New Design Ideas

“We often find that we can only fully remember and articulate a place when we are distant from it, unable to convey its essence while we are present”. Cultural buildings situated in heritage areas should possess architectural uniqueness, appeal to a diverse range of users across various age groups and authentically reflect traditional villages and cities' sensory and cultural experiences. Furthermore, such cultural buildings should function as interactive cultural environments and living museums that engage the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. This research addresses the problem of declining interest in visiting cultural buildings in Bahrain and explores the common reluctance to visit these sites. The hypothesis is that visitors navigate cultural spaces and sense the interior spaces via their bodily experiences; if visitors have the opportunity to wander, feel the texture of traditional walls, inhale the scents of wooden and stone constructions and listen to the sounds of everyday life, it would prevent their disengagement. This approach aims to address the challenges of visitor abandonment and encourage increased attendance at these cultural structures. The research will conclude with recommendations for creating vibrant and informative experiences by integrating modern interpretive techniques with contemporary and classic architectural elements. A mixed methods approach will be used as the principal methodology to accomplish the research aim through a theoretical literature review and an analytical study.