The Tao of Home

In the act of dwelling, the human intimately navigates the realms of psychology and architecture. This thesis considers architecture's psychophysical effects on its users through a "Glossary for the Meaningful design of Atmospheres" and Taoism. The "Glossary" reconciles psychological reactions with architectural elements through an interdisciplinary analysis of psychology and architecture, and Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that dissolves the human into the universe, unifying them. Architectural precedents including the Japanese tea ceremony, Eileen Gray's E-1027, and Snøhetta's Oslo Opera House, an example of Scandinavian architecture, provide inspirational foundations and illuminate a set of fundamental design ideas at their overlays: "Paradox," "Physical" and "Now." The resulting design of the rituals, and a home on a site near Stockholm follows the guidelines suggested in this thesis and thus exemplifies how reconciling paradox, honouring physicality and elevating the present moment can guide architectural design.