Phenomenology of Space and Human Experience in Architecture
This research explores architecture as an experiential medium shaped by perception, memory, and the human body rather than just visual form. It critiques the dominance of ocular-centric design and repositions architecture as a multisensory, temporal, and atmospheric phenomenon. Through theoretical study and case-based analysis, the research connects phenomenological ideas with real architectural practice. It ultimately frames architecture as an interface between human consciousness and the built environment.
Year
January 2026
Scope
Research Thesis
Location
NA
Duration
4 months
Framework of Analysis
The research derives a phenomenological framework from the writings of Juhani Pallasmaa, focusing on architecture as a lived and embodied experience. The framework is structured through key lenses embodied perception, multisensory engagement, peripheral vision & atmosphere, temporality & movement, materiality & craft, and memory & imagination. These parameters allow spatial experience to be analysed beyond visual form, through movement, sensory interaction, and human cognition. The framework is then applied to selected works of B. V. Doshi to evaluate how architecture transforms from space into lived experience.
Conclusion
The study concludes that meaningful architecture is not merely seen but experienced through the body, senses, and time. Works like Sangath and Indology demonstrate how movement, materiality, light, and climate create deeply immersive and psychologically responsive spaces. By translating phenomenological theory into an analytical framework, the research bridges the gap between abstract thought and design practice. It reinforces the role of architecture in shaping human perception, memory, and emotional connection to space.
