Student's assignment

1. 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 ofArchitecture
Synopsis No: 2
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
The author talked abouthow architecture should be perceived in terms ofexperience 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 bestto be perceived with our conscious act of pure looking,withoutany
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 assessmentto the
architecture but to feel architecture, one can follow what was suggested by the author.
The author reminds designers notto gettoo overwhelmed with the design offorms 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 architectural elements such as doors and
windows.
However, to constructthat kind ofarchitectural 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 physicalworld,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 constructthat desired experience.
Word Count: 308 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.