Foreword
Sensory architecture 2023 essay competition was organised by Archiol competitions to understand the impact of architectural spaces on human senses. This essay competition received 96 entries from around the world.
This competition was judged by:
• Gail Brager
• Xudong Zhu
Scroll down to check out the winners.
Top 3
FIRST
Rama Raghavan
India
SECOND
Laurie Chetwood
U.K.
THIRD
Mashael AlDoy
Bahrain
FIRST PRIZE WINNER
___________________
Building Living Bridges with Sensory Space: Crafting timeless connections through Architecture
Rama Raghavan
India
JURY COMMENTS
Fabulous essay organized around the senses and punctuated with compelling imagery. The bridge as a metaphor for connections is woven throughout. Strong connection between experience and architecture.
-Gail Brager
All the cases in the essay are very related to the topic. Although the argument is very comprehensive, it would be helpful to jump into some arguments, not just in a superficial way.
-Xudong Zhu
SECOND PRIZE WINNER
___________________
Experiencing Architecture: The Tingle Factor
Laurie Chetwood
U.K.
JURY COMMENTS
Essay is a collection of really interesting topics with strong connection between experience and architecture. Would have liked to see more specificity (and citations), even within the word limitations. Connection to research, including the author's own, is really intriguing (but could have been the place for more detail). Mature level of thinking.
-Gail Brager
The argument is very strong and convinced. The image is abstract but somehow express the main idea of the essay to some extent.
-Xudong Zhu
THIRD PRIZE WINNER
___________________
Sensory Experience of Different Cognitive and Physiological Factors
Mashael AlDoy
Bahrain
JURY COMMENTS
Unusual among the group as it is written in the format of a research paper structure rather than an essay. But when I looked again at the competition brief there was nothing that precluded this. Most original in that it's the only essay based on investigating and generating new knowledge. Deeper exploration of the "why", the psychological, physiological, and cognitive basis for human response to architecture, both from architects and non-architects.
-Gail Brager
It's good to have some literature reviews and methodology descriptions. But it would be more important to have enough space for author's own opinion.
-Xudong Zhu
SPECIAL MENTION
___________________
JURY COMMENTS
Honorable Mention
Tushita Thumati
India
Shreya Tripathi
India
Srishti Savant
India
HONOURABLE MENTION
___________________
An Archi-Sensory Exhale
Tushita Thumati
India
JURY COMMENTS
Good writing but essay lacks continuity, and overall thesis. Loved the title but then didn't connect the idea of the "exhale" within the narrative. Overall felt like a collection of disconnected parts.
-Gail Brager
The image is very impressive while the essay itself need to be organized properly.
-Xudong Zhu
HONOURABLE MENTION
___________________
Architecture as a filter and an amplifier for Indriyaan
Shreya Tripathi
India
JURY COMMENTS
Beautiful writing but felt a bit like stream of consciousness, strong on personal experience but weaker on connection to architecture. Minimal depth, no images, no citations.
-Gail Brager
The argument is subjective. The writing style need to be improved.
-Xudong Zhu
HONOURABLE MENTION
___________________
Memories should be Resin
Srishti Savant
India
JURY COMMENTS
Making the connection between senses and memory, which is intriguing. But connection to architecture is superficial and essay reads as a collection of disjointed ideas.
-Gail Brager
The strucuture is very clear but the author should dive into some topics deep.
-Xudong Zhu
HONOURABLE MENTION
___________________
JURY COMMENTS
HONOURABLE MENTION
___________________
JURY COMMENTS
Shortlisted Entries
• The Art of Sensory Architecture: Designing for a Delightful Human Experience
Yashasvini Gopal
India
Organized around the senses. But stays at a fairly high level. Good to bring in architectural examples, but description of each is minimal. Ideas are not original and there are no citations to ground the essay in the context of existing literature.
-Gail Brager
The article is well organized and very logical. However, writing style need to be improved and argument has to be more critical.
-Xudong Zhu
Organizers
