HYPERsensarium : an archive of atmospheric conditions

Abstract

HYPERsensarium proposes a tangible interface of atmospheres for public experience through an archive of historical and projected weathers. While architecture's purpose has long been to act as the technical boundary between the body and nature's elements this thesis seeks to re-expose the body to conditions society has disengaged itself with both physically and socially. Despite scientific data showing rising surface temperatures, increasing carbon dioxide levels, rising sea levels and extreme weather occurrences, environmental issues occur on scales of time and space too broad for human understanding. Air is invisible and thus uncontested. HYPERsensarium is an experiential museum of weather chambers, de-neutralizing the weather for public immersion. Architecture becomes the medium through which the senses are isolated and then re-conditioned for the archived weathers. With the majority of the project submerged within the grounds of Washington, D.C., visual, acoustic and thermal conditions reach stasis before visitors emerge into one of the archive's chambers. The environments within the chambers are mechanically driven, juxtaposing the visitor's "natural" views with an artificial atmosphere absorbed through other sensoria. The thesis seeks to rethink the archive as a physical and digital system collecting and accumulating data. Accumulated data no longer sits dormant within traditional archival typologies but can be used to recreate physical conditions with which to finally ground our relationship with our surrounding atmosphere.