The major aim of this research is to integrate odor into the architectural conception. In order to understand apparition, transition and disappearance modes of odor in space, this work is an exploration of the olfactory surroundings in built environment. It is to go thoroughly the general knowledge about the olfactory sensation, if possible in its connections with technical or architectural apparatus. First the restatement of the olfactory space proprieties has been done. Then a sociologic inquiry gave olfactory interpretation particularities. It seems to be, most of the time, the combination of physic-chemicals, physiologic and socio-cultural elements. The paradigm of olfactory effect is a way to express some of these combinations, among the most typical. Afterwards, these inferences have been confronted with the olfactory and materialistic reality in a field study. An interdisciplinary method, by "commented city walk", has been adapted to olfactory sensation, and olfactory assessments had been done by a specialized jury. Some interactions between the studied building, odors and user's interpretations had been provided. This "olfactory configurations" can be, at least, considered as models to integrate odor in building conception.
