Building barcodes: measuring the multi-sensory dimension of architecture
Lauren Kate Cunningham, Kyung Wook SeoPurpose
The dominance of vision in architectural design has produced representational methods, particularly orthographic drawing and static photography, that prioritise visual clarity while neglecting the embodied and sensory dimensions of spatial experience. As technology has advanced, architecture has become increasingly ocularcentric, reducing buildings to visually striking yet sensorially detached forms. This study addresses this imbalance by proposing and testing a new method of architectural representation that captures the perceptual and temporal dimensions of spatial experience.
Design/methodology/approach
Using churches as a consistent architectural typology in the Western hemisphere for thousands of years, this research examines two distinct design periods – Baroque and Modernist – to evaluate the hypothesised shift toward a vision-dominated architectural culture over time. Building upon Luigi Moretti's theory of hollow space, the study introduces a novel quantitative framework for measuring spatial pressure – the perceptual influence exerted by architectural form on the navigating body. The methodology abstracts the essence of perceived negative space to produce “building barcodes,” visual sequences representing the unfolding timeline of sensory perception.
Findings
These “building barcodes” reveal that while vision remains the dominant sensory modality, Modernist churches demonstrate a measurable shift toward the idiosyncrasy of individual architects in designing a syntax of spatial sequence. This contrasts with the Baroque emphasis on the canonical spatial grammar for dramatic yet regulated spatial pressure and immersive radiance. The analysis thus suggests an evolution from collective awe to nuanced, embodied perception. The comparative “barcodes” visualise these differing spatial and sensory strategies, making perceptual variation both legible and measurable.
Originality/value
This study introduces a new method of representing architecture which bridges the divide between phenomenological understanding and analytical representation. By quantifying the perceptual influence of architectural form, the research provides a framework for rebalancing visual dominance with embodied awareness, offering both a theoretical and practical contribution to sensory architectural studies. Ultimately, it positions the “building barcode” as a tool for visualising, measuring and designing with the full spectrum of human sensation in mind, transforming the way architectural experience is represented, analysed and taught.