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VKK 757: Archiving UP's Piazza

Poppy Photo Elicitation

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JP Multisensory experiences of Spaces

The experience people perceive of the spaces they inhabit is highly mediated by the design and interaction of these spaces. Degen and Rose in The sensory experience of urban design: the role of walking and perceptual memory (2012: 1) offers a justification of this avowal by stating that “experience is conceptualised in both academic and policy circles as a more-or-less direct effect of the design of the built environment”. The multisensory experience of spaces by individuals were clearly observed in the manner in which a group experienced the Piazza of the University of Pretoria. The interaction resulting from the experience hinted at the manners in which individuals mediate the space in mention and clearly ties to shared experiences (especially in participants that closely relate in milieu and background) through the considerations of the patterns that was perceived from the conversations. It also deserves mentioning that although there were reoccurring patterns, the individual experiences were not exactly alike and many of the participants experienced the space, again mediated through individual interactions.

The most perceivable patterns that were visible in this engagement was first and foremost filth. There were many discussions on how dirty certain parts of the Piazza was, specific reference was made to an area of benches where smokers gathered. The group was in agreement that this space heavily mediated their opinion of the space in a very negative fashion. In Chloe’s recording a contributor is quoted in saying “There is a disgusting smell of cigarette smoke mixed with food that will prevent me from eating there”. Another contributor in this recording mentions that the smell makes the whole place “feel dirty and disgusting”. In Jane’s recording the rhetoric is furthered regarding the corner when contributors to the discussion comments on the people occupying this space saying “the people there seems unwelcoming and engaged in their own groups” and “to me this seems like the slackers corner”. Although the comments in Jane’s recording are visually based there is an argument to be made that the contributors made use of multisensory modalities to draw these conclusions. The specific mention of the smell of smoke and food links to one of the three features neglected in most accounts of sensory urban experiences as outlined by Degen and Rose (2012: 4-5).

The specific area referred to here, being the multi-sensory modalities individuals make use of when experiencing urban spaces (the second feature (Degen and Rose 2012:5)).The contributors in this recording uses their multi-sensory experience of the dirty visual as well as bad smell to draw conclusions regarding the individuals that utilised the space, thus a mediation of contributors opinion of other individuals through the use and design of the space. There are many more of these occurrences that can be picked up from the patterns referring to the feeling of surveillance (as mentioned in the recordings of Calliope, Adaline and JP). In the discussion on surveillance a contributors states “I don’t walk through the middle of the Piazza because I feel that people are looking at me” another contributor stated that “people are looking by trying not to look” in the explanation of people sitting in the Piazza. The conversation of surveillance engages the topic of “the Importance of Walking” (Degen and Rose 2012: 12, 29) where the authors makes mention of the influence that the way of walking has on the experience of the areas, as well as the effect the experience of the areas had on the manner in which people walk. Another pattern was the reference to the movement in the piazza that featured in the recordings of JP and the images of Savanna, Poppy and Diversity.

Degen and Rose (2012: 7-9, 20) describes the opposing experiences that individuals reported when making mention of the same spaces. The same occurrence took place in the Piazza experience where individuals with less or no past interactions with this space like Calliope and Louise had experiences mediated with what they perceived from their visit, where the experience of individuals like Chloe was mediated more with their past experiences of the Piazza. Chloe shares an experience of her interaction when she stated “we sat on the grass to relax on study breaks or between classes in first year”. A notable element here is the memories that had an influence on the experience. Degen and Rose (2012: 19-22) substantiates the influence of memories on the experience of Bedford and Milton Keynes. This principle is observed within the Piazza experience where Chloe, through her positive memories of the space can be perceived to have a more neutral, even positive experience of the Piazza (this is clear when listening to the engagement where Chloe takes part as well as the images shared by her in many of the questions) compared to the more negative inclinations of Jane and specifically Calliope throughout the discussions.

The multi-sensory experience of a space is clearly apparent to thus far. The distinct engagement of the space with specific senses however still deserves mentioning. Although the space was engaged with a combination of senses, the discussions in particular through question 9’s photo elicitation discussions clearly brought forth that the group engaging with the Piazza experienced the space more with certain senses than others. Above clear notes the effect of vision through the consideration of “people looking at you” and mention is made of smell, from the cigarette smell to the “smell of tomato sauces” as described by one of the contributors of the photo elicitation discussions mediated the experience of the Piazza. Other senses than seeing was also significantly involved.

