Juhani Pallasmaa – the eyes of the skin.

“Good architecture offers shapes and surfaces moulded for the pleasurable touch of the eye.” Pg 44

“The eye is the organ of distance and separation, whereas touch is the sense of nearness, intimacy and affection.” Pg 46

“During overpowering emotional experiences, we tend to close off the distancing sense of vision; we close the eyes when dreaming, listening to music, or caressing our beloved ones.” Pg 46

“Homogenous bright light paralyses the imagination in the same way that homogenisation of space weakens the experience of being, and wipes away the sense of place.” Pg 46

“most contemporary public spaces would become more enjoyable through a lower light intensity and its uneven distribution” pg 47

“An efficient method of mental torture is the use of a constantly high level of illumination that leaves no space for mental withdrawal or privacy; even the dark interiority of self is exposed and violated.” Pg 49

“Every building or space has its characteristic sound of intimacy or monumentality. Invitation or rejection, hospitality or hostility.” Pg 50

“But our cities have lost their echo altogether. The wide, open spaces of contemporary streets do not return sound, and in the interiors of todays buildings echoes are absorbed and censored. The programmed recorded music of shopping malls and public spaces eliminates the possibility of grasping the acoustic volume of space. Our ears have been blinded.” Pg51