ARCHITECTURAL PHENOMENOLOGY EXPLORING THE EXPERIENTIAL POTENTIALITY OF ARCHITECTURE PDF

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ARCHITECTURAL PHENOMENOLOGY EXPLORING THE EXPERIENTIAL POTENTIALITY OF ARCHITECTURE ABSTRACT Architecture is vital part of human life and it has emotional impact on human behavior .Human learn from their experiences. Thus it is necessary to study the human relationship with built environment as it c...

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ARCHITECTURAL PHENOMENOLOGY EXPLORING THE EXPERIENTIAL POTENTIALITY OF ARCHITECTURE

ABSTRACT

Architecture is vital part of human life and it has emotional impact on human behavior .Human learn from their experiences. Thus it is necessary to study the human relationship with built environment as it can help designers in building places with identity and meaning by focusing on user experience. This paper provides understanding of human experience from phenomenological point of view. Phenomenology establishes the need for the observance of sensorial sensitivity in design for human experience. The integration of Phenomenology into our generation of designing will acknowledge architecture’s respect for human experience. But the key challenge is the awareness of how to use this theoretical knowledge in architectural practice. The purpose of this paper is to present ways of applying this knowledge in architectural practice. Inferences are drawn from survey conducted among architects and studying work of various phenomenologist’ for finding the ways of designing for better human experience. These inferences are further analyzed and elaborated for better understanding of interrelationship of human behavior, psychology with architectural spaces. The paper concludes by suggesting design approaches and tools for improving human experience in built environment. Key words: Phenomenology, Architectural phenomenology, Human Behavior, Experience, Atmosphere, Place, Sense of place.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I have taken efforts in this research paper. However, it would not have been possible without guidance of my guide, help from friends and faculties, and support from the college and my family. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my guide Dr. Ila Gupta and coordinators Ar. Rajshree Mathur and Ar. Navneet Khurana for their guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the report and also for their support for completing my paper. I would also like to thank MBS School of Planning and Architecture, for their support and cooperation provided for the past several months. My thanks and appreciation also goes to all architects who presented their views in the survey and other faculty members who helped in developing the project and people who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

JYOTI AHLAWAT

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CONTENTS Candidates’ Declaration

i

Abstract

ii

Acknowledgements

iii

List of Contents

iv-v

List of Illustrations

vi-vii

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

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1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 3 1.2 Nature of Problem ............................................................................... 3 1.3 Need of Study....................................................................................... 4 1.4 Problem Statement ............................................................................. 4 1.5 Aim and Objective ..............................................................................5 1.6 Methodology ........................................................................................ 5-6

Chapter 2: PHENOMENOLOGY IN ARCHITECTURE

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2.1 Brief Introduction: Phenomenology ................................................. 9-13 2.1.1 What is phenomenology? ........................................................ 9 2.1.2 Historical background ............................................................. 9 2.1.3 Views by Various Theorists ................................................... 10 2.2 Conclusion..................................................................................13 2.2 Need of Phenomenology in Architecture ............................................14-16 2.2.1 Theoretical Precedent ............................................................. 14 2.2.2 Serving Purpose of Architecture ............................................ 15 2.2.3 Conclusion ..............................................................................16

Chapter 3: SURVEY

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3.1 Method of Survey ............................................................................... 19 3.2 Result and Inferences ........................................................................ 20 3.3 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 26

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Chapter 4: CONTEXT ANALYSIS 4.1 Jewish museum, Berlin ...................................................................... 29 4.2 Therme Vals, Switzerland ................................................................. 34

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Chapter 5: APPROACHING ARCHITECTURAL PRACTISE 5.1 Design Approaches and Tools ........................................................... 42 5.2 Sense of Place in Architecture ........................................................... 42-46 5.2.1 Introduction

42

5.2.2 Understanding Place

43

5.2.3Elements of Place

43

5.2.4 Factors Creating Sense of Place ............................................. 45 5.2.5 Conclusion

46

5.3 Atmosphere in Architecture .............................................................. 47-51 5.3.1 Atmosphere in context of architecture ................................... 47 5.3.1 Creating atmosphere

