Resonance and Atmosphere in Architectural Aesthetics

The present paper is concerned with the experience of architecture as analyzed through the concepts of atmosphere and resonance. I suggest that the experience of architecture occurs by means of atmospheres that consist of numerous factors, including architectural qualities, interpersonal aspects, and the subject’s individual mind. Architecture may generate or foster atmospheres that are emotionally moving or meaningful, but also ones that are bland, indifferent, meaningless, or at least less meaningful than others. In particular, I examine how we understand atmospheres that are experienced as meaningful and emotionally moving in regard to the so-called resonance theory, as formulated by Hartmut Rosa. I relate the sociophilosophical concept of resonance to the concept of atmosphere in architecture and analyze this through a set of architectural examples. The idea is that meaningful and emotionally moving atmospheres can be understood as resonating. Also, the idea of alienating (that is, “mute”) atmospheres in architecture is briefly discussed in contrast to resonating atmospheres.