Second Place Winner
Earthly Fluctuations
Design by
Reneah Joanna Fedelicio
“Excellent integration within the context—a space that serves as a tangible link between user and environment, seamlessly blending into its surroundings while maintaining a strong sense of connection.”
-Andreea Felciuc
Reneah Joanna Fedelicio
Reneah Joanna Fedelicio is a fourth-year undergraduate architecture major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with a minor in Creative Writing & Literature. She has prior experience as an architecture intern, private architectural tutor, and freelance architectural visualization artist. Currently studying abroad in Argentina for the spring semester, she is eager to explore various architectural and construction methodologies in Latin America.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in architecture or related fields?
My name is Reneah Joanna Fedelicio and I’m a 4th year undergraduate architecture major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a minor in Creative Writing & Literature. In addition to pursuing my B.Arch, I’ve also previously worked as an architecture intern, a private architectural tutor, as well as a freelance architectural visualization artist. At the moment, I’m currently studying abroad in Argentina for the spring semester and looking forward to learning more about the different architectural and construction methodologies in Latin America.
How would you define emotional design in architecture?
Emotional design in architecture involves intentionally crafting built environments to evoke specific emotional responses and meaningful experiences for occupants. This goes beyond aesthetics to consider how sensory and experiential qualities like space, lighting, and materiality influence our emotional states. I'm fascinated by the impact these fluctuations can have on our emotions. From the arrangement of spaces to the choice of materials, each architectural element contributes to the overall sensory experience, shaping how we perceive and interact with a space on an emotional level.
What inspired your design concept for the Emotions on Display competition?
The inspiration for my design concept in the Emotions on Display competition stemmed from the awe-inspiring landscape of Slieve League, Ireland. I was particularly drawn to the idea of providing visitors with a moment of self-reflection through a captivating mountainside perspective. Thus, the mountain itself became the driving force behind my design, guiding every aspect of its creation to ensure a harmonious integration with the site.
Can you walk us through your design process for this competition?
I began with a crucial step: finding the perfect site. I knew it would shape the entire experience, so I had to get it just right to capture the most thought provoking views views. Then, I started visualizing how the building would fit into the mountainside, essentially taking over the existing viewing platform at Slieve League.
Next, I focused on circulation – how people would move through the space. I decided on two corridors flanking a central area, which I then subdivided further into smaller, intimate spaces. Also, instead of working solely on floor plans, I found myself drawn more to section views, where I could play with materials and lighting to evoke specific emotions.
Once the layout of the building was completed, I transitioned into the production phase, where I focused on drafting plans, sections, diagrams, and renders to bring the design to life.
How do you plan to ensure that visitors have a memorable and emotionally impactful experience in your museum space?
To ensure visitors have a memorable and emotionally impactful experience in the museum space, the approach involves meticulous attention to detail. Every part of the visit, from the initial approach to the building to the exploration within, is crafted to remain intriguing. This is achieved through an interplay of elements such as changing material palettes, diverse lighting, captivating shadows, unique spatial configurations, and breathtaking views of the Slieve League cliffs.
What were some of the major challenges you encountered during the design process, and how did you overcome them?
During the design process, one of the major challenges I encountered was visualizing and graphically representing the methodology behind how the building creates fluctuations in emotions. While I came up with the scheme for the building relatively early on and found designing it to be straightforward, translating the concept into a clear visual representation proved more difficult than anticipated. It took several weeks of experimentation and refinement until I was finally able to graphically illustrate how materiality and spatial distance influence one's positive and negative emotions.
How do you believe your museum design will contribute to enhancing visitors' understanding of the relationship between architectural spaces and human emotions?
The museum design aims to heighten visitors' awareness of the emotional impact of architectural spaces. Through contrasting experiences—like navigating tight, dimly lit areas versus open, well-lit spaces—visitors will learn how surroundings influence mood. This firsthand understanding will inspire them to rethink their own living spaces to better suit their emotional needs.
Looking back on your design process, is there anything you would have done differently?
I would have refined the emotional fluctuation methodology more. I think it would have helped to add more visualizations and create more diagrams surrounding how the building frames specific thought-provoking views.
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