Potenciando la Dimensión Sensorial y Material en el Revestimiento Arquitectónico Contemporáneo

Abstract

Contemporary architecture is facing a growing loss of the sensory and material dimension in architectural cladding, as a result of the homogenization of industrialized construction systems, the reduction of building times and costs, and a design culture that privileges a clean visual aesthetic over multisensory experience. This situation has led to the progressive disappearance of traditional construction techniques, the tactile and haptic impoverishment of surfaces, and the consequent disconnection of users from space, reducing material richness, emotional comfort, and the uniqueness of place. The main objective of this research is to increase the sensory and material dimension in contemporary architectural cladding, fostering a design culture that values haptic, thermal, acoustic, and visual experiences in architecture. To achieve this, the study proposes to investigate and document alternatives that integrate industrial production with handcrafted, textured, and materially diverse finishes, thereby recovering the transmission of traditional crafts and knowledge. The methodology is based on a critical review of architectural references, the analysis of traditional and contemporary construction techniques, and the development of design tools that allow the implementation of sensory criteria in cladding design. The main contribution of this monograph consists in proposing design guidelines that integrate material and sensory qualities, in order to enrich the user’s experience and strengthen the relationship between architecture, culture, and place. In conclusion, it is established that the revaluation of architectural cladding from its sensory and material dimension not only contributes to recovering expressive richness and constructive memory, but also constitutes a strategy to resist global homogenization, promoting a more meaningful, sensitive, and human-centered architecture.