Choreography of transitional space : architectural design beyond functionality
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2020
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Abstract
"[T]he expression of the built space needs to be designed with regard to the way we perceive it, that is the possible movements and activities we perform inside of it. Taking on the embodied perspective of a dancer or choreographer, thinking through the body, can open new pathways and spatial possibilities that might not otherwise be accessible to an architect, but play a crucial role in creating the mental experience a space affords us. The importance of choreographed movements is most directly illustrated within transitional spaces that serve to direct, guide and facilitate motion. Transitional spaces guide us from one spatial realm to another; both physically and mentally. They live in the sequence of what lies in the past, present, and future. This means: transitional spaces also live in the expectation of what is to come. They always seem to be inflected toward something more important beyond itself (Boettger 2014). Therefore they play an important in role in any meaning we associate with an architectural structure. [...] the purpose of this study is to explore how architects can take cues from choreography to create transitional spaces beyond functionality. It illustrates the relevance of choreography to our built environment and identifies how architectural space enacts and transforms meaning in order to transcend its function. [...] The first part of this paper draws on existing theories and methods in order to establish a theoretical framework for exploring the architectural tools of choreography that create meaning in transitional spaces. It defines transitional space, choreography and meaning as the key concepts of this research and clarifies the relationship among them. In doing so, it points out why choreography is relevant to our built environment and especially to the architectural design of transitional spaces. Furthermore, it demonstrates how architectural choreography creates movement sequences and offers insights into the ways that these build up to a meaningful spatial experience. The second part of this thesis continues by following a case-study approach, performing an in-depth analysis of four different transitional spaces with regard to their lines of movement. All were selected as case studies on the basis of their differing architectural typology and perceptual conditions. The analysis examines how the tools of architectural choreography contribute to meaning creation both within different contexts and on a practical level. After carrying out a comparative analysis that illustrates similarities and differences between the project sites, this paper concludes by presenting its overall findings. It outlines the potential possibilities and limits of choreography as a tool to create architectural design beyond functionality."