More-than a Feeling
What the FAQ are you talking about?
Find answers to commonly asked questions about architectural theory and practice.
What is architectural phenomenology?
Architectural phenomenology is the study of architecture through the lens of human experience and perception. It is an approach that seeks to understand and articulate how architectural spaces influence and are influenced by the sensory, emotional, and cognitive interactions of their inhabitants.
This field goes beyond the mere aesthetics and functionality of buildings to explore the deeper, often intangible, qualities that make a space meaningful and resonant. It examines the ways in which architecture can evoke feelings, memories, and atmospheres, creating environments that engage the whole being.
Central to architectural phenomenology are questions such as:
How do we perceive and understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us?
How do architectural spaces influence human perception and experience (and vice versa)
What are the generators (tangible and intangible) of architectural atmospheres (and how can these be effectively - and affectively -composed through architectural design)?
How do exogenous (culture, narrative, expectations) and endogenous (memory, sensation, affective states) factors colour or tincture our perceptions (and how can designers work with this)?
By focusing on the lived experience of space, architectural phenomenology emphasises the importance of Being-there (physically co-present), 4E cognition (Embodied, Embedded, Enactive, and Extended), and the creation of affective atmospheres. It considers how architecture can attune individuals to their surroundings, fostering a sense of connection and belonging (or conversely, instil a sense of disconnection, alienation, and depression).
This approach is crucial for creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also deeply fulfilling on an emotional and sensory level (more-than visual) - an existential foothold, in which we may dwell (to paraphrase Norberg-Schulz). It challenges architects to think about the impact of their designs on the human psyche and to strive for buildings that enhance the quality of life for their users.
Why is architectural theory important?
Architectural theory provides a framework for understanding the principles, concepts, and ideas that underpin the design and construction of our built environment. It helps architects and designers develop a critical and informed approach to their work, leading to more thoughtful, responsible, and meaningful environments:
Foundation for Practice: Architectural theory provides a foundational framework that guides design decisions, ensuring that architecture is rooted in solid intellectual and philosophical principles.
Critical Thinking: Theory cultivates critical thinking, encouraging architects to question assumptions, explore diverse perspectives, and evaluate the social, cultural, and ethical implications of their work.
Relevance to Past, Present and Future of a Place: Understanding the historical development of architectural ideas and intentions helps architects learn from the past and innovate in ways that are contextually informed.
Relevance to People and Place: Theory examines the relationship between architecture and culture, enabling architects to create spaces that reflect and shape cultural identities and values.
Human Experience: Architectural theory delves into how architecture affects emotions, behaviours, and perceptions, helping architects design spaces that enhance well-being and create meaningful experiences.
Innovation and Creativity: Engaging with theoretical concepts sparks innovation, encouraging architects to question conventional thinking and explore new ideas, materials, and technologies, with a view to improving the current condition or discovering solutions to new challenges.
Interdisciplinary Connections: Architectural theory intersects with disciplines like philosophy, psychology, and sociology, behavioural sciences, ethnography, anthropology, sensory studies, history, human geography, and so on, enriching architectural practice with diverse insights and methodologies.
Ethical Considerations: Theory addresses ethical issues, promoting sustainable and equitable design practices that benefit society.
Educational Value: For students and educators, theory is essential for understanding and analysing architecture, preparing future architects to think critically and creatively, to tackle design challenges that we have yet to imagine.
What is 4E Cognition?
4E cognition is a framework in cognitive science that describes cognition as being Embodied, Embedded, Enactive, and Extended. This approach transcends traditional views of cognition as solely brain-based processes, challenging the false dichotomies of both brain-body (embodiment) and body-place (emplacement), emphasising the dynamic and reciprocal interplay between the mind, body, and environment. This is the conceptual foundation of "More-than a Feeling":
“From a phenomenological perspective, there is no dualistic person/worldor people/environment relationship. Instead there is only a people-world immersion, entwinement, and comingling whereby what is conventionally understood as two conceptionally – person/world, subject/object - is realized as one existentially – person-intertwined-with-the-world" - David Seamon, 2023
Embodied:
This principle asserts that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the built environment. Sensory and motor functions play a crucial role in shaping our understanding and experience of architectural spaces. Unlike other aspects of 4E cognition, embodied cognition specifically focuses on how physical engagement—through touch, movement, and spatial navigation—directly influences our perception, emotional responses, and cognitive interpretations of architecture. This perspective highlights the importance of designing spaces that consider the bodily experiences of users, fostering a deeper connection and more meaningful interaction with the environment.
