Genius Loci: "The Phenomenology of Place and Architecture"

This week was my first jump into the realm of true architectural theory. When I say jump, I mean leap, and when I say leap I mean off of a cliff. I was bombarded by such a barrage of information and theoretical jargon that it was hard to keep on task and remember certain elements to the conversation. Fortunetly, I took very good notes not only of the reading but on the class discussion as well. Here are some of the ideas that were brought up. I have included my own thoughts on the subject in brackets( [like this] ).

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My first steps into theory were based on the notion of Genius Loci, which is Latin for "The Spirit of Place." It was explained that we must define a character of architecture. Everything is given a character, not by choice but rather by instinct and the way the brain interprets certain surroundings. The character is not created by the building, but rather by those people that see and experience the true nature of the building. In other words, the character is not simply the elements in the space, but rather the collective whole of the experience.

You cannot define character with a single trait, however. A character is defined by the singular elements that combine to make a whole. Still, with this in mind, a single element cannot define an entire character. A single paint stroke does not define a beautiful painting, but rather the combination of strokes are what we use to define a more complex pattern which we then interpret as a painting. A single form cannot describe a place, nor can it describe the character of said place.
For Example: "Snow sitting on a window sill" This singular phrase does not define any wholistic character of a place. A person can not decifer a location based on just this one phrase, but one can get a sense of the general time and temperature. Obviously with snow being present, its both cold and in winter.
Now if I were to say, "Looking out the window at snow falling on the window sill," it has a completely new meaning. By adding just a few words, one can now recognize a location, a temperature, a time of year, and a general ambience of the setting. Looking out the window implies an indoor setting, as "only inside can look outside, and only outside can look in." Adding the word "falling" gives an added sense of somber to the picture. The meloncholie is only heightened by the sense of cold temperature and winter time.

As words in a sentence can paint a more detailed mental picture, so do elements in an architectural design. The addition and combination of elements in a design can create a given character and style to a building, courtesy of the architect. The architect is in complete control over what their audience percieves when they see or experience their building.

Whereas "character" denotes a general atmosphere, a collaboration of every element within a space, the word "space" itself denotes an even more general three dimensional place. As mentioned earlier, space has two counterparts: An inside and an outside, and one can only look at the other(or so the text says). From there, space can be divided into other categories. A landscape is a varied extension of space along a given plane. Settlements are enclosed entities of space that lie amongst a landscape. Both of these exibit a figure to ground relationship.

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In terms of arranging elements in space, one must have a form of organization and form to follow. Organizing spaces within a settlement is a direct link to creating the character of the spaces and building as a whole. Such organization can be defined by a set of boundaries.

"A boundary is not where something abruptly stops, but rather where another begins." --Heiddeger

Common boundaries of the built environment around us are floors, ceilings, walls, etc. However, the landscape that is the world has its own set of boundaries. The ground itself, the horizon, and the infinite sky are all boundaries that set the landscape space around us. The similarity between both the built environment and the natural landscape must be blurred. A way to blur the line is to add openings to a building out to the landscape. Openings define an enclosure's boundary while allowing a blend out onto the landscape.

[A wall creates a concrete boundary between landscape and the built environment. Windows make a boundary disappear, while still forming a definite interior and exterior. An opeing neither defines an interior or exterior, but blends perfect the relationship between the two.]

A boundaries definition depends upon its articulation. The articultion relies on how the structure is built. A designer must know how the building will rest on the ground, and how it will rise to the sky.[Place describes a noun, character describes an adjective]