Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture: Norberg-SchulzPhil
314Philosophy and the City
some terminologyDwelling: gaining an existential foothold
(5)Genius loci: the spirit of the place (5, Place: the concrete
manifestation of humans dwellingConcretize: to make the general
visible as a concrete, local situationCultural landscape: an
environment where man has found his meaningful place within the
totality. (40)
3 steps towards a phenomenology of placeDistinguish between
natural (landscape) and human-made phenomena (settlement) (p.
10)Categories of earth/sky, outside/insideCharacter: the basic mode
in which the world is given (p. 14)
Possible relationships between natural and human-made places:
gatheringVisualize: building demonstrates human understanding of
nature by replicating what is seen in natureComplement: building
adds what is perceived to be lacking in natureSymbolize: building
demonstrates human understanding of nature and self by translating
that understanding onto built form (Genius Loci, p. 17)
Genius LociSocio-economic factors are not the most important in
shaping genius loci: The existential meanings have deeper roots.
They are determined by the structure of our being-in-the-world.
(6)if the settlements are organically related to their environment,
it implies that they serve as foci where the environment is
condensed and explained. (10)Protecting and conserving the genius
loci means interpreting it in ever new ways (18)
Cultural LandscapesThrough the interaction of surface relief,
vegetation and water, characteristic totalities or places are
formed which constitute the basic elements of landscapes. (37)3
archetypes:RomanticCosmicClassical
Romantic LandscapesOriginal forces strongly feltRugged with lots
of placesDwelling an interaction between humans and earthe.g.,
Norwegian farm
Cosmic LandscapeEarth doesnt provide footholdNo individual
places structuredSky is structured by the sun rather than the
earthGenius loci a manifestation of absolutee.g., Ulurul
(Australia)
Classical LandscapeIntelligible composition of distinct
elementsMeaningful orderHuman scaleDwelling by placing as equal
partnershumans and naturee.g.,Tuscany
