Phenomenology method of making a place

University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, 196 Pasteur st., Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

^* Corresponding author: ductran@hawaii.edu

Abstract

The paper shows the concept of phenomenology originated from Edmund Husserl’s contemplation of “I think, therefore I am.” As the scientific method of consciousness, phenomenology relates to architecture via the phenomenological-self. The method concentrated on investigation and description, without prejudices. Living in the world, the phenomenological-self can be a being man, a perpetual man, a wandering man, or a sensory man. Places appear because these egos have projected them to in-between the Earth and Heaven. The selves rendered their dwelling by reflection, imagination, apperception, or sensation of the built environment. The site historicity impacted on making architecture as humans’ embodiment. The influence can be either site conformation or humans force as traditional culture. Both are the primary objects of the phenomenology method that is taken shape in four steps, from Husserl’s five phases for pure knowledge. Applying those paces in making a place, designer and students keep off their prejudices to produce a pure phenomenological architecture meaningful and articulatory to its surrounding.