Memory in Architecture
Disciplines
Other Architecture
Abstract (300 words maximum)
People forget things every day. For most of us, this includes forgetting where we put our keys or what time we’re supposed to meet a friend, but for some people, memory is a much more serious issue. For them, forgetting is much more like forgetting who family members are, where they are, or what year it is. These individuals struggle with afflictions or mental disabilities like Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Traumatic Brain Injuries. Architecture has the power to help us remember and this can be seen through memorials and worship spaces. So, the question raised is: Can architecture help us remember? The thesis aims to investigate memorials and worship spaces as a case study and develop a space where individuals struggling with memory-affecting afflictions can come to remember. The case studies will be analyzed and diagrammed to determine which architectural elements are used and how they are used within the spaces. A synthesis will then be developed to see which of these elements are most frequently used in worship spaces and memorials and which methods are most successful. This synthesis will then be paired with research of memory-affecting afflictions to see which architectural elements and methods would be the most beneficial in memory recall for these individuals. The space created with these elements aims to significantly aid in memory recall for those struggling with memory-affecting afflictions.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CACM - Architecture
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Christopher Welty
Memory in Architecture
People forget things every day. For most of us, this includes forgetting where we put our keys or what time we’re supposed to meet a friend, but for some people, memory is a much more serious issue. For them, forgetting is much more like forgetting who family members are, where they are, or what year it is. These individuals struggle with afflictions or mental disabilities like Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Traumatic Brain Injuries. Architecture has the power to help us remember and this can be seen through memorials and worship spaces. So, the question raised is: Can architecture help us remember? The thesis aims to investigate memorials and worship spaces as a case study and develop a space where individuals struggling with memory-affecting afflictions can come to remember. The case studies will be analyzed and diagrammed to determine which architectural elements are used and how they are used within the spaces. A synthesis will then be developed to see which of these elements are most frequently used in worship spaces and memorials and which methods are most successful. This synthesis will then be paired with research of memory-affecting afflictions to see which architectural elements and methods would be the most beneficial in memory recall for these individuals. The space created with these elements aims to significantly aid in memory recall for those struggling with memory-affecting afflictions.