Between tourist and traveler : exploring the threshold between fast and slow

Abstract

Speed in relation to traveling leads to the loss of a direct engagement with the physical environment. Tourists travel as quickly as possible to see as much as they can, and after arriving at a station or airport they will leave the terminal in the travel mindset and still be focused on efficiency and speed, preventing them from connecting with the character of their destination on a deeper level. It is my goal to create a transition space for travelers that mediates between the intimate character of place and the ubiquitous nature of high speed travel. By designing for a traveler's inertia I believe that architecture has the potential to better transition people between speed space and the experiential realm. Slowing down the tourist can allow for more meaningful experiences of place and let the traveler engage more deeply with one's physical environment.