Quasi-Material and Quasi-Things as Elements in The Making of Atmosphere in Architecture

Abstract

This paper discusses important elements of material that construct atmospheric architecture, namely quasi-material and quasi-things. This paper explores the existence of quasi-materials and quasi-things in affecting the human sense and forming the atmosphere of architecture. It is argued that quasi-material and quasi-things are important as both elements could shift focus in designing architecture from form-based into amorphic, immateriality. This study utilized cases as precedents of atmospheric architecture, which is analyzed for every quasi-material and quasi-thing that plays a role in the construction of the atmosphere. The findings from the precedent analysis revealed that some quasi-materials such as light, wind, and water can be manipulated either by employing simple media or sophisticated instrumentations to produce specific quasi-things. These quasi-things that built the atmosphere inside the architecture would later interact with human senses and emotions, setting up the tone and mood inside the architecture. This research proves that the materiality of architecture could be pursued through immateriality with the appearances of quasi-materials and quasi-things in the making of the atmosphere. This paper demonstrates that the presence of quasi-materials in forming an atmosphere in architecture could support building more sophisticated and coherent rehabilitation facilities by indulging human and atmosphere direct relationship inside an atmosphere.