Embodied Experience in Architecture: Beyond Form to Felt Presence
Architecture can be understood not just by its physical form, but by its capacity to evoke a felt, embodied experience that connects users to their environment.
Architectural Research Quarterly · 2023
Key Findings
- 01New Phenomenology posits a 'felt body' as central to human experience, emphasizing affective involvement.
- 02Architecture can be experienced as 'meaningful presencing' through embodied communication.
- 03Understanding architecture through embodied communication can foster environmental awareness.
Application
Design takeaway
Prioritize the creation of spaces that evoke a felt sense of presence and connection, moving beyond purely visual or functional design to engage users on an embodied, affective level.
How to apply
When designing spaces, consider how materials, light, scale, and spatial arrangements contribute to a user's embodied experience and sense of connection to the environment.
Project actions
- 01Consider the sensory experience of your design – how does it feel to touch, hear, and move through the space?
- 02Explore how your design can create a sense of 'presence' or 'belonging' for the user.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a rich theoretical framework for understanding user experience beyond surface-level interactions.
- +Encourages a holistic approach to design that considers the user's entire being.
Limitations
It can be difficult to objectively measure or quantify 'felt presence' or 'embodied communication' in a design project.
Reliability & validity
Reliability can be improved by using standardized prompts for user descriptions. Validity is enhanced by triangulating user descriptions with expert analysis of the design's phenomenological intent.
Think critically
How can the subjective nature of 'felt presence' be translated into objective design criteria?
Design Principles
"Design for embodied communication and meaningful situations to foster deeper user engagement and environmental awareness."
This perspective shifts design focus from purely aesthetic or functional considerations to the deeper, affective impact of built spaces. It encourages designers to consider how environments can foster a sense of presence and meaningful connection, moving beyond a subject-object dichotomy.
What This Means for Your Design
Think about how a building makes you *feel* and how it connects you to the space, not just how it looks or what it's for.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this theory to analyze how your design choices impact the user's embodied experience and emotional response.
- 2.Justify design decisions by referencing the creation of 'meaningful situations' or 'embodied communication'.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2023). New Phenomenology in architecture: embodied environmental communication for meaningful situations. Architectural Research Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1359135524000083 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/7dafe1c6-ff84-42e6-bdc9-ff3028388542/embodied-experience-in-architecture-beyond-form-to-felt-presence
Paragraph starter
This design project draws upon the principles of New Phenomenology, which emphasizes the 'felt body' and embodied communication. By considering how the design evokes affective involvement and creates 'meaningful situations,' the aim is to move beyond purely functional or aesthetic considerations to foster a deeper, more connected user experience with the built environment.
Source
Architectural Research Quarterly
New Phenomenology in architecture: embodied environmental communication for meaningful situations
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about embodied experience in architecture: beyond form to felt presence?
- Prioritize the creation of spaces that evoke a felt sense of presence and connection, moving beyond purely visual or functional design to engage users on an embodied, affective level. Evidence: Architectural Research Quarterly (2023).
- Why does "Embodied Experience in Architecture: Beyond Form to Felt Presence" matter for design?
- This perspective shifts design focus from purely aesthetic or functional considerations to the deeper, affective impact of built spaces. It encourages designers to consider how environments can foster a sense of presence and meaningful connection, moving beyond a subject-object dichotomy.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Prioritize the creation of spaces that evoke a felt sense of presence and connection, moving beyond purely visual or functional design to engage users on an embodied, affective level.
- What were the main findings?
- New Phenomenology posits a 'felt body' as central to human experience, emphasizing affective involvement.. Architecture can be experienced as 'meaningful presencing' through embodied communication.. Understanding architecture through embodied communication can foster environmental awareness.
- What research method was used?
- Philosophical analysis and case study.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Architectural Research Quarterly.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing spaces, consider how materials, light, scale, and spatial arrangements contribute to a user's embodied experience and sense of connection to the environment.
- What are the limitations?
- The interpretation of phenomenological concepts can be subjective, and the direct measurement of 'felt presence' is challenging.
- Is there evidence that sense presence affects design outcomes?
- By focusing on the 'felt body' and embodied communication, architecture can create environments that are not just seen or used, but deeply felt and meaningful, fostering a stronger connection between people and their surroundings. This perspective shifts design focus from purely aesthetic or functional considerations t Source: Architectural Research Quarterly (2023).
- Where does this connection moving research apply?
- Architectural design and theory It sits within classic design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
sense presence design research · evidence on sense presence · does sense presence improve design outcomes · connection moving studies for designers · sense presence and connection moving findings · classic design research evidence