Spatial
Morphology
Looking for the Essence of the Forest
How can we discover, describe and quantify this experience?
Experiment dataset for Image of The Forest is open source under MIT and can be found on our GitHub.
Identity
“ An environmental image may be analyzed into three components: identity, structure, and meaning. It is useful to abstract these for analysis, if it is remembered that in reality they always appear together. A workable image requires first the identification of an object, which implies its distinction from other things, its recognition as a separable entity. This is called identity, not in the sense of equality with something else, but with the meaning of individuality or oneness. “ - Image of the city, Kevin Lynch
This project will consider the visual quality of the forest removing it from its natural setting.
If we view the places and the objects within them not as discrete, unrelated elements but as part of a larger order - a system of "wholeness.", we can see that in this system certain geometric properties and structures have a universal ability to evoke specific emotional states [1,5].
From all the senses vision is widely considered to be the most important and most complex. Term “visual dominance” means that the sensual information is not treated equally. The visual quality of the scenes seems to dominate over other modalities [8]. It is therefore reasonable to assume that our experience of the urban environment is to great extent shaped by its aesthetics.
Many studies also support the fact that just by looking at “living structures'' the patterns of brain activity transition to the states of restoration and healing. However, little is known about which visual features of the natural environment have this restorative impact [9].
Imageability
"Since the emphasis here will be on the physical environment as the independent variable, this study will look for physical qualities which relate to the attributes of identity and structure in the mental image. This leads to the definition of what might be called imageability; that quality in a physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given observer. It is that shape, color, or arrangement which facilitates the making of vividly identified, powerfully structured, highly useful mental images of the environment" - Image of the city, Kevin Lynch
Hypothesis
Intreoduced by E. O. Wilson - "the urge to affiliate with other forms of life" - is a theory that suggests humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. This concept, now proven by research, is rooted in our biology and reflects a deep affiliation humans have with other life forms and nature as a whole. It suggests that “living structures'' possess qualities that evoke a natural and intrinsic response from humans. Natural environments are perceived as restorative and universally beautiful [1,5,6].
However, there are places where “biological nature” cannot be invited. Places like hospitals, light-deprived offices, and space stations.
Is it possible to use construction and design to ‘recreate nature’ in those spaces? To create an ‘artificial nature’?
Image of the City
Kevin Lynch was the first protagonist of the theory of cognitive mapping. In the “Image of the City” he introduced the systemic view on the intricate relationship between the visual qualities of the built environment and the lived experience of its inhabitants. We encourage exploring his works for further reference.