Unconscious Spaces

This research examines the spatial potential inherent in the dream experience and the possibility of translating dreams into realistic spaces. The starting point is recognizing the dream as a unique expression of our inner world, characterized by events that are not subject to the laws of physics or logic. While the dream unfolds as a rich and complex spatial experience, the attempt to share it with others is limited to a verbal description that never fully conveys its intensity. This gap between word and image, between description and spatial experience, constitutes the basis for the current investigation.

The central research question addresses how this gap can be bridged and the boundaries between consciousness and reality blurred through the translation of dreams into spatial design. The research proposes examining the dream as a radical laboratory for investigating translation processes between different languages—verbal, visual, and spatial—while focusing on the intensity of the experience as the central connection point between them.

The research methodology integrates practical experimentation with AI-based tools, specifically text-to-image generators, to bridge verbal description and visual expression. The work process revealed a fundamental paradox between the dream description as input to the machine and the image it produced as output. This finding not only enriched the understanding of translation processes between different media but also led to the development of a unique methodology for dialogue with the digital tool.

Beyond specific findings, the research raises fundamental questions regarding the definition of architecture in the digital age. Is the design of a virtual or dream space less legitimate than physical design? Does the prevailing dichotomous approach to artificial intelligence and non-physical spaces limit the profession’s development? The research suggests that the dream, being free from physical limitations, opens new possibilities for understanding architecture as the creation of experiences—whether physical, virtual, or situated in the intermediate space between them.