Tomas's SDF

MA Interactive Media
Activity: Research the Laurie Grove Baths:

Student Name: Tomas Arenas Date: 12-10-07

My objectives:

I’m looking for a meaning, for a feeling, for that something that could bring personality to the building.

I want to study the spatial attributes of the building and their functional, emotional and symbolical meanings (currents and formers).

I want to know how this building could trigger a feeling, a thought or a sensation for us as students, for the average people who just pass by, or for the ones who used to come when it was working as a bath.

I want to have the knowledge to understand how was the atmosphere of the building as a bath.

Research the whole spectrum of possibilities (experiences) that this building could contain. Point senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch). A experience not only focus in visual or audio but also in feelings such melancholy or happiness.

To know how people interacted with the building in the past and how are people interacting now (not necessary students or part of the staff). Does this building have a meaning for people who just pass by? What could be their stories about this construction? Find if this building could represent something for someone? And if yes, what represents? And if no, could we make something to make it represent something?

Create an appropriate model of survey and interview, suitable to measure variables and that allows me work with my SQL.

The resources and strategies I will use are:

Assuming that the building’s personality only is determined by people’s evaluation and attachment to it I will focus my research to the interactivity between human and structure.

Survey the pedestrians, students, staff and interview people who used to use the building in the past.

I will ask for help in the department of Psychology in order to create an appropriate model of survey.

Analyze behaviours. Including my own experience.

Search for related information in the Lewisham library and in other sources of data.

Contact the borough authority to see if they have information or data from old users of the bath and contact them.

Recognize and record current sounds, images, smells and textures.

Talk with Caroline Knowles, convenor of Urban Cultures, regarding sources of information related with meanings in architectural styles and spatial behaviours.

The proof of accomplishing this activity will be:

To present the group the results of my investigation.

To present the group with an idea that I think they would be interested in based on the
research I have discovered.

Evaluation criteria and means of validation will be:

What the group feeds back to me about the quality of my research.

How the group takes the research forward in their own projects.

How satisfied I am with the job I have done. .