Beyond vision We were exploring how we could sense it with a cane, sense it with our fingers, sense it with

h our feet... There is this great palette of textures...All of a sudden, it starts to engage your brain in a different way. Christopher Downey (An architect who lost his sight in 2007.)
As sighted architects, we design largely with visual skills with and with visual media. A beautiful building is defined by what we see. When youre designing a building, most if not all iof it is based on the visual. What we are trying to do in this work is to address the pragmatic need of getting around in buildings and environments, with the help of our other non visual-senses. It will involve a broader engagement and it will result in a much richer environment for everybody. The architect must act as a composer who orchestrates space into synchronization of function and beauty through the senses. As the human body moves, sees, smells, touches, hears and even tastes within a space then architecture comes to life. The rhythm of architecture can be felt by occupants as a result of the architects composition. By arranging spatial and sensorial features, he can lead visitors through the functional and aesthetic qualities of a building. Architecture can offer a rewarding haptic experience. The shapes of columns and the textures of walls and floors in buildings stimulate and arouse curiosity. "The architecture of the eye detaches and controls, whereas haptic architecture engages and unites. Tactile sensibility replaces visual imagery, enhancing materiality, proximity and intimacy." Kyung su, Kurt wu & Najmus