A lot of what has been mentioned by Zumthor, to me, basically talks about creating a “feeling” through a space, not only to him but also to anyone who passes by. The idea of atmosphere was to provide places of support, a place to live in, similar to that of haven. He constantly talks about how atmosphere can move him, and I agree. Sometimes I walk into a big space, and look up, and in a sense, I feel like I’m transported into a different dimension. He mentions first impressions, to be able to perceive a space immediately, and react to it accordingly depending on what we feel about it, and I feel that this is what most created spaces have to be aware of. Bringing back an older reading (Space and Place by Yi Fu Tian) they talk about spaces like lecture halls, rooms, various spaces having direction, and I feel that it is the same here, things about atmosphere and direction are intertwined together.

Zumthor goes on to talk about things such as body, material, sound, and while they sound technical, they were all essential in creating the experience for anybody who goes in and out of these places. Materials reflect, literally, and they also change how the sound works in the place. Some places are lit well even without electrical lighting, some are dim and gloomy. He talks about buildings which look dull, and in result, makes people either feel dull, or maybe it could potentially be a calming place for someone. It depends on the context. Sound, on the other hand, change in every space too. Sometimes there is a silence so deep you hear a ringing, sometimes places are just inherently noisier or bounced echos easier. It changes how people feel about things. Sound plays an important role in invoking emotion, and a lot in nostalgia. Zumthor mentions his mother’s noises in the kitchen and it making him happy. People can get positively or negatively triggered by different noices. Certain noises are more associated with certain places, be it home, or the outside, or a cathedral.

All in all, I have reflected on how there were so many things to creating a space, besides being able to hold something, or someone, or have it designed in a way that was mostly practical and not affordable to the people who go in it. How someone feels, sees, hears, physically in this space manipulates how they eventually feel about it. Atmosphere is not always consistent, nor is it only emotional, but can be manipulated by how a space is created.