In the previously quoted book (Architectural Atmospheres), Juhani Pallasmaa discusses the importance of peripheral vision in the perception of atmosphere.
Looking at perspectives in architectural representations leave us as outsiders but multi-perspectival and atmospheric spaces, emulating or using our peripheral vision, enclose us and "...enfolds us in its embrace."
For example, the way that Impressionist, Cubist and Expressionist artists pull us into their spaces.
In contrast, a photograph is a momentary focused fragment in time. The perceptual realm that we sense beyond the our focused vision is as important as the focused image frozen by a camera. Though photographs can be put together in this way, as demonstrated by a favourite of mine, David Hockney..
Pallasmaa argues that perhaps a poverty of peripheral vision is why contemporary spaces often alienate us compared with historical settings. Focused vision makes us just observers, outsiders, while unfocused or peripheral perceptions draw on our other senses to 'fill in the gaps' that we cannot see.
"Peripheral perception is the perceptival mode through which we grasp atmospheres. The importance of the senses...for atmospheric perception arises from their essence as non-directional senses and their embracing character. The role of peripheral and unconscious perception explains why a photographic image is usually an unreliable witness of true architectural quality." (p39)
"The richest experiences happen long before the soul takes notice. And when we being to open our eyes to the visible, we have already been supporters of the invisible for a long time"
- Gabriele d'Annunzio, as quoted in: Bachelard, Gaston. Water and Dreams. An Essay on the Imagination of Matter. Dallas: The Pegasus Foundation. (p16)
This also gave me some ideas for how I should/shouldn't try and represent my final design in the thesis presentation.
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