Reading Aroma in Architecture

With Meitha Almazrooei

Ages 17+

In English

This course examines how scent has historically been treated within architectural discourse and archives, focusing on how fragrant materials have been recorded and how they can be recalled. 

The sense of smell offers an additional sensory vantage point from which to read material configurations, extending the lens of formal analysis beyond just the visual. The olfactory can emerge as a powerful tool for revealing the lived experience of space and the seemingly invisible elements that shape our perception of the built environment. The different manifestations of scent in a space, which can be seen as its materiality, are a crucial aspect of understanding architecture.  

Participants will study textual evidence and analyse illustrations across a range of genres to investigate how the use of scent in daily life and various architectural approaches have been linked over time.

This session is free, and all materials are provided by Sharjah Art Foundation.

About Meitha Almazrooei
 

Meitha Almazrooei’s curatorial and editorial work has included public programming for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (2014–2016), publications for The National Pavilion of the United Arab Emirates in Venice (2014, 2017, 2023) and the establishment of WTD Magazine, an architecture and design publication (2012). She has also co-edited the anthologies In Plain Sight: Scenes from Aridly Abundant Landscapes (2023) and On Foraging – Food Knowledge and Environmental Imaginaries in the UAE's Landscape (2023). Almazrooei is a PhD candidate in History, Theory, and Criticism of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her MS in Critical, Curatorial & Conceptual Practices in Architecture from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation (2018).

The Foundation is committed to making its programmes inclusive and accessible. You will find disability access symbols indicating accessibility for all sessions on the registration form. Kindly contact us in advance to arrange for any support needed.

For more information, email learning@sharjahart.org or call 06 568 5050.