Experiments with visible and invisible materials: designing and building an ambiance

Abstract

This article relies on a workshop called “materials of ambiances” that is taking place at the Graduate School of Architecture of Nantes. It aims for the students to question the qualities of ambiances within spaces with an approach through the concept of material, making them aware of invisible materials (ambiances) from the manipulation of visible materials (building materials). The experimentation with materials holds a significant place: the students are asked to build an ambiance device to create a sensory experience in order to highlight every sensory quality of a material capable of producing an ambiance. The materials used for this experiment are mostly from fields beyond architecture as to think of potential misappropriations. It is about making sure that the student tests by himself the materials and recreates the connection between data from the experiment, and the physical characteristics given by the manufacturers and industrialists. The pedagogical experience that we present aims at creating within students an interest for the built material, to develop ambiance intentions to qualify projected spaces, which are not always measurable but always noticeable. This article proposes to turn back to the way the qualities of ambiances are felt, the misappropriations of materials are perceived, as well as the perspectives on the evolution of the architectural design process. This contribution is illustrated by an ambiance device whose the name is “Cosmic dream” built in 2018/2019 by Marilou Bach, Hugo Falaise, Carole Lyssandre and Charlotte Say.