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Smells can make or break a space.

Odor is actually a major reason why people complain about an indoor environment, yet nobody likes to talk about it much when it comes to building design. Smells within a building can either be good, bad or simply neutral. Plus, after being in a space for a longer time, you may actually stop smelling a particular odor which was pungent when you first came in.

So, what’s all the hype about? How can you design for someone’s sense of smell — particularly when everyone interprets smells differently?

I think attention needs to be paid to the institution-type of your building and what functions go on there. Yes, you will have to design appropriately in terms of choosing the right building materials, (after all, these have individual smells themselves) but what about the functions that go on within a particular space?

We all know that a gym smells different from an office which can smell different from a classroom.

THE OLFACTORY SENSE

The key is to think about the olfactory sense (smell) while you design. Think of ventilation, temperature, humidity, building materials and other products that can help to prevent unpopular smells. (1)

When choosing an interior building material, “visualize” how that might feel for your occupants entering your space. Will the scent of a particular kind of wood add anything to your design? Will the scent of certain plastics or textiles take away from your design?

Also, don’t forget health. Your occupants may be susceptible to allergic reactions. (1)

Our sense of smell is a very important part of how we all perceive. Don’t take it for granted. Think consciously about how to bring the olfactory sense into your designed architectural experience.

(1) Odor and Odor Thresholds. Aerias.org.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image: Topalov | Dreamstime

When students learn in a classroom today, a wide variety of learning activities fill their day. Students learn in almost all parts of the classroom and when designed correctly, all parts have a purpose. Architectural design for learning means that an architect has provided space for a quality educational experience – and it is interesting to understand where lighting fits into the big picture.

Randall Fielding has written a paper, Learning, Lighting and Color, which is quite informative as it describes where educational architecture has been and where it should be today. He explains how students do not think and learn in a “linear path”; thus the surrounding architecture (and lighting) should reflect this. In addition, Learning, Lighting and Color explores how architecture should “nurture a broad array of learning styles” as each student learns differently.(1)

As diverse lighting types are combined, educational environments can capitalize on different lighting effects for different uses. In the paper, Fielding explains that when codes call for a “uniform brightness of 55 foot candles in academic spaces”, this unvarying illumination does not provide for different types of learning within a classroom.(1) Learning spaces should me multi-faceted as they provide for students to learn individually, in groups, by listening to a lecture, by conducting an experiment, by socializing and so on.

A school’s design should not only motivate students; it should simultaneously guide their focus and inspire curiosity. Randall Fielding explains that “[s]cience education at its best takes advantage of all of our senses […]”.(1) Wouldn’t it be great to learn by doing more than just reading from a textbook and listening to a lecture? More hands-on experience or interactive digital media tutorials can really work to make learning more meaningful.

(1) Fielding, Randall. Learning, Lighting and Color. DesignShare.com. 2006.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman