Talia Cannistra | Assignment 5a

Talia Cannistra

ARCH 926: Thesis Prep I

Fall 2011

Assignment 5a

Retorical Preçis | Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture

Steven Holl, Juhani Pallasmaa, and Alberto Perez-Gomez’s book “Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture,” contains three separate essays that are thematically linked, and each one explains the role that human perception and phenomenological experience play in architecture. Each author supports his concept by giving specific examples and support from the past, along with persuasive arguments from his point of view. These authors’ purpose is to collaboratively explain how each viewpoint has a valid argument for the sanctity of phenomenology in architecture and, although each viewpoint differs, how they all support the interpretation of architectural spaces. Holl, Pallasmaa, and Perez-Gomez are writing to anyone interested in the idea of phenomenology in architecture, despite whether they support the idea or not, and to those that would like to understand varying ideas within the same larger concept.

Source |

Holl, Steven, Alberto Perez Gomez, and Juhani Pallasmaa. “Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture.” Pub. William Stout (2006). 155pg.

Talia Cannistra

ARCH 926: Thesis Prep I

Fall 2011

Assignment 5a

Retorical Preçis | Manifold Magazine Book Review

Rachel Alliston’s review of “Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture,” claims that the book is interesting for its “overlapping and discordances between the writings of the theorists and the architects”, but what prove most compelling in the reading are “the less obvious acceptances and denials inherent to the Phenomenological arguments.” Alliston supports this claim by briefly explaining each author’s point and giving background to where their ideas are coming from. Alliston’s purpose is to clarify the ideas put forth by the book’s authors in a concise manner to help future readers understand it’s content. This review is meant for anyone that is interested in reading about these theorists and architects concepts but who would like a more abridged version of the information.

Source |

Alliston, Rachel. “Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture.” Manifold Magazine (2007).