48

5.3.2 Material Compatibility

49

5.2.3 The sound of Space

49

5.2.4 Level of Intimacy

50

5.2.3 The Temperature of Space

50

5.2.4 The Light on Things

50

5.3.3 Conclusion .............................................................................. 51

Chapter 6: CONCLUSION REFERENCES ANNEXURE

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS LIST OF FIGURES: Figure 1.1: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 6 Figure 2.1: PHENOMENOLOGY AND ITS ASPECTS ............................................................................................. 13 Figure 3.1: EXPERIENCE OF RESPONDENTS (IN YEARS) ................................................................................... 20 Figure 3.2: ARCHITECTURE HAS POWER TO TRANSFORM HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY ................................... 21 Figure 3.3: SHOULD SPACE BE DESIGNED WITH PHENOMENOLOGICAL DESIGN APPROACH ................ 22 Figure 3.4: USE OF PHENOMENOLOGICAL DESIGN APPROACHES BY RESPONDENTS IN DESIGN .......... 23 Figure 3.5: WAYS FOR INCREASING EXPERIENTIAL QUALITY OF SPACE ..................................................... 24 Figure 3.6: CHALLENGES IN PRACTICING EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN ................................................................. 25 Figure 4.1: SPATIAL CONFIGURATION OF JEWISH MUSEUM ............................................................................30 Figure 4.2: DIFFERENT AXIS’S, JEWISH MUSEUM ................................................................................................ 31 Figure 4.3: REPRESENTATIONOF EXPERIENCE IN MUSEUM ............................................................................. 33 Figure 4.4: SPACES DESIGN FOR CREATING EXPERIENCE IN MUSEUM .......................................................... 33 Figure 4.5: SPACE ORGANISATION IN THERME VALS ........................................................................................ 35 Figure 4.6: REPRESENTATIONOF EXPERIENCE IN THERME VALS .................................................................... 36 Figure 4.7: FLOOR PLAN THERME VALS ................................................................................................................. 37 Figure 5.1: ELEMENTS OF PLACE .............................................................................................................................. 43 Figure 5.2: GESTALT PRINCIPLES OF VISUAL PERCEPTION ............................................................................... 44 Figure 6.1: HUMAN PERCEPTION OF SPACE .......................................................................................................... 53 Figure 6.2: RELATION OF EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE .............................................................................. 54 Figure 6.3: FLOW CHART SHOWING DEVELOPED EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN APPROACH ............................ 55

LIST OF IMAGES: Image 4.1: SCARED FAÇADE, JEWISH MUSEUM ..................................................................................................29 Image 4.2: DEFORMED INTERIOR, AXIS OF CONTINUITY ................................................................................. 32 Image 4.3: GARDEN OF EXILE.................................................................................................................................... 32. ARCHITECTURAL PHENOMENOLOGY EXPLORING THE EXPERIENTIAL POTENTIALITY OF ARCHITECTURE

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Image 4.4: SCREAMING METAL FACES ..................................................................................................................... 32 Image 4.5: VIEW OF THERME VALS ...........................................................................................................................34 Image 4.6: CONCEPT OF SCALE,THERME VALS ..................................................................................................... 38 Image 4.7: LIGHTS IN MAIN INDOOR POOL ............................................................................................................. 39

LIST OF TABLES: Table 3.1: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE CONTENT .................................................................................................... 19

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1

CHAPTER

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

This chapter gives the overview about the research paper. The aim and objective of research and research question. The chapter describes about research methodology followed for reaching at conclusion.

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Introduction

1.1 INTRODUCTION Architectural Phenomenology is the study of architectural experiences of human in the built environment. Phenomenology in architecture promotes the integration of sensory perception as a function of a built form. Phenomenological concept strategies in architectural design intend to develop a unique experience for user. Phenomenology as demonstrated in architecture is the manipulation of various themes to create a memorable encounter through an impact on the human senses.

1.2 NATURE OF PROBLEM Architecture has an emotional impact on humans. Architecture is part of our life, we learn what we experience. Architecture is designed to serve the needs of human activity, therefore creates a relationship between human senses and the built environment. But there is a general lack of emotional richness in contemporary architecture. Today most of the buildings are designed as structures in trendy wrappings to grab attention. In result they are lacking the true essence of architecture that is the experience. ―Why do very few modern buildings appeal to our feelings, the building of our own time may arouse our curiosity with their daring or inventiveness, but they hardly give us any sense of meaning of our world or our existence‖ The above writing by Juhani Pallasmaa in “The geometry of feeling” about style of modern architecture suggest that modern architecture is lacking in experiential and sensorial aspects: Besides the functional and aesthetic demand the question for the design should include how the people will feel inside the building and how they are going to experience the space.

