BY Christian Norberg Schulz
“Architecture means to visualize the genius loci, and the task of the architect is to create meaningful places, whereby he helps man to dwell.”[1]A belief in classical Roman religion called “genius loci” means the protective spirit of a place. Author here, interprets it to be a design principle of an architect in consideration with the sensory experiences for whom he/ she is designing.
Christian Norberg Schulz has written about architecture as a means, its importance to existential in his books- Intentions in Architecture and Existence, Space and Architecture, Meaning in Western Architecture.[2] The text- Genius Loci is further an effort to study the psychic implications of architecture. The author does not negate the existence of practical aspects of architecture but he tries to find the interrelationship between psychical and physical and their implication over built environment in architecture.
The phenomenological study is unlike semiotics. It is not just the verbal description of the form and composition but also the study of experiential perception of an environment formed by architecture and man. This separates the architecture from merely a shelter, place from space. “How do people orient themselves in space… what makes a space existential…”[3] He tries to decipher these concrete phenomena of architecture in this text.
The text criticizes the principles of modern architecture, which tend to be pure and try to achieve infinite precision. Author says, visual perception is not the only driving factor of making architecture, which is dominant in modernism. Modern cities have lost their poetic quality by following the assembly line production principles. The medieval settlements are in harmony.
He elaborates the principles of Le Corbusier and Richard Meyer- “sight as a frontal encounter or kinesthetic eye of the Promenade architectural.”[4] He says that Corbusier and Meyer emphasize just on visual senses, which is an incomplete approach to architecture.
“Alvar Alto’s and FLW’s architecture is based on a full recognition of embodied human condition and of the multitude of instinctual reactions hidden in the human unconscious.”[5] Alvar Alto’s concern for glare in daily habitat (visual sense) and for conduction of heat in chairs (tactile sense) shows experience centric design approach.
Kevin Lynch talks about intangible aspects of urban planning and the memory formed based on perceptions in “Image of the city”. Robert Venturi’s critique on Purist approach of Modern architecture in ‘complexity and contradiction in architecture’ refers to psychological perception. He says, “I like elements which are hybrid rather than “pure”… boring as well as “interesting”…”[6]
Pallasmaa substantiates, “Architecture is the art of reconciliation between ourselves and the world, and this mediation takes place through senses.”[7]
This text has made a significant benchmark for the phenomenological studies in the field of Architecture. In 1980s the recognition to popular consciousness started emerging. In 1985 the concept of dwelling (being improved from Housing,) started emerging. These discussions became possible and we started looking at architecture from experiential and psychological perspective now, because of this initiative through Genius Loci.
[1] Christian Norberg Schulz, Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Published by Rizzoli-1991
[2] Christian Norberg Schulz, Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Published by Rizzoli-1991
[3] Christian Norberg Schulz, Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Published by Rizzoli-1991
[4] Christian Norberg Schulz, Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Published by Rizzoli-1991
[5] Christian Norberg Schulz, Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Published by Rizzoli-1991
[6] Robert Venturi, Complexity And Contradictions In Architecture, published by
The Museum of Modern Art, 1966 (Translated in 1977)
[7] Pg. 72, Juhani Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, published by Willey-Academy-2005