Emotional Resonance and Transference in Architecture

Abstract

This thesis examines the notion of unseen factors that a user leaves behind once departing from a space. When properly engaged, an inhabitant forms an emotional attachment to a space. This attachment can be felt by later occupants as an experiential, phenomenological quality that cannot be removed from the space. This thesis asks questions such as: Which spaces lend themselves to what emotions? How does the architect compel a user to feel positive emotional attachment to a space? How does a building react to user changes over time? Can a building give off a "vibe" as an inanimate object? This thesis aims to investigate the following thesis statement: "What happens to the emotions in a building after its users leave?"