Architectural Atmospheres: Tools, Methods and Design Processes - what agents and processes are brought into play to make the notion of atmosphere operational in defining new tools and design methodologies

This PhD is open to those who wish to explore and promote the sensory dimension of the built environment and, particularly, to evaluate and critically reflect on the notion of ambiance/atmosphere (as a spatial phenomenon) and its importance for the design of lived space, and thus, its implications for architectural production.

By acknowledging ambiance/atmosphere as a key component of the built environment, taking account of its complexity as well as cultural, disciplinary and scientific diversity, the PhD welcomes applications from researchers and practitioners from across the disciplines (human and social sciences, arts, architecture and urban planning, engineering and technology). These potential intersections hint at approaching atmospheres as technologically mediated (engineered) milieux or, rather, as fields of reconciliation between material and immaterial energies, between knowledge derived from our sensorium and that generated by technology, which require a further exploration of the environmental, societal and political concerns implicit in such relations.

Exploring construction of atmosphere by situating it in a collaborative process, candidates will work directly with an Urban living Lab, along with the wider research group at the School of Built Environment, that would provide a forum to share research, seeking to support cross disciplinary exchange and research practice. In this context, the PhD offers an opportunity to explore what agents and processes are brought into play to make the notion of atmosphere operational in defining new tools and design methodologies.