The notion of "experimentation" has spread to many fields of research since its advent in the modern sciences. It has found a new resonance for the disciplines of architecture and art which, through their practice of materiality and making, lend themselves to the setting up of situations and protocols of evaluation and critique according to a complex work process. However, often limited in architecture to materials and their implementaJon, to technical devices and constructive processes leading to prototypes, what can we experiment with the atmosphere ? Experiencing on ambiance with architecture questions both the research methods on ambiances and the role of architecture in their advent. How can we put to the test the non-material or non-tangible components that atmospheres and ambiences cover, the sensitive and bodily experiences, the luminous, sound and climatic phenomena, the pressures and flows, the movements and vibraJons ? Can we isolate these elements from their context of emergence ? In this perspective, we propose to situate the various practices claiming to be based on experience by questioning the values and processes of ambience that they are said to explore. By idenJfying three filiations that underlie these types of practice, our intention is to clarify the different processes and issues that are put in place.