Introduction
The functionality of space is emphasized in design and architecture. Still, space can be adjusted to various uses. Space is not, even in its elasticity, impactless: spatial experience can be impressive in many ways. The experience can be inspirational or depressing, tranquil or exciting, cold or warm etc. Space is perceived with multiple senses, even though visuality is exaggerated. How does spatial experience affect learning?
Theoretical Background
Theoretically, the intensity of space is examined here in various ways and from other than functional viewpoints:
-The Narrative Spatial Experience: "The Poetics of Space" by Gaston Bachelard and "Camouflage" by Neil Leach
-"Multisensory Perception" by Joy Monice Malnar & Frank Vodvarka
-"Haptic Visuality" by Laura U. Marks, describing visual focusing, evoking other senses through visuality, merging distances etc.
Research Methods and Data
The data was collected through video monitoring in Arabia School , Helsinki , in the spring of 2007.The video material of 384 hours and the audio tape of 420 hours have been compressed into 64-128 hours by preliminary video analysis (ELAN & Monty). The spatial analysis will be continued using the "Gåtur" method and complemented with interviews of teachers and pupils.
Conclusion
Identifying the connections between spatial experience and teaching-studying-learning will be fascinating. A master's thesis is being written based on the research, at the HUT Department of Architecture.