Beyond the Visual: The Invisible Power of Scent in Design
Listen to the live recording:
MTALKS Beyond the Visual: the Invisible Power of Scent in Design
Presented as part of the MPavilion program in Melbourne, 2024.
Scent is often overlooked, yet it is an incredibly powerful tool in the context of design. In this informal discussion, we’ll start by taking a look at the science of olfaction and how it can influence our experience of space. We’ll explore some wonderful historical uses of scent, as well as examine how the emergence of cities created malodours that shaped our modern-day built environments.
Examining the different ways that scents can be deliberately incorporated into buildings, whether emanating from the materials used, the incorporation of plants and landscapes, or deliberate environmental scenting, we will discuss how scent intersects with history, socio-economics, and our collective memory of cities.
Join us as we reconsider the very essence of the spaces we inhabit.
COLLABORATORS:
Erin Adams is an olfactory artist and the founder of Smell Art – an arts organisation focused on creating unforgettable multisensory experiences anchored in the world of smell. Her most recent projects include ‘Oceanic Refractions’ and ‘Group Sweat’ exhibited at CTM Festival X Transmediale in Berlin. Erin regularly runs ‘Sniff & Learn’ workshops, aiming to deepen people’s understanding of their sense of smell and enhance their overall quality of life.
Millie Cattlin is an architect and design director of These Are The Projects We Do Together – an experimental practice operating in the fields of architecture, design, curation, education and creative programs. Her projects Testing Grounds, Siteworks and The Quarry work with public space, creative infrastructure, and site programming to create socially-inclusive community spaces.
Andy Fergus is a Melbourne (Naarm) based urban designer with concurrent roles including his personal practice, Head of Urban Design at Assemble Communities and Advocacy Lead at the Urban Design Forum. Andy works at the interface between urban policy, design and development, with a background across the public, private and non profit sector.