See the Unseen, Museum of Synesthesia: An Architecture Exploring Multisensory Perception Beyond the Visual | Bachelors Design Thesis

Site Context

The site is located in the PIK area, which offers diverse visual beauty ranging from international-style infrastructure, beaches, and sea to mangrove areas. This diversity stimulates various senses, making it an ideal location for the development of a museum.

Design Process

The sensory researcher Richard E. Cytowic states that all humans are born with the potential for synesthesia. However, in the modern visual era, sight has become the dominant sense, gradually weakening the sensitivity of the other senses. Today, synesthesia is often regarded as a disorder, whereas Cytowic argues that it is a natural human ability that should be understood, studied, and developed through education.

The program is organized into three zones. The first zone, Recognition, focuses on education and the stimulation of sensory awareness through interactive media. The second zone, Main Event, presents various forms of synesthesia by combining different sensory stimuli to create immersive experiences. The third zone, Synesthesia Hall, explores the meaning of synesthesia through the integration of augmented reality and artificial intelligence.

The Synesthesia Spatial Rooms are oriented along the north–south axis to optimize environmental conditions. In response to site challenges such as tidal flooding and land subsidence, the building mass is elevated above ground level. A conical form is adopted to allow sufficient sunlight penetration while also evoking a synesthetic spatial experience. The height of each space is adjusted according to the amount of sunlight required for its specific character. Based on site analysis, the spaces are slightly tilted to improve sunlight exposure and natural airflow while minimizing shadow formation. Connection pathways are also created to link the spaces with the surrounding environment.

Final Outcome

The first floor functions as a sensory stimulation space that incorporates natural elements such as gardens, ponds, and mangroves. This level offers a sensory experience that differs from the museum spaces above while also establishing a connection between the project, the surrounding mangrove area, and the sea on the northern side of the site.

The second floor is dedicated to the museum program and is divided into three zones: Recognition, Main Event, and Synesthesia Hall. The Main Event consists of ten museum rooms, each focusing on a different sense and offering distinct spatial interpretations of synesthesia.

Each museum room is designed with specific characteristics, including variations in floor elevation, angular spatial forms, controlled exposure to natural sunlight, and the incorporation of water and air elements. Different textures, scents, sounds, and other sensory components are also integrated to enhance the overall experience.

The elevation adopts a minimalist façade with variations in texture. Openings in the museum areas on the second and third floors are limited, including minimal use of skylights. The façade also incorporates greenery to reintroduce green spaces in the Pantai Indah Kapuk area, which is gradually losing its natural landscape character.

Conclusion: Ultimately, this project explores synesthesia through multisensory spatial experiences, encouraging visitors to understand and appreciate the interaction between human senses.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]