Exploring Multisensory Qualities of Loggia Spaces for Urban Resilience to Climate Change

Abstract

This paper presents an exploratory study about multisensory perception in the use of the urban loggia, i.e., outdoor covered space open to one or more sides integrated in the ground level of buildings, providing public shaded walkways and living areas. Due to current temporary occurrences of extreme intensity of ultra-violet radiation and the increasing periods of heat waves, public health risks are increasing, specifically situations of skin cancer and heart attacks as a consequence of excessive sun exposure. Loggia spaces have the potential to generate microclimates, allowing for a shadow shelter with the advantages of passive cooling on paths of pedestrian mobility in building entrances. By reducing energy consumption for indoor temperature regulation and climatization, they contribute to mitigating and adapting buildings to climate change. In literature, the perception of the urban loggia shadow spaces has been studied mainly in two different fields, thermal comfort and visual aesthetics. Exploring spaces that are inviting for all users requires a multisensory research approach, integrating the non-visual sensory modalities beyond the mentioned perception of thermal comfort. The urban loggia has been mainly developed for horizontal circulation on squares, in order to allow the visual perception of geometrical compositions of building facades. Furthermore, other sensory modalities beyond vision, such as auditory and olfactory spatial qualities, are forgotten, resulting in non-stimulating spaces to use. To make the building performance of the urban loggia shadow spaces more inclusive, our research is centered on integrating the diversity of people’s conditions and needs, as far as possible. To this extent, we explored empirical knowledge related with the absence of sight of blind people, keeping in mind that fully sighted and partially sighted people are temporary subjected to lacks of visual attention in the use of the space. The methods used are based on qualitative research and aim to identify a diversity of spatial perceptions, in order to achieve the understanding of the complex reality in study. We interviewed blind people of 18 nationalities, including five continents to achieve a multicultural perception about risks in their use of cities and buildings. Furthermore we conducted participant observation in the absence of sight, in cases of urban loggias. These case studies took place in the city centre of Lisbon, characterized by a Mediterranean climate. The obtained results allowed to identify affordances and consequent atmospheres approaching sensory modalities beyond vision. Moreover, they allowed to identify positive and negative spatial components inherent to the urban loggia. These spatial attributes, following inclusive and multisensory qualities, may contribute to empirical knowledge about how the urban loggia can facilitate the mitigation and adaptation of urban buildings to climate change in Portugal and other countries with similar weather conditions and vulnerabilities.

Keywords

• Climate change,health promotion,integrated invisibility,loggia,public space

Exploring Multisensory Qualities of Loggia Spaces for Urban Resilience to Climate Change

Abstract

This paper presents an exploratory study about multisensory perception in the use of the urban loggia, i.e., outdoor covered space open to one or more sides integrated in the ground level of buildings, providing public shaded walkways and living areas. Due to current temporary occurrences of extreme intensity of ultra-violet radiation and the increasing periods of heat waves, public health risks are increasing, specifically situations of skin cancer and heart attacks as a consequence of excessive sun exposure. Loggia spaces have the potential to generate microclimates, allowing for a shadow shelter with the advantages of passive cooling on paths of pedestrian mobility in building entrances. By reducing energy consumption for indoor temperature regulation and climatization, they contribute to mitigating and adapting buildings to climate change. In literature, the perception of the urban loggia shadow spaces has been studied mainly in two different fields, thermal comfort and visual aesthetics. Exploring spaces that are inviting for all users requires a multisensory research approach, integrating the non-visual sensory modalities beyond the mentioned perception of thermal comfort. The urban loggia has been mainly developed for horizontal circulation on squares, in order to allow the visual perception of geometrical compositions of building facades. Furthermore, other sensory modalities beyond vision, such as auditory and olfactory spatial qualities, are forgotten, resulting in non-stimulating spaces to use. To make the building performance of the urban loggia shadow spaces more inclusive, our research is centered on integrating the diversity of people’s conditions and needs, as far as possible. To this extent, we explored empirical knowledge related with the absence of sight of blind people, keeping in mind that fully sighted and partially sighted people are temporary subjected to lacks of visual attention in the use of the space. The methods used are based on qualitative research and aim to identify a diversity of spatial perceptions, in order to achieve the understanding of the complex reality in study. We interviewed blind people of 18 nationalities, including five continents to achieve a multicultural perception about risks in their use of cities and buildings. Furthermore we conducted participant observation in the absence of sight, in cases of urban loggias. These case studies took place in the city centre of Lisbon, characterized by a Mediterranean climate. The obtained results allowed to identify affordances and consequent atmospheres approaching sensory modalities beyond vision. Moreover, they allowed to identify positive and negative spatial components inherent to the urban loggia. These spatial attributes, following inclusive and multisensory qualities, may contribute to empirical knowledge about how the urban loggia can facilitate the mitigation and adaptation of urban buildings to climate change in Portugal and other countries with similar weather conditions and vulnerabilities.

