Olfactory

Olfactory which is one of the five basic sensations of human is always ignored by us in describing and feeling architecture and city because it is invisible. But when we try to experience the space by sense of smell, I really find something. Smell of the space is influenced by the wind direction, temperature and humidity. So the description of smell can reflect the climate and air quality of a city. On the other hand, smell is always connected to the memory of human and can conjure images. The smell of fresh water may lead us to think about the blue ocean, the smell of smoke may lead us the image of burned house. What is more, smell is also related to the culture. The smell of east world may be easily distinct from the west. Finally, It is a subjective sensation that everyone’s description of a specific smell may be different.
Here are how some architecture express smell visibally.

"    Léviathan Thot, Ernesto Neto
As part of the Paris Autumn Festival, Neto displayed Léviathan Thot in the Panthéon, Paris in 2006. Neto used tulle and polystyrene suspended from the ceiling to create a new relationship between space and the body. The translucent skin allowed for visitors to see the scents establishing a tension wanting to touch and play with the hanging floral stigma releasing more scents into the air. Through the passage of time, the scent dissipated into the space and would visitors would need to interact with it again (spray more perfume into the room).Like perfume which encompasses the space all around, Léviathan Thot provided a new spatialized scent formula which worked with gravity to place smells directly in front of the nose like a top note. The aromatic combination included black pepper, powdered cloves, turmeric, ginger and sand representing a flower with unique colors and perfume. The chandelier was intended to be touched, seen and smelled. Residue of the different spices and herbs left circles on the floor as a remnant of the installation (like the base of the perfume)."


"Eating the City, Song DongEating the City is a series of installations by Song Dong beginning in 2006. He recreates a mini-replica of the city in wafers, cookies, biscuits and candy. Viewers are presented with a sweet olfactory experience of the city rather than the usual urban stench of steam, garbage, and other urban pollution odors. Because food is an edible product, Dong explores it the temporality of a city through a decomposing, non-permanent material. The public is allowed to nibble the exhibit as their human footprint changes the daily footprint of the modern city landscape."


http://jodipfister.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/territories-of-olfaction/