Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Rebekah and Olivia: WEEK 2/3: Exhibition case study - The Hormonorium

Case Study: The Hormonorium

8th International Architecture Exhibition Venice 2002, Italy; Swiss pavilion by Decosterd and Rahm

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The Hormonorium is a proposal for an interior public space that was designed in 2002, it was developed within the Swiss pavilion of Giardini of the Venice Biennale for the International Architecture Exhibition in Venice. This exhibition was designed by architects Decosterd and Rahm.
The total space of the Hormonorium is about the size of a swimming pool.

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Alpine Environment
The Hormonorium was designed to be a physiological stimulating space for the public who enter it. It is said “the Humanistic free will does not exist in the space as one cannot control how their body reacts within the Hormonorium due to the intense white light in the space”. Decosterd and Rahm designed the space to mimic the climate of an Alpine environment. This is done by the body through respiration (Breathing), through the retina (eyes) and through the dermis (skin). Decosterd and Rahm change aspects of the Hormonorium to affect these parts of our body therefore having multiple effects.
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Plexiglas (clear material), a total of 528 fluorescent tubes
The content of the exhibition consisted of a floor made up of plexiglas (a clear material), to allow the passage of light from the 528 total fluorescent tubes located beneath. The fluorescent tubes emit a white light that acts as the solar spectrum with UV-A and UV-B rays.
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”White day” cast on the space, meaning that one can no longer see the corners of the room
This type of light creates a ”white day” cast on the white wall rectangular space, meaning that one can no longer see the corners of the room. Some individuals have said they had the impression that they are floating in space, not knowing what way is up or down.
As you can see from this image the white light fluorescent tubes are below the individuals who enter the space. In normal situations where one experiences bright light we would tilt our head down to shield our eyes from the sun above, our eyelashes and eyelids also help with this. However in this case because the light is below the Individual we cannot shield the UV rays in natural ways, we are not able to block the radiation with our eyelashes or eyelids.
The bright light (between 5,000 and 10,000 lux) of the Hormonorium stimulates the retina which then passes on information to the pineal gland. The pineal gland controls the melatonin levels in our body, a hormone that affects wake and sleep patterns. The bright white light results in a decrease in melatonin levels which allows us to feel more awake, have a probable increase in sexual desire and also regulates our moods.
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The increase of the gas nitrogen in the Hormonorium leads to a decrease in the oxygen level within the space from 21% to 14.5%. This level of oxygen is usually found at altitudes of around 3,000 meters. In other words, people will find it more difficult to breathe, causing a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissue in their body. This results in states of the body, such as confusion, disorientation or bizarre behaviour. But at the same time, can also create intense excitement, due to endorphin (a feel good chemical) production.
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After spending around 10 minutes in the Hormonorium space, the individual's body starts to react to some of the previous effects. There is an increase in the hormone Erythropoietin (produced by the kidneys). Reaching the bone marrow, where the production of red blood cells are stimulated, the hormone therefore helps the supply of oxygen to the muscles increase. The effects of the above processes will therefore have stimulating effects on the body, that could improve the body’s physical capabilities by up to 10%.
Summary:

Agenda: Designed by Decosterd and Rahm firm, 2002. Temporary work to showcase a new field of study called ‘physiological architecture’. “What does the future of Architecture look like?”
Methodologies: “Physiological architecture”. Architecture no longer simply the expression of the play of light and shade on bodies and materials but attains a physiological dimension.
Conventions: Minimalistic approach. Focused on placement of light and people’s interaction with the whole space.
Spatial Context: 8th Biennale of Architecture, Swiss Pavilion, Venice, Italy. A space for designers and architects to showcase new projects. Floor light size of swimming pool.
Technology: Plexiglas, 528 fluorescent tubes, UV-A and UV-B rays, box-like-chairs for people to sit and floor to walk on.
Audience: Anybody, everybody. Educate people about the notion of interconnectedness of an eco-system.
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