Connecting water to architecture : encouraging the interaction between people and surroundings

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can a better interaction with water be encouraged through the use of the architectural atmosphere?

Or more specifically:

How can an urban waterfront building in Auckland provide interaction between society and nature by combining the marine spirit of the beachfront with an urbanized waterfront?

ABSTRACT:

For a country surrounded by ocean, the edge of the land and the sea has irresistible attraction for people living in New Zealand. However, the social connection to the water and waterfront has not yet been explored completely.

Observing the existing waterfront buildings in Auckland, a widespread problem is that those buildings rarely provide a satisfactory interaction between people and water. In other words, the waterfront buildings do not connect to water. Therefore, the question of this project is how to encourage interaction with water through the architectural atmosphere?

This project explores theories about perception and atmosphere, the existing precedents and water context to lead the design of a public waterfront building in Auckland. The main aim of this project is to encourage interaction between people, place and water through an architectural language of atmosphere, giving the urban waterfront a calming beach vibe and casual lifestyle. Therefore, the sensory engagement and strategies