Keywords

• Climate change,health promotion,integrated invisibility,loggia,public space

References

1. A. Foruzanmehr, “People's perception of the loggia: A vernacular passive cooling system in Iranian architecture”, in Sustainable Cities, vol. 19, 2015 pp. 61-67, doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2015.07.002
2. A. Heylighen, “Studying the unthinkable designer: Designing in the absence of sight,” in Design Computing and Cognition DCC’ 10, J. Gero, Eds. Springer, 2010, pp 23-34.
3. A. Heylighen, C. Van Doren and P. Vermeersch, “Enriching our understanding of architecture through disability experience,” in Open House International 38:7-19 (1), 2013.
4. A.Mack and I.Rock, Inattentional blindness. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998.
5. B. Sommer and R. Sommer, A Pratical Guide to Behavioural Research: Tools and Techniques. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
6. C.M. Pereira, T.V. Heitor, and A. Heylighen, “Exploring Invisibility through Multisensory spatial research methods in: ECQI European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry,” Leuven, Belgium, February 7-10, 2017. Leuven: KU Leuven, 2017, pp. 9-18.
7. C.M. Pereira and T.V. Heitor, “Architecture with and without sight. Sea bathing facilities as case study,” 6th International Conference on Inclusive Design, London, UK, 18th - 20th April 2011. London: Royal College of Art, 2011.
8. C.M. Pereira and T.V. Heitor (supervisor), “The Multi-Sensory Dimension of Architecture: A qualitative approach to the Sea Bathing Space through invisibility”.

9. PhD. in Architecture. Lisboa: Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 2013, unpublished.
10. C.M. Pereira and T.V. Heitor, “Mind the visibility gap,” in R. Macário, Ed., Proceedings of 14th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons. Lisboa: Instituto Superior Técnico, B603-B611, 2015.
11. C.M. Pereira, T.V. Heitor, and A. Heylighen, “Improving pool design: Interviewing physically impaired architects,” in P. Langdon, J. Lazar, A. Heylighen, and H. Dong, Eds., Breaking Down Barriers: Usability, Accessibility and Inclusive Design. Cham: Springer, 2018, pp.77-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75028-6.
12. C. Pigeon, “Evaluation of the attentional capacities and working of early and late blind persons,” Acta Psychologica, 155: 1-7, 2015.
13. G. Nicoll, Taking the Stairs: Environmental Features that Predict Stair use in 3 to 4 Story Academic Workplace Buildings. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Architecture. Atlanta: Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006
14. G. Nicoll, C. Zimring, “Effect of Innovative Building Design on Physical Activity” in Journal of Public Health Policy, vol.30, 2009, pp. 111–123. doi:10.1057/jphp.2008.55
15. H.R. Masoumi, N. Nejati and A. Ahadi, “Learning from the Heritage Architecture: Developing Natural Ventilation in Compact Urban Form in Hot-Humid Climate: Case Study of Bushehr, Iran,” in International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 11:3, 2017, pp. 415-432. DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2016.1238971.
16. J. Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and Senses. London: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, “2005”.
17. J. Pallasmaa, “Embodied and existential wisdom in Architecture: the thinking hand,” in Body & Society, Vol. 23(1), 2017, pp.96-111. DOI: 10.1177/1357034X16681443.
18. J. Pallasmaa. Unifying the senses - architecture as lived experience. London: John Wiley & Sons, 2007
19. M. Sinou and K. Steemers, “Intermediate space and environmental diversity,” Urban Design International, 9, 2004, pp. 61–71. DOI:10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000113.
20. P. Barker, J. Barrick and R. Wilson, Building sight: a handbook of building and interior design solutions to include the needs of visually impaired people. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind, 1995.
21. P. Boele van Hensbroek, S.Mulder, J.S.K. Luitse, M.R.Van Ooijen and J.C Goslings, “Staircase falls: High-risk groups and injury characteristics in 464 patients”, in Injury, International Journal of the Care of the Injured, vol. 40, issue 8, 2009,pp. 884–889. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.105
22. P. Devlieger, F. Renders, H. Froyen and K. Wildiers, Eds., Blindness and the Multi-Sensorial City. Antwerpen–Apeldoorn: Garant Publishers, 2005.
23. P. Rheingantz, G.A. Azevedo, A. Brasileiro, D. de Alcantara, and M. Queiroz, Observando a qualidade do lugar. Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, 2009.
24. P.W. Vermeersch, “Less Vision, More Senses: towards a more multisensory design approach in Architecture”. PhD. in Engineering Sciences: Architecture. Leuven: KU Leuven, 2013, unpublished.
25. R. McDermott and H. Varenne, “Culture as disability,” in Anthropology and Education Quarterly, vol.26, n. 3, 1995, pp. 323-348
26. R.R.Pate, M. Pratt, S.N. Blair, W.L. Haskell, C.A.Macera, C.Bouchard, et al. “Physical Activity and Public Health: A Recommendation From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine” in JAMA, vol. 273, issue 5, 1995, pp. 402-407.
27. S. Baumers and A. Heylighen, “Capturing Experience: An Autistic's Approach to Designing Space,” The Design Journal, 2015.
28. S. Roesler, “The urban microclimate as artefact: reassessing climate and culture studies,” in architecture and anthropology. Architectural Theory Review, 21:1. Oxford: Routledge, 2017, pp. 73-88. DOI: 10.1080/13264826.2017.1288146.
29. T. Sharmin, K. Steemers, and A. Matzarakis, “Analysis of microclimatic diversity and outdoor thermal comfort perceptions in the tropical megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh,” Building and Environment 94, 2015, pp. 734-750.
30. U. Flick, An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London: SAGE publications, 2009.
31. WHO, WHO Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007.