The sense of taste was engaged in describing the environment. In Poppy’s recording mention is made of the “smell of the Piazza effecting the taste of food” consumed there, this is furthered in a contributor stating that “I can’t stand the taste of food when someone smokes around me”. A more explicit consideration of the influence of taste in experiencing the environment comes from Louise’s image and the discussion of the taste of the coffee that was incited when discussing the initial experience of the Piazza by some of the contributors. From Molly’s image and the discussion the most notable discussion of taste is made. This discussion was based in the taste of the doughnuts in the image and how it is mediated by the visual display and surrounding smells. The discussion however cantered around the manner in which the presentation “made even chocolate not look good” and was furthered in to how the perception of display differs in consideration of the space in which something was presented.

The above mentioned discussion on taste led to the perceived health effects of food that comes from the a specific environment and finally led to a comparison of the taste of food and the perception formed by the environment when the Piazza was compared with other restaurants on campus in a different (better perceived) area. Degen and Rose (2012: 24) makes mention of this comparison in the influence expectation has on the individual’s experience. This is further strengthened with Borer’s statement in Being in the city: The sociology of Urban experiences that “the nuances of urban experienced has significantly been altered by the understanding of sensory scholarship” (2013: 965).

In conclusion the embodies mediation of individuals through a multi-sensory experience has an absolute impact on the experience of an environment. Individuals will consider many aspects other than the visual in the engagement of their world, thus significantly empowering the effect designer can have on a population through the spaces they engage with. This Piazza experience will therefore stand to prove the statement by Degen and Rose (2012: 1) “experience is conceptualised in both academic and policy circles as a more-or-less direct effect of the design of the built environment”.

Reflection:
In a world that is so heavily concerned with perception and mediated with persona it stands to reason that it is exceptionally difficult to navigate the visual overload that we experience on a daily basis to make sense of the world we live in. Through understanding the effect that the design of the environment can have on us, it positions the individual in a better space to understand him/herself in connection with the world they live in. Acknowledging the multisensory perception of our world in a very practical manner considering a space that is so integral to my direct environment I am provided with a diverse array of tools to make sense of my world. I have thus strengthened the understanding that it is easier to make sense of the world and to verbalise my understanding of such if I maintain an understanding that it is not only what I see that creates the effect of the environment on me, but also what I smell, hear taste and feel. This provides significant value to me as this allows a more encompassing way of articulating experiences, strengthening my ability to assist others and myself in considering the world we live in.

Sources consulted:

Borer, Michael Ian (2013). Being in the city: The Sociology of Urban Experiences. Social Compass, 7(11) pp. 965-983.

Degen, Monica Montserrat and Rose, Gillian (2012). The sensory experience of urban design: the role of walking and perceptual memory. Urban studies, 49(15) pp.3271-3287.
Lorretta Brown Sense of place: the sensory experience of the UP Piazza.

When we think of the way in which we navigate through spaces/places, we rarely recognize the role our senses play in piecing the place together. Often, we consider what we will see and what we will do, rather than pay attention to the way in which our other senses experience the space. According to Borer (2013: 956), “sense experience is the vital communication with the world, which makes it present as a familiar setting of our life”, however we pay little attention to senses other than sight and sound. The following is a reflective essay that will focus on the sensory experience of UP Piazza. In the discussion I will consider the ways in which sight, sound, and smell, shape the way we navigate space and place.

The body is a physical that directs our movement, however it does not work in isolation as it relies on our senses for perception of the environment. The body works as a communicative agent that tells us where to go, what to do, and how much time to spend at a place, however, the “amount of control over the information the body gives off is variable and often situational” (Borer 2013: 976). The UP Piazza is always buzzing with people walking through it on a daily basis. It can be assumed that the people who frequent this space are either staff or students trying to get through the day. In one way or another, all participants have stated that they have been to the Piazza before, however their encounters with and within the space differ. Degen and Rose (2012:3), argue that there are “two ways that sensory encounters are shifted and altered: by particular practices of spatial mobility; and by memories of previous visits to the same or similar places”. When asked about what they do at the Piazza, Loretta mentioned that she mostly uses it as “a vehicle to get to another destination on campus”, while another responded by contrasting the differences in her movements between now and as an undergraduate student.

