theory

1. Based on "The Geometry of Feeling", Juhani Pallasmaa discussed about form , architecture and how people
experience architecture, how the architecture form affects the spatial experience, how phenomenology analyses
become a method of examining architecture and what a strong architectural experience portray.
First, Juhani discussed about the different thoughts of architecture form where some think that architecture is
too poor in terms of form and the others think that form is too abstract or intellectual. He also discussed about the
relationship between the relationship between the architectural form and how architecture is experienced as the
architecture is too focused on the form, the spatial experienced is overlooked. Architecture nowadays are focusing
more on the forms, physical appearance as this days, a good form represents a good architecture , function follow
form not like during modernism where the spatial experience is being emphasized, form follow function. I think that the
spatial experience is important as we experience the space not just by visual but also other aspect such as sound,
smell, touch. It is true that the visual image the direct impact through our mind but then the experience we perceive
after is more important.
Next, Juhani also discussed about the what a strong architectural experience will portray. He said that a strong
architectural experience always produce a sense of loneliness and silence. For instance the church of light by Tadao
Ando, the concrete walls and the middle cross light gives out a strong sense of silence and loneliness and this feeling
and experiencing the art is a private dialogue between the works and the person experiencing it. Another example is
the holocaust tower in Jewish museum, the tall enclosed concrete tower with only a glimpse of light from the top
represent a strong architectural experience. In this space one will feel, the helplessness of the Jewish during the
darkness of the war and this glimpse of light portray the little hope for the people. Juhani also said that , to produce a
good architecture, the creation of an ideal client is needed and this is essential as if the architecture is not to a ideal
client, this architecture could not be clarified as a good architecture. For example, for a building, if it has a " imaginary"
client or a specific user for the building, the function, the spaces within this building will become more specific to the
user and client and adjustment made to suite the client and this make a good architecture.