Infotecture : space as void, solid and activity information : cyber plaza by the Central Artery Tunnel, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2005

Abstract

This thesis is a formation of a new viewpoint to perceive architectural space. It opens up a new possibility of designing architecture as information. Designing architecture does not mean designing the mass, but designing the people's perception . Human intelligence is an information process, and perceiving the space is also a brain work of information process. I propose three different kinds of information to construct the space in people's perception, namely, that of void, solid and activity information. Void information is the changing distance between the eye and solid mass in every direction. It can be quantified through an objective method in the form of graphs. Solid information is the meaning of something visible. Activity information is the meaning of human activities. Void information is an invisible vessel to contain solid and activity information. It can only be seen through the reflection of the solid mass. Visualization of the distances between the eye and solid mass helps us to see the characteristics of the void information . My design project exists in people's mind. Although my project locates in a physical place, Boston, I've made an effort to design the people's perception rather than the physicality of space. My attempt to design a perception of this space was accomplished by utilizing the light in combination with the material of the skin. The space is altered by the changing conditions of light on the building skin which has various functions.