Students prefer to walk around the Piazza to avoid being looked at and/or feelings of being watched. As Loretta mentions, she “prefers to not be there as it very crowed and she doesn’t like to be seen, [so] would much rather make use of alternative routes”. Molly says that she dislikes the space as it is “uncomfortable to walk through” as she feels like she is being watched and would rather walk on the outer area. This strengthens Borer’s sentiment that “the frequent interaction with strangers creates a unique problem for urban dwellers” (Borer 2013: 967). An image taken by Molly suggests that the Piazza is in actual fact a space where people are watched as they walk through and/or socialize. Thus, this highlights that people who walk through the Piazza spend little time looking as they fear that they themselves are being looked at [insert Molly elicitation], which is why they often take on a “blasé attitude or an indifference to others and the cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells that constitute the urban environment” (Borer 2013: 967).

Every city has a landmark(s) which can be considered as “objects [or] places [which] help groups identify the city and also provide a means for personal identification with the city” (Borer 2013: 970). One such object which can be found at the Piazza is the piazza. This podium is somewhat an attraction on campus as Chloe describes it as “aesthetically pleasing” and Calliope calls it a “space of opportunity and possibility”. The outside area of the Piazza is also considered very inviting, Ophelia has likened being outside as walking “from darkness into the light”. “Lush” is a word which is used by Molly to describe the place, as students are found relaxing or “chilling on the grass between classes”. Poppy has likened laying on the grass and looking up as “being somewhere tropical". The grass areas make the student feel relaxed and are considered a welcome and lovely break, not only from class but also from the building which is “very dull and outdated and needs revamping” . The inside is also often avoided by the respondents as they feel it that can get “very crowded and overwhelming with smells of tomato sauce".

The sense of smell is one we pay little attention to. According to Borer (2013: 973), “their [smell] meanings are often accepted without reflection, and their presence can go unnoticed as scents often simply accompany the air we breathe”. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the smells in the Piazza. Chloe does not like the atmosphere of the space as she exclaims that there is an “strong smell of food” make the space uninviting.

There is a general consensus amongst respondents that the Piazza is ‘noisy’ and ‘too crowded’ – with students constantly walking about, interacting, and engaging with and within that space, such is not hard to believe. According to Borer (2013: 971), “sounds of the city labelled as “noise” are often regulated by authorities”, however this is ironic as JP describes the space as having “no ownership; where a diverse group of people get together to do their own thing”. The Piazza is essentially a student centre where students go to relax and socialise with friends away from lecturer halls and assignment deadlines, and where very little attention is paid to rules and regulations. As each city has a distinct object which they use to identify it, the city can also be identified by the sounds which frequent it. According to Borer (2013: 971), “soundmarks are like landmarks in that they indicate a particular or unique quality of a specific neighbourhood or area”. The Piazza is synonymous with noise which is why most respondents avoid the area. However, when walking around, it is not a sore sight to see students sitting around the tables and working/studying, as depicted in Louise's image (perhaps they have become immune to the sounds at the Piazza).

My experience of the Piazza

The responses gathered from the group archive reveal certain truths about the Piazza that I had not considered before. This project has revealed to me the ways in which senses really shape an experience. While taking images and listening to my voice recordings I noticed that my encounter with the Piazza mainly based on what I saw and heard, as well as my past memory of the space. Learning the ways in which the body works to give us clues about our encounters with daily life has made me value my experiences. I recognize the importance of the bodily perception as it can add more substance to my daily experiences. The body is more than just the physical presence that moves from A to B, rather it is a means of connecting with the environment, and therefore to have be fully embodied being means to be fully aware of the responses the body makes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Borer, M. 2013. Being in the City: The sociology of urban experiences. Sociology Compass 7(11):965-983.
Degen, M & Rose, G. 2012. The sensory experiencing of urban design: the role of walking and perceptual memory. Urban Studies 49(15):3271-3287