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Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture
Attempts to develop a theory of understanding architecture in concrete, existential terms, following the guidelines of Heidegger
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 17, 2015
So valuable ! To re-read !
Three case studies were considered : Prague, Khartoum (Tuti), and Rome.
" To understand the genius loci of a place does not mean to copy old models. It means to determine the identity of the place and to interpret it in ever new ways. "
P.S : One cannot fully and easily assimilate it if not in good terms with Heideger, Hegel, and Ricoeur philosophy.
Three case studies were considered : Prague, Khartoum (Tuti), and Rome.
" To understand the genius loci of a place does not mean to copy old models. It means to determine the identity of the place and to interpret it in ever new ways. "
P.S : One cannot fully and easily assimilate it if not in good terms with Heideger, Hegel, and Ricoeur philosophy.
November 4, 2023
Líbilo se mi to hodně. Každá věta je hutná, memetická. Četl jsem to zároveň hrozně dlouho a musel se do dokončení přemoct. Takže teď si chci namísto použití všech těch analytických nástrojů dát od filozofie architektury a přírody především pokoj. //Nevim, jestli to vypovídá o mně nebo o autorovi, ale těchhle 200 stran (a většina z toho obrázků) mě fakt vyčerpalo.
December 23, 2009
Christian draws a lot on Heidegger’s essay 'Building, Thinking, and Dwells'. This essay is included in HeideggerBasic Writings 2nd Edition, Revised & Expanded.
Christian extracts certain passages such as the explanation of a bridge as a presence to draw together the two banks of a river much as a building will draw into different reference points of the landscape. In fact, it is the location of a building not it's points in space of a Cartesian grid that gives it place; the location and the reference to the surrounding landscape that is the main concern.
There has been a resurgence of phenomenology in architecture. Peter Zumthor and Steven Holl are two propionates of it.
Christian is a pioneer in drawing the cross discipline of philosophy into the architectural discussion. He was the first to talk about this.
That being said, it's not a dry dull book about architecture and philosophy but a poetic illustration both in the writings and the photographs of iconic and quaint places.
Christian extracts certain passages such as the explanation of a bridge as a presence to draw together the two banks of a river much as a building will draw into different reference points of the landscape. In fact, it is the location of a building not it's points in space of a Cartesian grid that gives it place; the location and the reference to the surrounding landscape that is the main concern.
There has been a resurgence of phenomenology in architecture. Peter Zumthor and Steven Holl are two propionates of it.
Christian is a pioneer in drawing the cross discipline of philosophy into the architectural discussion. He was the first to talk about this.
That being said, it's not a dry dull book about architecture and philosophy but a poetic illustration both in the writings and the photographs of iconic and quaint places.
July 11, 2007
gimana-gimana, norberg-schulz selalu kembali ke heidegger. atau merleau-ponty, para bapak persepsi fenomenologis. juga dalam buku ini, filsafat fenomenologi sangat mewarnai pembacaannya mengenai 'ruh suatu tempat', 'baureksa' [bahasa jawa: kekuatan penjaga].
wacana 'ruh suatu tempat' ini pernah [dan masih?] mewarnai produksi pengetahuan arsitektur.
wacana 'ruh suatu tempat' ini pernah [dan masih?] mewarnai produksi pengetahuan arsitektur.
November 28, 2025
i think it changed brain chemistry! !
September 2, 2024
Hluboké a místy naročné čtení. První 1/3 jsem četla v zimě a zbytek v létě. Delší pauzy mi pomohli zařadit informace z knihy do mého života. Často jsem byla překvapená jak nějaké věci se propletavaly s dojmy a infomace i z jiných sfér než architektura. Asi ne nadarmo je kniha zařazena do filosofie architektury.
Kniha je zaroveň velmi hutná. Myslím, že se k ní budu vracet opakováně.
