Since the book's first publication, interest in the role of the body and the senses has been emerging in both architectural philosophy and teaching. This new, revised and extended edition of this seminal work will not only inspire architects and students to design more holistic architecture, but will enrich the general reader's perception of the world around them. The Eyes of the Skin has become a classic of architectural theory and consists of two extended essays. The first surveys the historical development of the ocular-centric paradigm in western culture since the Greeks, and its impact on the experience of the world and the nature of architecture. The second examines the role of the other senses in authentic architectural experiences, and points the way towards a multi-sensory architecture which facilitates a sense of belonging and integration.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Vision and Knowledge Critics of Ocularcentrism The Narcissistic and Nihilistic Eye Oral versus Visual Space Retinal Architecture and the Loss of Plasticity An Architecture of Visual Images Materiality and Time The Rejection of Alberti's Window A New Vision and Sensory Balance Part 2 The Body in the Centre Multi-Sensory Experience The Significance of the Shadow Acoustic Intimacy Silence, Time and Solitude Spaces of Scent The Shape of Touch The Taste of Stone Images of Muscle and Bone Images of Action Bodily Identification Mimesis of the Body Spaces of Memory and Imagination An Architecture of the Senses The Task of Architecture

About the Author

JUHANI PALLASMAA is one of Finland's most distinguished architects and architectural theorists. In all aspects of his theoretical and design practice - which includes architecture, graphic design, urban planning and exhibitions - he places a consistent emphasis on the importance of identity, sensorial experience and tactility.