Embedded:
This principle posits that cognitive processes are deeply influenced by the physical and social environments in which they occur. In the context of architecture, it emphasises that our understanding and experience of spaces are fundamentally shaped by their cultural, historical, and physical contexts. Unlike the other aspects of 4E cognition, embedded cognition specifically focuses on how the environment, including its narratives and social dynamics, frames and informs our cognitive and emotional engagement with architecture. This perspective underscores the importance of designing spaces that are contextually integrated, allowing users to fully appreciate the cultural and historical significance embedded within the built environment.
Enactive:
This principle asserts that cognition arises from the active engagement between individuals and their environment. In architecture, enactive cognition emphasises that our understanding and experience of spaces are formed through our actions and interactions within those spaces. Unlike embedded cognition, which focuses on the influence of context, enactive cognition highlights the role of direct, participatory engagement in shaping our cognitive and emotional responses. This perspective underscores the importance of designing interactive and participatory environments that allow users to actively engage with and learn from their surroundings, making architecture an experiential and dynamic process.
Extended:
This principle asserts that cognitive processes extend beyond the brain to include the body and external objects or technologies as part of the cognitive system. In architecture, extended cognition emphasises that tools, symbols, and technologies integrate with our cognitive processes, enhancing our ability to perceive, understand, and interact with architectural spaces. Unlike embodied cognition, which focuses on sensory and motor interactions, and enactive cognition, which centres on active engagement, extended cognition highlights the role of external aids, such as digital archives, virtual reality, and augmented reality. These technologies expand our cognitive capabilities, allowing us to experience and interpret architectural environments in enriched and innovative ways.
How 4E Cognition Influences Our Understanding of Architecture and Architectural Design?
4E cognition transforms our understanding of architecture by emphasising the interconnectedness of mind, body, and environment. It encourages designs that are sensory-rich, contextually integrated, interactive, and technologically enhanced. By adopting a 4E approach, architects can create spaces that deeply resonate with users, enhancing both cognitive and physical experiences.
Enhanced User Experience:
Embodiment emphasises the sensory and physical aspects of space, leading to designs that cater to touch, movement, and sensory engagement. This creates more immersive and responsive environments.
Contextual Integration:
Embedded cognition highlights the importance of context. Architects design spaces that resonate with their cultural, social, and ecological surroundings, ensuring buildings are relevant and meaningful to their users.
Interactive and Adaptive Spaces:
Enactive cognition encourages designs that foster active engagement. This can result in interactive architecture where users can modify their environment, creating a dynamic and personalised experience.
Technological Integration:
Extended cognition pushes architects to integrate tools and technologies that enhance cognitive functions. Smart technologies, augmented reality, and interactive displays are examples of how design can extend cognitive abilities.
Holistic Design Approach:
4E cognition advocates for a holistic understanding of how spaces influence human thought and behaviour. This leads to more comprehensive design strategies that address physical, cognitive, and emotional needs.
Sustainable and Responsive Design:
By considering how users interact with their environment, architects can create sustainable designs that adapt to changing conditions and user needs, promoting longevity and resilience in architectural practice.
What is "atmosphere" in architecture?
In the context of a new phenomenology of architecture, atmosphere is a central concept that refers to the intangible, yet profoundly influential, quality of a space that affects human perception and emotion. This concept is deeply rooted in the works of philosophers Hermann Schmitz and Gernot Böhme, who have extensively explored the nature and impact of atmospheres.
Hermann Schmitz introduced the concept of atmospheres as spatially extended feelings, existing as "quasi-objects" in a shared space between individuals and their environment (1960s-1980s). These emotional spaces transcend the traditional boundaries of subjective and objective experiences.
Gernot Böhme elaborated on this by describing atmospheres as the medium through which we experience the world. He argued that they are created by the interplay of physical and perceptual elements within a space, actively shaping how it is perceived and felt (1990s-2010s).
Tonino Griffero furthered this idea, suggesting that atmospheres, though not objects themselves, have a tangible presence that can be collectively felt and experienced. Generated by various environmental factors, their quasi-objective nature allows them to be shared and perceived by multiple individuals simultaneously (2010-2020s).
Atmospheres are composed from certain "generators": the diverse elements, both tangible and intangible, that collectively create and shape the atmosphere of a space. Architects and designers utilise atmospheric generators to set the conditions for a desired atmosphere. These elements include colours, lighting, aromas, views, daylight, thermal and acoustic properties, and even the affective states of people, the narrative history of the space, and sociocultural or religious practices. Some atmospheric generators can be customised or adjusted, while others are managed or mitigated. Together, they contribute to the overall sensory and emotional experience of a place, forming its unique and perceptible atmosphere.
"what matters is the feeling we have of something, someone, or somewhere. Whether the place is perceived as warm and friendly or cold and austere comes down to how the space has attuned us – the way in which the various generators come together to forge a particular atmosphere that is emotionally and synaesthetically perceived through our felt and feeling body" - Touching Architecture, 2022, p151