answer to this lies in the hands of the individual architect for that given project —specifically regarding what aspects of technology they choose to make visible versus invisible.

You see, technology for architecture can bring much value to a project — giving it new kinds of capabilities. But there are also times when a given technology exudes “side-effects” which conflict and/or detract from a design. An example of this “foe” relationship between architecture and technology can be seen in all sorts of building types ranging from retail stores to hospitals.

Take, for instance, the lighting in a clothing store. If not specified correctly, flourescent lighting in the dressing rooms may detract from the very purpose of the store: to sell clothes. The painful lighting makes those trying on clothes look worse, not better. Conversely, well specified lighting would be semi- invisible technology as it would make the occupant benefit from great lighting, without thought of where it is coming from. It would simply become a seamless part of the shopping experience.

In hospitals, medical technology helps to save lives, makes the building more efficient, and serves to assist patients in pain. There exists a “friend” relationship between architecture and technology until…those side-effects surface. From lighting to the aural environment, hospitals could stand to be better. After all, painful lighting from overhead and stressful sounds coming from surrounding machines detract from the healing atmosphere which the medical team and architecture try to create for patients. Again, semi- invisible technology would still save lives — but would do so in a less overwhelming and abrasive way.

In the end, architecture and technology can yield a very strong relationship where each brings value to the other. But what is the factor that makes this possible — tuurning them from “foes” into “friends”?

Perhaps it is the notion of having an invisible technology where functions are elevated within architecture because of it — but where side-effects and trade-offs are non-existant. To accomplish this, a holistic sensory design mindset is necessary, where you as a designer factor for a multitude of senses within your design. In this way, you will be aware of when technology issues a trade-off, and you will be able to correct it.

So, back to the question: Are architecture and technology “friends” of “foes”?

I would say “friends”, if the architect designing for them takes advantage of an invisible technology mindset, thus obliterating technological side-effects and trade-offs. It’s a way to get to the benefit of technology without any of the obstacles or risks.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Featured Image Takeaway Design Strategy:

When your occupants look upward, what do they feel? A sense of awe? Amazement? A yearning to continue on their journey through your building? Designing a ceiling is of critical importance — and not just because this is from where much of the lighting may come. A ceiling can be sculpted to reveal masses and voids which complement what goes on below. Wonderful domes often connect occupants to the heavens, and lower ceilings often create great spaces of intimacy. I urge you to think creatively about your ceiling designs as they are more than a “topping” — rather, they are expressions that help your architectural design sections to come alive.

To Apply This Strategy, Ask Yourself:

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to control your house or other environment with your mind? Well, advances in brain computer interfaces are beginning to make much of this a reality. You see, certain brain computer interfaces can feed off of the electroencephalograph (EEG) signals from your brain, to then translate them into commands that are sent throughout a given building. (1)

If you look for them, you will see that brain computer interfaces are beginning to surface — take for instance the emotiv epoc headset which uses similar technology to what I described above, where this neural headset feeds off of the EEG signals from the brain.

But what does this mean for architecture?

For starters, the notion of control within environments will be going through a shift. As such brain computers as the emotiv epoc headset continue to be refined in their development, it may be possible to assert environmental decisions with less physical action and more mental reliance. This does seem to be great news for those who are physically impaired, as they could use such an epoc neuroheadset to engage with their environment more seamlessly.

Since the epic headset can allow its user to do things like arrange Flickr photographs according to emotion, just imagine what might be possible when incorporating transient environmental qualities into the mix.

What if when wearing such an epoc headset, you could change your environment with your mind by using your emotions. How would your house respond to you when you are feeling happy? And what might it do if you were to feel sad? Would the house then try to cheer you up with its happier lighting, sounds, or aromas?

Brain computer interfaces are certainly changing the face of interaction by allowing otherwise secondary aspects, like emotions, to surface more transparently into the decision-making realm. Really, emotions have always been a part of decision-making in human life, but now with neuroheadsets we will be able to see the real cause-and-effect relationship between emotion, decision-making and consequence. — all three of which could contribute to better design and usability for occupants within their environments.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

(1) Rowe-Graham, Duncan. Control Your Home With Thought Alone. New Scientist. July 5, 2011.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Featured Image Takeaway Design Strategy:

The image above of The Palais Des Congres De Montreal shows how the selection of an architectural material (colored glass exterior panels) can have numerous effects that reach well into the realm of providing for a unique and positive occupant experience. As you select materials for your built space, think of more than simply how it will sit in its static position within the architecture. Think of its transient properties — created when light passes through, when occupants walk by, when the exterior temperature changes, or when the material can morph kinetically. These are just a few examples, but really the possibilities are almost endless. Then, be sure to factor the effects of the material’s behavior upon your future building occupants. After all, some materials like glass can have positive or negative effects, depending on how they are used. The main idea is to explore your materials thoroughly during your design process — to capture both their static and transient qualities for improved occupant experience.

