Have you ever noticed when you walk into or around a building that it affects your attitude, feelings or senses? There are many buildings throughout history and the world like; the Pantheon in Rome, the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, or the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, which can evoke certain feelings with; the details of the architecture, strategically placed natural light sources, the relationship of shape and space to the function of the building and site, and more.
When you walk into the Pantheon, not only do you feel the ancient structure and are drawn towards the oculus at the top of the dome but you can also feel, hear, and sense the people around you and their awe of the structure, the echo of history. The Guggenheim invites you to move through the central space; the light and curvatures from the center create a feeling of slow movement while you enjoy the artwork on the outside walls lit by the indirect natural light from the center. Saint Peter’s Basilica welcomes you into the heart of the Catholic religion and makes you truly feel how small you are while still being part of everything. The Vietnam Memorial, in its simplicity, size and movement, gives people; a place to feel the enormity of the number of people lost, a place to grieve and remember, and a place to hopefully heal as well.
Not every building or structure has such huge impacts on us, but many today can still evoke a certain level of change or feeling. It may occur in specific areas of a building, on the exterior, as you transition from one space to another, or it can be an entire building. Some of the AIA Rochester 2010 Design Award recipient projects have either certain aspects or details that can affect people in certain ways, and some examples are as follows. One of the Design Awards, and also the 1st annual Mayor’s Award, the ESL Federal Credit Union Headquarters (by LaBella Associates) provides a subtle concave curve on the main street side which softens the street edge and provides a welcoming feel to the building in an area with a lot of hard surfaces. Both the RIT University Services Center (by Bergmann Associates) and the Getinge USA Heathcare Product Showroom (by Gardner Plus Architects) received Citation Awards and both incorporate curved interior spaces and glass features that give a sense of openness and movement, but in a non-hurried way. A small project with a big impact, the Tilt House (by In Site Architecture) which won a Citation Award is a kitchen addition that is skewed from the main house to allow lots of protected natural light and the open ceiling providing a light and serene open space for a highly utilized area of the home. Another example of an exterior spatial affect is the Mills at High Falls (by Barkstrom & LaCroix Architects) which won a Citation Award. This is a large mixed-use complex in downtown where the retail space is right at grade level and inviting, while the lowest residential floor is above the street raised to provide privacy, and the details on the exterior façade bring a large building down to the pedestrian scale and create a comfortable, inviting urban feel.
Some people may see these buildings or spaces differently from what is stated above, but many of them will still evoke a change in feeling when experienced. There are many other examples of this occurring in architecture through the United States and the world. So, next time you walk through, around, or into a structure, whether for the first time or the thousandth time, pay attention to the spaces and details and see how they may affect you. Some feelings will be subtle while others will leave a larger impact. One aspect of good architecture is that it will engage the people using or experiencing it. An architect knows they have ‘hit the mark’ when they see people stop and look or notice a feeling when they experience the building or space they have designed. I know when I experience such places I feel that I am a part of something bigger and more important, no matter how small it may be relative to the world around us. Space, light, details, and proportions can truly make the difference in how people experience the built environment and they are something special that architects can provide us.
Written by
Laura Cooney, AIA
Membership Director
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