Unlike human beings, landscapes, cities and buildings cannot feel anything in the literal sense. They do not have nervous systems. Nevertheless, we attribute “Stimmungen” such as peacefulness and melancholy to them. On what basis? With what right? And why does it matter anyway? This project attempts an answer to this bunch of questions.

Firstly it clarifies the concept of “Stimmung,” by distinguishing its three major meanings, namely harmony, mood and atmosphere. Secondly it discusses various models of how “Stimmung” (in the sense of mood) is infused into our natural and artificial environment (as atmosphere). Thirdly it lists several ways of how we experience atmosphere, preparing the ground for a specifically aesthetic claim, namely how, when we experience atmosphere aesthetically, we respond to it by resonating or feeling at home.