Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
DAKAM’S ARCHTHEO ’24 / XVIII. International Theory and History Of Architecture Conference, İstanbul, Türkiye, 15 Kasım 2024, cilt.1, ss.130-143, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
The intellectual tradition established by Descartes in the 17th century, which advocates for the unity of
knowledge through methodological skepticism and supports a system of knowledge based on certain and
indisputable principles, is referred to as the Cartesian or Descartian Tradition.
Descartes defines two fundamental components—mind-body or subject-object—and in doing so,
transforms the subject from a passive knower into an active being through the cogito, which serves as both
the foundation of his philosophy and the source of knowledge. In this context, Descartes is considered the
architect of the modern concept of the subject in philosophy. The Cartesian tradition, including the
Enlightenment era with Kant as its exemplary philosopher, provides the foundation for modern philosophy
and serves as the source of critical thresholds in disciplines such as architecture throughout historical
processes.
Cartesian critique fundamentally opposes Descartes' method of seeking truth, particularly his ontological
distinction between body and mind, or Cartesian Dualism. The Cartesian tradition, which embraces a
mathematical and measurable world, has been criticized for producing knowledge that pertains to a
‘counter-nature’ human being, one who strives to transcend corporeality. In the 20th century, as the idea
that life and lived experience are the primary subjects of philosophy gained prominence, the focus shifted
toward examining experiences within the simultaneity of space, time, and life. In this regard,
phenomenology which offers a critique, argues that the body and mind of the subject perform together and
that humans and the world are inseparably intertwined.
In the 1970s, architectural phenomenology, which expanded into a broad literature and evolved into
concrete theories, addresses space not only as an objective reality formed by action relationships but also
as a spiritual world in which humans are situated and exist. This approach emphasizes a lived and
experiential understanding of space, centered on the individual’s bodily experience and direct perceptions,
focusing on the ‘’here and now’’.
The aim of this study is to chronologically present the critical thresholds extending from the Cartesian
tradition to the present and to categorize and discuss the basic concepts and themes that have emerged. In
this context, the study explores the concept of ‘‘lived experience’’, which is rooted in architectural
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phenomenology, constructed on the basis of the unity of objective and subjective experiences and examines
discourses on the qualities of human life encompassing time and space. The research methodology consists
of systematic literature review and content analysis.
This study begins by problematizing the concept of the "lifeworld," which reflects Edmund Husserl's
phenomenological approach within the discipline of architecture. Following this, the concept of '’place,’'
which underpins Martin Heidegger's notion of ‘’dasein’’ and its ‘’being-in-the-world’’, as well as new
perspectives emerging from Merleau-Ponty’s notion of "perceptual space as embodied cognition" are then
discussed. Subsequently, the study examines Christian Norberg-Schulz’s concept of the ‘’genius loci’’, which
he developed at the intersection of architecture and phenomenological philosophy, and explores his
contributions to the concepts of '’place-making’' and the qualities of '’place’' in architecture. The study
concludes by exploring the potential contributions and insights that these concepts and themes offer to the
discipline of architecture.
Keywords: architectural phenomenology, lived experience, place, critique of Cartesian tradition, cogito