Atmospheric Architectures: The Aesthetics of Felt Spaces

2017 | Architecture & Design

There is fast-growing awareness of the role atmospheres play in architecture. Of equal interest to contemporary architectural practice as it is to architectural theory and aesthetics, this 'atmospheric turn' owes much to the work of the German philosopher Gernot Bohme. Atmospheric Architectures: The Aesthetics of Felt Spaces brings together Bohme's most seminal writings on the subject, through chapters selected from his classic books and influential articles, many of which have hitherto only been available in German. This is the only translated version authorised by Bohme himself, and is the first coherent collection deploying a consistent terminology. It is a work which will provide rich references and a theoretical framework for ongoing discussions about atmospheres and their relations to architectural and urban spaces. Chapters explore the philosophical and aesthetic dimensions of atmospheres, examining atmospheres in different media, whether acoustics, light and space, corporeal and ephemeral spaces, at stage sets and sacred spaces.

Combining philosophy with architecture, design, landscape design, scenography and visual arts, the essays together provide a key to the concepts that motivate the work of some of the best contemporary architects, artists, and theorists: from Peter Zumthor, Herzog & de Meuron and Juhani Pallasmaa to Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell. The volume also includes a general introduction to the topic, including coverage of its history, development, areas of application and conceptual apparatus.

Gernot Bohme (Author)