Invisible Architecture: The Power of What Cannot Be Seen in Design
- Coronel Associates
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
How sounds, scents, proportions, and microclimates shape what we remember
In architecture, we often focus on the tangible: walls, forms, styles, and materials. Yet, what truly marks our memory is not always what is visible, but what is barely perceived: the light that shifts throughout the day, the murmur of water, the freshness of an unexpected breeze.
Beyond façades and structures, what remains is the atmosphere—that intangible presence that makes us feel comfortable, calm, or inspired. Understanding it requires looking beyond the material and recognizing how sound, scent, or proportion act as invisible materials of design, capable of transforming a space into a living experience.
Sound that builds atmospheres
Sound profoundly shapes our spatial experience. The reverberating echo of a church invites spirituality; the careful silence of a library fosters concentration; and the controlled hum of a café conveys warmth and life. An architectural plan does not only organize walls and circulations: it also configures soundscapes that influence our emotions and perception of place.
Example: In the Chapel of Ronchamp (Le Corbusier, France), echo becomes a spiritual element that magnifies prayer. In contrast, the Seattle Public Library (Rem Koolhaas, USA) carefully orchestrates acoustics to create zones of absolute silence alongside areas of vibrant interaction.
Scent as a trigger of memories
Scents are powerful activators of memory. They connect spaces to unique emotions: the freshly cut wood of a workshop, the damp earth after rain in a garden, or the comforting aroma of bread baking in an oven. Even vegetation contributes its own identity: jasmines in Mediterranean courtyards, cherry blossoms in Japanese gardens, or the eucalyptus trees that Santiago Calatrava has incorporated in some of his landscape projects.
Example: In the Fundació Miró gardens in Barcelona (Josep Lluís Sert), Mediterranean vegetation—olive trees, pines, and bougainvillea—creates a unique olfactory atmosphere that enhances the artistic experience.
Microclimates: designed thermal sensations
Architecture also creates microclimates that enrich sensory experience. The protective shade of an eave, the warmth of a stone wall at sunset, or the coolness of an inner courtyard are examples of how passive design regulates temperature and comfort without relying on mechanical systems.
Example: In the Barcelona Pavilion (Mies van der Rohe), water, stone materials, and the arrangement of planes create a serene and refreshing microclimate. In warm climates, Luis Barragán used inner courtyards and fountains—such as in the Casa Gilardi—to generate cool, contemplative environments.
Proportions that speak to the subconscious
Architectural proportions influence our inner state. Human scale in relation to great volumes can awaken sensations of intimacy or awe. Applying harmonic relationships—such as the golden ratio in the height of a ceiling or the width of a corridor—affects emotional perception, bringing balance, serenity, and a sense of belonging.
Example: Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye employs proportions modulated through the Modulor, achieving balance and fluidity in spatial flow. On the other hand, the Pantheon of Rome is a classic example where monumental scale provokes astonishment and reverence.
The invisible imprint
The invisible in architecture does not appear in drawings or renders, yet it endures in the memory of those who inhabit spaces. These intangible details—sound, scent, temperature, proportion—leave a deep and lasting mark. In the end, they are what give soul and life to architecture.
Example: Peter Zumthor demonstrates this masterfully in the Therme Vals (Switzerland), where sensory experience—the acoustics of water, the smell of damp stone, the shifting temperatures—becomes the true core of the work.
Perhaps the true strength of architecture does not lie in what we can photograph, but in what remains with us when we close our eyes. The invisible is what transforms a space into an experience.