Thiago Menezes 1111 Cognition of Scale

This reading seeks to critique and analyze Herzog & de Meuron's 1111 mixed use parking garage, located on Lincoln road, as it relates to human sensory perception through spatial procession. It will attempt to explain the journey taken by the body and mind as physical and phenomenological experiences take place.

As we move through, we will look at three main levels of scale awareness to be referred to as "the across", "the adjacent" and "the within" and two in between states of mind and body.

The Across:
As suggested by its title, the across is a place far enough away where one is able to see the building in its entirety, (i.e. across the street) and therefore perceives it as an object. Positioned across from 1111, both its form and scale seem to be very apparent and well understood, allowing one to easily picture oneself in and around the building as if one had been there before. It is here where the physical and phenomenological aspects of ones surroundings interfere with ones perception of the scale. Placed next to the theatre and having tall trees adjacent to it, the garage seems to be well proportioned, only slightly larger that its surroundings.
It is at "the across" where the mind accepts and welcomes the scale. See figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1

Figure 2

In between 1:
As one accepts the garage for what it is, and moves towards it, the mind begins to question itself as to the previously made judgement. As one nears the structure and looks up, one begins to ponder 1111's monolithic qualities.

The Adjacent:
As the mind succumbs to the physical world, one's thoughts vanish as they encounter the shops located at the bottom of the structure. Now focused on "the adjacent" the body and mind release themselves of any deeper thoughts and engage in frivolous and materialistic activities. Scale is no longer a factor. Both 1111's architecture and its surroundings inform one's body and senses that verticality is no longer a variable, thus engaging the body into the flat, one story space.
Here the mind is at a lethargic state, not focusing on its surroundings, but rather on what is displayed. See figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3

Figure 4

In between 2:
Climbing out of its lethargic state, the mind once again engages the space, and wonders what else might be up there. Referring back to "the across" the mind grows curious and challenges its own state of being, asking to be informed.

The within:
Having questioned itself, the mind again muses on 1111's monolithic properties. It is on the way up where perception and ideas begin to concretize, and one's thoughts move forward and realize the true scale of the multi-story structure. However, one's body and mind aren't truly in sync until one steps out onto the vibrating poured concrete slabs. Here, both the body and mind perceive altitude and the idea that one is no longer grounded, but stands within a structure. This realization of scale reaches its final moments as one walks out towards the metal wires,and looks out into the city. Yet, true cognition of scale is only achieved as one realizes that one is still standing under a double story height reachable only by private residents. See figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5

Figure 6