Phenomenology in Architecture and Its Key Points
Discuss about the Phenomenology To The Mechanisms Of Consciousness.
Designing an architectural beauty is a special approach of a unique architect. Throughout the historic architecture has its position in classical artistic measure which is structured on the precise execution of scientific knowledge as well as artistic imagination. This paper is focused on a philosophical concept named Phenomenology which implies a specific architectural use of in modern civilisation through artistic sense of configuring the fundamental elements of art as well as engineering. A particular architectural implementation of Phenomenology named Bloch Addition which was designed by Steven Holl as a static existence of Nelson Art Gallery building is the chief focus of this paper. Initially, the paper describes philosophical intervention of Phenomenology as a part of the advanced architecture. Then the paper examines the historical importance of the case study which is a profound example of Phenomenological architecture. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key components of this architectural pattern and its potential growth in the next era of human civilisation.
The term Phenomenology refers a philosophical approach that deals with the abstract as well as synchronised interpretation of objective reality through human senses. Phenomenology also implies a specific type of awareness in human psychology through which an individual can experience a unique sensation from the reality through the alternative representation of visual, auditory and another aspect of an environment. In other words, Phenomenology is a distinct phenomenon of presenting a object which defers from the usual observation of human intellect. This philosophical interpretation of dissimilar constraint of perception as a element of realisation is founded on a first-person viewpoint. This philosophy is well known for its individuality and uniqueness in modern art and architectural study that allows presenting the reality from an altered perspective, which has symmetric at the same time has a distinct phenomenon. In architecture, this philosophy has the wide range of implementation that ornamented the architectural improvement from both theoretical and practical aspect.
As discussed earlier, because of having abstract as well as systematic properties Phenomenology has been used in the fine level of architectural design. Since the beginning of 1950, this architectural philosophy has mesmerised the human experience as a theory as well as a beautiful implementation is civil engineering. The Phenomenology as an architectural philosophy implies the implementation of the sensory design for gaining architectural space which has unique flavour experience. The analysis of Phenomenological architecture from quantitative aspect has been done by Alberto Pérez-Gómez, Peter Zumthor and Steven Holl as obliging evidence that can help to have a more intense experience through this architectural creation. The fundamental attribute of this Phenomenological architecture is it is a fine contrast of higher rationalist implementation and fine artistic design. The influence of this structural design on the witness is extraordinary for having its comprehensive construction far beyond the physical manipulation which has the ability to make a unique experience and ingrained memory.
Phenomenology as Architectural Theory
Phenomenological architecture has four attributes that regulates its variation namely space, object, light and shadow. With these mechanisms and the artistic build-up architecture can design a Phenomenological architecture construction successfully. The chief distinctiveness of Phenomenological architecture is its expressive influence on spectator by presenting the unique abstract design. The architectural designing and its space manipulation are regulated by allocation and the measurement of the objects. Similarly, the manipulation of daylight, as well as dim light at night, regulates the augmented projection of shadow inappropriate amount and density. On the other hand, the Phenomenological architecture does not always represent an abstract design, where the various symmetrical structures are placed in different direction vector. The key to this utilisation is to manipulate the human perception to make an artistic beauty with thermal, auditory or visual benefit. However, in reality, the most widespread execution of this theory of architecture is built on the manipulation of projection of light and shadow within a predetermined space.
Figurer1: Holl’s Bloch Addition
Source: (Willoughby et al., 2015)
Bloch Addition is a specific type of architectural design by using the reflective properties of light. This architectural design is also known as “the Feather”. In 2007 The Nelson Atkin Museum of Art decided to extend their building by engaging the new architectural style name Bloch Building. The authority decided that the new renovation would include the sculptures of the garden and entire modification of the Museum through this unique artistic building design. Steven Holl, the researcher of phenomenological architecture was an honorary member in the director board of architects. The new addition of the building extends throughout the eastern part of the existing building having distinct five glass lenses. The sculpture park was also included in this architectural innovation. After finishing the project the Nelson Atkin Museum of Art established a surprising admiration from their guests for its inventive landscape margin, excellent configuration of reflection, distortion of lighting along with the utilisation of the refraction across the museum building.
The expansion of the museum has changed the entire architectural dimension of Nelson art gallery that has huge architectural significance in Phenomenology based architecture and especially in Bloch Addition architecture. The design of these premises has successfully achieved the soothing relationship between art and architecture. The visitor can experience a flow of light, art, architecture and landscape while moving through the newly expanded part of the building and the sculpture park. The most significant and distinct phenomenon of this building is its manipulation of space that allows the visitors to experience a unique sense of exposition while present inside the building. every levels of the building is clearly observable from any position while absence of unnecessary vivid natural light in the interior of the building. However, the suspensions of secondary structures have formed a unique pattern of using the daylight inside a specific bandwidth. The threaded movement of the light-gathering lenses create the weaves of projected light to the landscape with accurate fluid dynamism management.
Key Points of Phenomenology-Based Architecture
The new addition of the building established a surprising approval from the guests for having inventive background margin, mesmerising space management for reflection, distortion as well as the refraction of light all the way through the whole building of the museum. The architectural type of Nelson art gallery is the finest implementation of Bloch Addition in architectural design by using the reflective properties of light. As discussed earlier Phenomenological architecture operates with four regulatory attributes of architectural adjustment namely space, object, light and shadow. Following this characteristic, The architectural design of Nelson art gallery uses the natural light with stipulated manipulation of brightness and projection. The unique Phenomenological experience in this architecture is based on highlighting of the space and material with the cooperation of both light and shadow. The metaphysical strength of this architectural design is driven by the excellence of light and shadow manipulation by solids and voids, through opacities, transparencies and translucencies.
Figurer1: Holl’s Bloch Addition in Nelson Atkin Museum of Art
Source: (Behnke et al., 2013)
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be said that throughout the history architecture Phenomenological architecture has the position in conventional artistic determination that based on the precise completion of scientific comprehension and artistic thoughts. Apart from that, the artistic and architectural utilisation of this philosophical perception in modern architecture holds the diligent wisdom of distribution of the fundamental rudiments of art as well as the engineering. Despite that, Phenomenology is a perception of phenomena which distinct and unique from the natural human observation and experience. From the above examination, it can be accomplished that Phenomenology as an architectural philosophy refers improvising the artistic and geometrical design in order to achieve architectural individuality with providing unique experience to the observer. Bloch Addition is a specific type of architectural design by using the reflective properties of light. As an example, the new addition of Nelson Atkin Museum established a surprising approval from the guests for having inventive background margin, mesmerising space management for reflection, distortion and the controlled refraction of daylight all the way through the whole building of the museum.
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