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Introduction

1.3 NEED OF STUDY “Experience of architecture is multi-sensory; qualities of matter, space and scale are measured equally by the eye, ear, nose, skin, tongue, skeleton and muscle. Architecture strengthens… one‘s sense of being in the world, essentially giving rise to a strengthened experience of self.‖ (Juhani Pallasmaa ,Eyes of the Skin,1996, 28). Our bodies, movement are in constant interaction with the environment, the world. They self inform and redefine each other constantly .With interaction between body, imagination and environment one eventually gain some experience. But today most of the architects are selling style not architecture which is result in places that lack physical and mental accessibility and experience. This depicts the need for reviving the true essence of architecture which is human experience. The form and function plays a very crucial role for building design but it should also value the experience of the individual which can be done by designing buildings and spaces keeping in mind the concept of architectural phenomenology.

1.4 PROBLEM STATEMENT “Space is an empty container for experience.” It‟s the architects‟ responsibility to create experience in a space. Architects have the capacity of creating meaningful places and producing distinctive memorable designs which harbor extraordinary experiences. But one of the key challenges in architecture is the lack of awareness of tools through which an experiential understanding of place can be achieved, communicated and translated into design. Architects can better communicate the experiences human have with built environment by understanding of strategies and concept of architectural phenomenology.

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Introduction

1.5 AIM & OBJECTIVE In today‟s era (post modern) architecture has been confined to the form and functioning of space which is indeed good thing but there is something missing which is experience that is communication between space and human. This research paper will address the issue of experience less and emotionless architecture by developing architectural approach to bridge the gap between physical properties and experiential qualities of architectural spaces with the help of concept of architectural phenomenology. The study will draw upon the following notion: •

Understanding what is architectural phenomenology, its origin and its importance in current architecture.

•

Exploring how certain aspects of phenomenology could provide conceptual foundations for a more experiential and context-sensitive architectural practice in present-day conditions.

•

Developing design approaches for better human experience in architectural spaces from the study of phenomenological strategies and analyzing the work of various phenomenologist.

1.6 METHODOLOGY The study is largely based on the secondary data collected from various secondary sources of data collection like websites, newspapers, magazines and various research papers and secondary surveys. The research utilizes a qualitative process, where conclusions are drawn based on interpretation of the research material reviewed. The research paper will emphasize on understanding of how to design for developing human experience. How architectural spaces can be enhanced using phenomenological design approaches to have better human experience. The research procedure is shown in figure 1.1.

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Introduction

The research is carried out in following given steps:

Understanding what is phenomenology and its background in architecture

Historical background study of phenomenology in architecture

Exploring the need of phenomenology in architecture by studying thoughts by various theorists and by conducting a survey

Conducting a survey among architects to get their views on

Need of phenomenology

Approaches for experiential design

Challenges while practicing experiential design approaches

Drawing inferences from views of survey respondents

Case study of buildings designed with experiential design approaches

Elaborating inferences drawn from case study and survey

Concluding the experiential design approaches for use in architectural practice Figure 1.1: Research Methodology

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2

CHAPTER

PHENOMENOLOGY IN ARCHITECTURE

Phenomenology in Architecture

This chapter gives the brief overview about architectural phenomenology, its interpretation by various phenomenologists and how phenomenology is viewed in architecture from past few decades. The chapter also draw notion on need of phenomenology in present architecture style.

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Phenomenology in Architecture

2.1 BRIEF INTRODUCTION: ARCHITECTURAL PHENOMENOLOGY 2.1.1 WHAT IS PHENOMENOLOGY? In philosophical terms, phenomenology is the interpretative study of human beings through their experiences in and of the world on an everyday life basis. Phenomenology is the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view. The central structure of an experience is its intentionality, its being directed toward something, as it is an experience of or about some object. An experience is directed toward an object by virtue of its content or meaning (which represents the object) together with appropriate enabling conditions. (Stanford, 2013) “Architectural phenomenology,” can be defined as the phenomenological study of architectural experiences and meanings as constituted by qualities and features of both the built environment and human life (Seamon D.,2016).

2.1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The history of phenomenology is complex. (Spiegelberg. 1982).People have, of course experienced the world informally for millennia, however this field was developed by the German philosopher Edmund Husserl in the early years of the 20th Century to formally theories experience.(Stanford,2013) The phenomenological movement began with his Logical Investigations (1900-1901) .Over the time there developed different phenomenological schools, styles, and emphases. Phenomenology and architecture were linked in the 1970‟s by Christian Norberg-Schulz. Most phenomenology-based studies in architecture have utilised the works of philosophers such as Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty.

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Phenomenology in Architecture

2.2.3 VIEWS BY VARIOUS THEORISTS Founding father of phenomenology Edmund Husserl believed that, beneath the changing flux ...