SMELL - SOUND - FEEL

After being stuck for so long on how to progress my design and take it into new areas I have come to the conclusion that my next step must be to analyse existing environments without the visual. I have done this to some extent but not in great detail and not recorded accurately.

I will visit as many different settings/environments/buildings that i can over the next week or so and breakdown the buildings into the individual sensual stimulations. i will take smells (good, bad, indifferent, distinct, unknown, prolonged, momentary etc) and list them as they occur from a route through the environment. The same will be done with sounds that I hear and finally textures, temperature, air movement and other things we feel. I am not sure if I can do this blindfolded or wearing Sim Specs (to simulate visually impairments) but if I can I will.

The reason for this study is to try to build a world beyond the visual. To start with absolutely nothing, a blank canvas. No ground, no walls, no architecture or landscape. I want to approach my site from a fresh perspective, one without preconceived ideas of walls and doors and cantilevered glass boxes. Once i have done my research the design will be built around me as i travel through my chosen site. Materials can be chosen based upon there smell or sound or the way they feel to the hand or foot. There will also have to be visual elements to the building as the idea is to promote Paralympic sport and also the world of the visually impaired to sighted people too and colour and contrast are also very important in the world of the visually impaired. As i have found out previously only 4% of Visually impaired people have no sight at all so the visual will play its part. However, i want to try and stray away from preconceptions at this stage so the visual will be used to bring everything together in a later stage.