PerceptionLab

Since 2008 there is an annual Symposium of the research focus group PerceptionLab in october at the Detmolder Schule für Architektur und Innenarchitektur. Under the heading „Mensch, Raum und …“ external specialists from different disciplines deal with the main subject of the year, always focusing perception.


In addition to the presentations the symposium is also a platform for stimulation talks, discussions and networking. The Perceptionlap gives an insight into their field of action and competences for companies, scientists, students and other professionals.

Detmold (Heide Teschner) „A sensation is measurable, atmosphere is not“, said the interior architect Eva Filter. 120 visitors were on the discovery of emotional space-atmospheres on Friday, the 21st of october at 4. symposium from the PerceptionLab „Mensch, Raum und Atmosphäre“. 

Five speakers were talking about space-atmospheres from very different viewpoints: architectural theory, philosophical, the viewpoint of a sketching architect, from an artist and an interior designer.
Wolfgang Meisenheimer, the head of the Werkbundakademie, declared that atmosphere can’t only be described rationally, “ When we talk about the architectural space, we talk about an experience space“. Perception always depend on the person itself and it’s impossible to have an objective perception of atmosphere.
Kathrin Busch, professor for cultural theory at the University of fine arts in Berlin, wanted the designers to withdraw. Architect Günther Hofmann advised them to allow inconsistencies, „This makes a sketching more atmospherical than every photo“ and added “I think that we don’t perceive angels as atmospheric.“
In a suprisingly literatural way the interior designer Jens Wendland was talking about atmosphere and the artist Jürgen Albrecht from Hamburg presented his impressive light-atmospherical works. „Designers are seekers“, Wendland said.
„To learn more about the effects of spaces the students have to look at them, to feel them and to perceive them – this can’t only be taught“ summarized professor Harald Gräßer the discussion.