'Clouds in the Bottles'

ABSTRACT:

Ever since there was a desire to design invisible…
Considering philosophy of phenomenology, beginning from Merleau Ponty and his ‘Phenomenology of Perception’, ending on Steven Holl and his way of understanding architecture, we could think of architecture dealing with the phenomenological approach, with spaces generated simply by phenomena – any observable occurrences. Defining space by smell, light and sound could create a wide range of potential directions, in which architecture could aim in the near future.
The new, potential approach to contemporary architecture could be compressed in the void. Amplifying its geometrical and spatial characteristics by emphasizing the already existing there phenomena, could create infinite design possibilities. It provides potential for designing spaces that on the one hand would be strictly defined, but on the other hand would play with the weaknesses of human perception and use it to create illusion of immateriality. Furthermore there appears a question how to balance defining and limiting space with its immaterial aspect.
Architecture operating with phenomena would add new qualities to the traditional approach, offering spaces that could be freely penetrated, entered and left without having to cross any physical barrier.
Moreover, considering recent development of nanotechnologies, mobile and wireless technologies, geographical information systems, sensors and long-range interaction systems and digital technologies, we could think of creating that kind of space by constructing those phenomena artificially. New available materials, which one of physical features has been reduced, provide undiscovered possibilities of implementation into the design process.
Architecture of the void, offering its physical no-existence and sensor experiences is a challenge for both designers and users, creating infinite design possibilities and opening wide spectrum of new spatial qualities.