P5-arch / project content

Making Sense was my final thesis project at Princeton University in 2006. I was supervised by Catherine Seavitt.

Related projects:
Wonderbox

Making "Sense": In Search of Lost Weather Princeton, New York, 2006

Making "Sense": In Search of Lost Weather explores how sensory-focused architectural design can evoke or intensify ennui, a feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction. The project examines how repetitive layouts and manipulated climatic conditions contribute to this emotional state, aiming to understand the relationship between physical spaces, atmospheres, and emotional experiences. Inspired by the writing of literary figures such as Huysmans, Perec, and Murakami, as well as philosophers like Benjamin and Kierkegaard, the research traces ennui from the 19th-century flâneur to the distracted state of the 21st century. Additionally, Jacques Tati's film Playtime influenced the exploration of repetitive spaces like offices, hospitals, and atriums, particularly the iconic Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

The project features 63 sensory-specific rooms designed around the atrium of the Marriot Marquis with seven variations to nine atmospheric themes—spectral, aural, surveillant, fragrant, textural, humid, thermal, and filtered. These rooms, each offering distinct experiences, overwhelm the senses and explore how weather and environmental shifts impact human perception, affect and emotion. The project showcases the mechanical systems driving these sensory experiences, with features like exposed ducts and humidity controls, while strategically orienting rooms to optimize natural conditions, such as wind tunnels and a camera obscura room. Ultimately, Making Sense opens up new possibilities for architectural design that not only responds to but also enriches the emotional and sensory experiences of its inhabitants, ultimately aiming to redefine the way we interact with our built environment.