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Subliminal Matters

The Wall House, designed by FAR (Frohn & Rojas), exhibits several relationships between multiple aspects seen in nature. Through the connections forged by the transitional interactive concept of the design the visitor is drawn into this artificially created ‘natural environment’.

Recreating the aspect of nature seen in the design has multiple stages. Beginning with the exterior; the materials suggest lightness and transparency, easing the visitor into the shelter. Crossing the loosely defined threshold between the exterior ‘skin’ and into the main house the visitor finds her/himself in the more open ‘public’ space. Most of the interactive activity happens here, in the presence of the slight increase in material density. The most intimate areas (toilet, bedroom) furthest in are enclosed completely by the surrounding building, including much heavier/rougher materials (concrete).

The staging of the separate ‘layers’ of the building, much like Fujimotos ‘gradation’, allude to a common natural occurrence, a cave (Fujimoto, 2008, p. 130). As one would stroll into a cave one would pass through the mouth, the lightest area, through the intermediate space, less light, to the darkest and most sequestered part at the rear; all of these aspects being embodied materialistically and visually.

The almost direct connections evident between the natural precedent and manmade entity induce a subconscious, almost primal instinct, aiding in facilitating a comfortable and relaxing space.

By utilizing atmospheric relational qualities the architects have been able to raise a modern space, which functions on instinctual principles. The materiality (lightness to heaviness, fabric to concrete), suggests a juxtaposition of isolation from the natural surroundings, through the synthetic execution of the interior, and the close ties the design shares with its naturally occurring precedent (the cave). The blurred ties promote similarity yet at the same time separation.

In my eyes Relational Logics aims to bring forth an interconnection of qualities experienced in architecture. Emphasis on the human senses promotes natural and almost spiritual connections between subject and subjected. The combination of multiple evocative methods; material, smell, light and sound, to name a few, bring across the space created in a multitude of incorporative lines of relation. However I do also believe that environments with such amounts of thought put into them may not always be necessary or even realistic.

The subconscious relations we make and have with architecture are interesting to ponder. While acknowledging the immediate surroundings our primary senses pick up, we may yet be unaware of potential other influences forming around us or even forming us. I hope to delve further into the subliminal, and the unseen influences acting upon us.

Case Study: Wall House by FAR Architects

Study Text: Primitive Future by Sou Fujimoto

Picture Source: http://modto.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Chris-Part-Subconscious-City.jpg