Towards an adaptive architecture : When the human body explores a space

Abstract: Exploring a space with our body is a strong experience; it is not like looking at a pic- ture of a space or listening to a detailed description of it. Being somewhere physically is a fundamental element involved in our unique and personal perception of a room. However, I often feel constrained by social and cultural rules in my bodily explora- tion of spaces. My aim throughout the project is to engage people into sharing their feelings and experiences about space, in order to better understand the relationship between the human body and the architecture in western societies. Through an experimental process I am articulating and reflecting upon a design meth- od to dialogue and engage with a large range of people. By using some tools from the field of interior architecture, I am building physical artefacts used as a means to challenge the bodily engagement of the users. The analysis of the interaction between the user and the artefacts, constituted the basis for me to elaborate on the two design proposals. The process also gives me the opportunity to reflect on my influence and responsibility as an interior architect into promoting, challenging and inviting people to more bodily engagement in space.