4.1 Kinesthetics in Architecture

“…Kinesthesia is the exploration of our environment through movement; this can be movement with the eyes or with our body…”

figure 4.1 (a) kinesthetic approach flowchart

Constructed spaces have the ability to influence the lives of people living in those spaces for good or bad. They have the potential to influence the user's experience. This can be done by choreographing each area in a building in order to give a person different perceptions when going through those areas. We experience any visual frame as we pass through a built space and view it in relation to the neighboring frame. At the same time, we do not simply see them when moving via a space, but even our senses are also engaged in the space perception process. They are driving our front ward motion unintentionally and our unintentional pauses. As we pass through a construction, we see the various of the building unfold. One needs to decipher the various layers that articulate these spaces in order to address the kinesthetic factor. The order of spaces not only controls the direction of motion and the pattern of motion, but also indicates that an individual pauses or continues.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION:

• conscious of movement of pattern of motion. • Should include versatile spatial organization, like pause, deviate and ponder. • Can be achieved it by breaking motion into smaller parts.

SPATIAL FRAME:

• The views seen from pause points are frames. • inter-relativity between these frames is very important • E.g.. here square module and pitch roof becomes module. So, afterimage becomes quite predictable. So, focal points such as courtyards becomes precisely choreographed spatial frames.

SPATIAL ELEMENT:

• A spatial feature that regulates the vertical transition between two horizontal plane. • Multiplication of such elements adds to complexity of the building. • It allows the user to relate to spatial frames • Relativity between these frames leads to smooth flow of motion.

figure 4.1 (b) Gandhi Ashram movement plan

figure 4.1 (c) Gandhi Ashram main entry

figure 4.1 (d) courtyard as an element

Spatial Symmetry:

• Allows a person to maintain concentration in a building between the various spatial frames, • Acts as a servant element directing the movement and the focal point. • The motion in symmetrical spaces is more rhythmic as well. • Forms strong connection by being a dominant factor. • provided an axis.

Table 4.1 (e) Gandhi ashram frame

Spatial Organization:

• Variations in scale is an important factor on kinesthetic. • It allows an individual to pause or step forward. • Increased scale sense grandeur and vice versa sense humbleness.

Organizational Element:

• Axis - a line that separates spaces and space can be organized on the basis of it. • Hierarchy - If, by its size or its placement, a form is given more importance than others then hierarchy exists. • Rhythm - a patterned recurrence. • Datum - a form that binds other elements of space. • Transformation - in a singular form, shifts. [18]

figure 4.1 (f) jawahar kala Kendra scale variations

figure 4.1 (g) Humanyum’s tomb interior