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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Space is the now; now is the time!

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Architecture is the matter through which we domesticate the boundless spatial extent and embrace ourselves from the indefinite temporal progress of existence. Through architecture, not only do we mark our spatial boundaries, but we also indicate our temporal becoming and existence. However, historically, the temporality of space has only been studied through the lens of history and the temporality of the present moment and now-time is typically ignored in architectural studies. This thesis is an attempt to evoke the importance of temporality of space in architectural design process and is an effort to bridge the gap between spatial features and their neglected temporal aspects. The criteria for architectural design should not only be limited to spatial features; but also, should echo the temporality of spatial features in perceptual scales such as minutes and hours. Throughout this research, I initiate an interdisciplinary investigation of different models of temporality and temporal perception. I also run a series of pilot studies in which the perception of time is assessed in relation to non-geometric and geometric spatial features. I demonstrate the effects of lighting as a fundamental non-geometric spatial feature and shape as a basic geometric spatial feature on the temporality of space. The initial results suggest that brightness of light as a non-geometric spatial feature and shape of a room as a fundamental spatial feature alter the perception of time within a space and affect the duration judgment.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2019

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Darbari, Shokofeh.
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Terry Knight.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123558
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/123558

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Darbari, Shokofeh.. Space is the now; now is the time!. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123558