To Apply This Strategy, Ask Yourself:

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image: MAZZALIARMADI.IT |Flickr

Working memory is a part of everyone’s life. That is, it is the combination of the processes that go on during focused attention. Until now, it has been thought that such working memory is really limited to only one focused task, but now there is a theory that working memory is really a sum total of different processes that go on to accomplish tasks. (1)

For instance, say you’re involved in focused attention to get ready for a presentation. Well, the tasks that you are involved with to finish your presentation may be numerous, and may vary widely in terms of the type of work that needs to be done. Reading is a different task from building a design model, for instance. And when you engage with the task of reading, different parts of your brain process as compared with when you engage in the task of building a design model.

So what does this all have to do with architectural design?

Well, when designing a professional office design that needs to help its occupants carry out certain tasks — wouldn’t it be beneficial to design it in such a way that it promotes the very creativity, productivity, and efficiency that its very occupants are trying to achieve with their work?

In an effort to design for better creative offices, you as the architect may want to think about environmental features that boost such working memory. Thus, you would need to dissect what tasks your occupant engages in during their day, to better understand what senses they are using, when they are using them, and how they are using them with each other — that is, to determine if a task involves both visual, aural, and memorization (like when preparing for a presentation), or the sense of touch, vision, and proprioception (as when building a model). Then, you should find solutions that boost those functions.

Such a technique may also work beyond professional office design, as it may also be used to help environments for the aging or for those with impairments. The key is to uncover and delve deeper into not only what tasks your occupants do, but to better understand the physiology of how they do them. By uncovering what your occupant actually does from a sensory standpoint, you can unravel what is behind seemingly simple and more complex tasks like reading (seemingly simple) or building a model while listening to music and referencing architectural drawings (seemingly complex).

So, think in greater “dimmensions” about the tasks with which the occupants in your architectural designs engage. You will like uncover clues and greater insight which will help you to design more personalized and more harmonious environments. And the more creative and thoughtful your solutions, the more likely your occupants will acheive what they set out to achieve. Creative offices are only the beginning.

Citation: (1) How the Brain Keeps Track of What We’re Doing. Science Daily. July 29, 2011.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Today’s article targets getting you to think about environment and memory, particularly for the aging population. As you design buildings within which the aging live, do you take time within your design process to think about solutions that will help them with their “aging” brains — thus, assisting them with certain aspects of their lifestyle, like suddden confusion, a missplacing of the keys, or other distracted behaviors?

You have often heard me speak about narrative, and this is because it is an important tool for you as a designer to use in order to pick up on the nuances that make up the daily lives of your building occupants. By better understanding your occupant’s “story”, you are better able to design appropriate solutions that will make for maximum positive benefit in their lives.

And for the aging, an environment can make a positive difference when it is better organized, uses appropriate colors and materials, and provides for easy accessibility as aging building occupants move about to function within their space. But appropriate design for the aging should not stop there.

You see, as the brain ages, working memory begins to decline — that is, incidents of forgetfulness, confusion, or distracted attention become more prevalent. So, how can you as a designer create environments to combat this decline?

If you are designing environments in which the aging will live and function by engaging in their daily activities, you should take a close look at the narrative of their lifestyle. Take “snapshots” of a typical day, to better understand where their strengths and weaknesses are. Then, solve for the obstacles and constaints that show up. For instance, if they are involved with any type of medical regiment (or diet/exercise regiments for that matter), make sure to design a space not only within which such care can be practiced, but with which it is practiced.

Use your design to make their lives not only easier because of what they struggle to do, but also more enriched because of what they do well. Also, pay attention to the things they want to do, but have not been able to do for a while. Find ways to use the design of their environment to make possible what may not have been possible in their “other” space. You aren’t just designing a building, you are designing architecture that makes a positive difference.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by clicking on the “re-tweet” and “like” button at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman