Waves of senses; a focus on enjoyful outdoor bathing experiences tailored to individuals with a visual impairment

Abstract

Vision is the most dominant of our senses and not only shapes our learning but also influences our orientation and social interactions in society. However, architecture has long been dominated by visual aesthetics, neglecting the potential of other senses in shaping our environments. Pallasamaa (2012) urges architects to transcend the emphasis on vision and look beyond the privileged sense. In alignment with these perspectives, this thesis will investigate how multisensory design can promote greater experiences in architecture. It seeks to investigate whether incorporating senses beyond vision—such as touch, sound, and smell—into the design process can foster a deeper understanding of spaces. Drawing from personal experiences, including memories of outdoor swimming with my grandmother, whose sight during later years has increasingly gotten worse and limited her everyday life. Engaging in activities she used to love, for example, going for a swim, is a challenge today due to fear of falling or being unable to enter or exit the water. I believe this is not just a concern for my grandmother but for others as well, young and old with a visual impairment. Everyone should have the same rights and possibilities to enjoy our public spaces. Therefore, this thesis has investigated how an outdoor bathing area in the Gothenburg archipelago could be developed tailored to individuals with varying degrees of visual impairments. The thesis has had a combination of research for design methods where the process has been influenced by a norm-creative perspective process. The design has resulted in an enriched sensory experience and provided an outdoor bathing area accessible and enjoyable for the target group and those beyond.