Pioneering research into the atmosphere created by architecture
The spatial experiences created by the architecture around us influence our behaviour and emotions. Advances in various fields, such as cognitive neuroscience, technology and environmental psychology, have made it possible to investigate the emotional impact of specific sensory characteristics in greater depth, as well as to conduct experiments in this area. These efforts will enhance our understanding of how to create atmospheres generated by architecture through the manipulation of various environmental conditions. The EU-funded RESONANCES project studies atmospheres generated by architecture as cognitive and emotional states of resonance between people and the built environments around them. It establishes scientific criteria and a formal framework for testing new experimental paradigms relating to the perception of atmosphere. To this end, it combines measurements of neural activation, recorded physiological data and psychological self-reports to describe emotional reactions within an evidence-based, interdisciplinary approach.