HAPTIC BATHHOUSE

The bias that vision holds over the profession of architecture suppresses all of the other senses. The hegemonic eye, with its ability to absorb information faster than any other sense, has allowed designers to create buildings that “look” good, but might not necessarily “feel” good. Tactile sensations can affect a person’s social behavior, self perception, enjoyment and comfort within a building. It not only refers to one’s sense of touch through material contact, but also sensations felt through atmospheric conditions. Three dimensional space can be deceiving through our lens of vision. However, the tactile and haptic sensations that we experience do not misguide us. Through experimentation, this project provokes those interacting with it to question how hapticity and tactility could be utilized to inform our decisions when occupying space, while diminishing the role of the eye in the process. It allows us to look at how space can interact with us at a more intimate level where the skin comes into direct contact with elements that provoke a response, both consciously and sub consciously.