Written Response

Methods of Investigating

Through a photographic investigation of the voyeuristic stance, focusing on the front yard of the residence hall where I live, this research explores the double vision that the structure of architecture creates and the power structures that result.

Designers often uncover nuances in familiar environments, presenting them to the public through a multifaceted gaze that reveals spaces lying beyond common perception. George Perec, in ‘Species of Spaces,’ employs an outside perspective, compelling viewers to decipher subjects by first making an inventory of the seemingly mundane. “Force yourself to write down what is of no interest, what is most obvious, most common, most colorless” (Perec, 1999, p.60).

Similarly, the sustained and obsessive observation through photography in this investigation creates a unique sense of otherness that the observer encounters. The use of zooming in and tracking subjects as they shoot, and analysing their movements and behaviour, acts as a tool to thoroughly analyse and understand an unfamiliar perspective, even in a familiar and stable environment such as a student dormitory.

Each photograph serves as evidence, annihilating blind spots in space. Perec’s advice resonates, urging us to “exhaust the subject, even if that seems grotesque, or pointless, or stupid” (Perec, 1999, p.50).  

Secondly, this study explores the difference in perspective that the architectural design structure of the space holds. In The View from the Train, Patrick focuses on a variety of topics including architecture, the city, and the environment, exploring the history and culture of the space and encouraging the reader to critically examine the space. Particularly, the unique dual status of architecture is highlighted: a house’s inside cannot readily be apprehended, emphasizing the distinctive perspective it offers (Keiller, 2013, p.36).

The inclusion of Robinson’s perspective on the UK’s industry, environment, and architecture, though seemingly disconnected, served to contextualize my logic during the research. This allowed me to tie together the emotions I felt during my research and the visuals I collected while photographying in the space into a historical concept called panopticon, which links the structure of the space, the students within it, and my own actions into a small history.

In conclusion, these research methods and approaches were instrumental in fostering an intrinsic perspective beyond conventional design methodologies through observation and visual representation. This helped me to deepen my understanding of the nature of interaction and communication design between individuals and their environments, and through this work I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the environment and discover its potential for expansion through critical thinking. 

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Perec, G. (1999) Species of Spaces. In Species of Spaces and Other Pieces, 2nd edition, London: Penguin
Keiller, P. (2013). Atmosphere, Palimpsest and Other Interpretations of Landscape. In The View from the Train.