BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

(ARC61303/ARC2224)

SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2017)

Name: Ong Seng Peng ID No.: 0319016

Lecturer: Mr Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 8am

Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling: A

Look at Phenomenology of Architecture

Synopsis No: 2

Author: Juhani Pallasmaa

The author talked about how architecture should be perceived in terms of experience rather than just

purely by the impression of forms. He reminds people to pay more attention to the scenography of

architecture, to things that define the meaning. It can be as simple as a noticing a window linking with the

landscape outside, which inform about the place rather than how delicate the window is.

He stated that architecture is best to be perceived with our conscious act of pure looking, without any

set of pre-given framework or concept. It is based on instincts that will evoke our imagination and memory.

However, the act of “pure looking” as suggested by the author is subjective to different individuals, because

different physical, mental and emotional feeling can be subjected to that user on that particular day. In the

end, to evaluate architectural quality, people need to have a rather objective and tangible assessment to the

architecture but to feel architecture, one can follow what was suggested by the author.

The author reminds designers not to get too overwhelmed with the design of forms and elements but

instead, look into considering the user experience. Perhaps, today’s architecture is too methodological in

making space, composing architecture as a series of elements, yet they do not really affect the spatial

experience, as normal user wouldn’t remember any details of the archite ctural elements such as doors and

windows.

However, to construct that kind of architectural experience, architecture still need to be designed by

its components and elements in order to construct that experiential space. The mind will experience the

intangible but in the physical world, it’s the tangible materiality and form that will contribute to user experience.

Utilizing components and elements to create the desired space is still significantly important. Designers need

to carefully study the space to construct that desired experience.

Word Count: 308 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No.