Ocenila bych klidně větší rozbor jistých myšlenek. Autor často rovnou představí svoje závěry a jako čtenář mi nezbývá nic jiného než se s tím smířít. Řada věci ale nejsou triviální, ačkoliv se autorovi podařilo vyvolat takový dojem pravdivostí svých uvědomnění a pozorování. Ale možná až se k tomu budu vracet a budu mít i větší vhled do architektury, pochopím nějaké věci snadněji.
Kniha je zaroveň velmi hutná. Myslím, že se k ní budu vracet opakováně.
Ocenila bych klidně větší rozbor jistých myšlenek. Autor často rovnou představí svoje závěry a jako čtenář mi nezbývá nic jiného než se s tím smířít. Řada věci ale nejsou triviální, ačkoliv se autorovi podařilo vyvolat takový dojem pravdivostí svých uvědomnění a pozorování. Ale možná až se k tomu budu vracet a budu mít i větší vhled do architektury, pochopím nějaké věci snadněji.
February 10, 2024
3.5
Insightful and lovely book, with excellent photos. Very nice observations and thoughts, which especially at the time when the book was written must have resonated. Today of course it would like a slightly updated version. In my opinion, the thoughts were dragged out and intellectually overdone in places. Similarly, I am not quite sure about the successful reading of Heidegger, whom the author often used as a point of reference. The references were nice and the arguments based on Heidegger's thinking were beautiful, only in places I had the feeling that Heidegger's idea of the relation between the sky and earth was used arbitrarily, even unnecessarily (with a lack of understanding).
Insightful and lovely book, with excellent photos. Very nice observations and thoughts, which especially at the time when the book was written must have resonated. Today of course it would like a slightly updated version. In my opinion, the thoughts were dragged out and intellectually overdone in places. Similarly, I am not quite sure about the successful reading of Heidegger, whom the author often used as a point of reference. The references were nice and the arguments based on Heidegger's thinking were beautiful, only in places I had the feeling that Heidegger's idea of the relation between the sky and earth was used arbitrarily, even unnecessarily (with a lack of understanding).
May 26, 2019
Norberg-Schulz has a poor interpretation of Heidegger, and never questions the methodological move he makes in transforming his reading of Heidegger into the phenomenology of architecture. The most glaring failures are his misreading of dwelling [Wohnen] as synonymous with "meaningful living" and his ignorance of Heidegger's critique of lived experience [Erlebnisse].
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July 3, 2021sorry to say but I have never read something like this shit. I couldn't understand anything. He is repeating everything again and again which so confusing. It made me want to hit the person who recommend me to read this piece of garbage, its literally a waste of time.
September 19, 2018
it's a smooth reading enjoyed how it was detailing each city in different way made me go through google earth to feel it though ..
August 8, 2020
Awfull fanfarology!
December 14, 2022
Actually incredible. Serious amazing. Changed everything for me. love it
January 13, 2023
simple language talking for huge meaning. love it.
November 14, 2025
for my thesis and it was such an interesting read
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December 20, 2023Letto come preparazione alla tesi, in un'edizione vissuta presa in prestito dalla biblioteca universitaria.
Libro incredibile, che analizza con uno stile rigoroso e diretto il senso dell'abitare i luoghi e della loro costruzione alla luce della filosofia di Heidegger.
Trovo sia un saggio pragmatico, oltre che analitico: fornisce strumenti utilissimi per la progettazione, e lo fa attraverso la costruzione di una fenomenologia dei luoghi, attraverso cui è possibile rileggere la storia dell'insediamento dell'uomo e della complessità del processo architettonico.
In tale direzione viene sviluppato il vasto tema del "genius loci", la cui salienza a fine lettura suggerisce un metodo sempre più affidabile con cui indagare le architetture del passato ma anche una via praticabile per le architetture del futuro.
Uno degli scritti più significativi letti in questi tre anni di università.
Abbiamo il saggio architettoso da 5 stelle di quest'anno, olè.
Libro incredibile, che analizza con uno stile rigoroso e diretto il senso dell'abitare i luoghi e della loro costruzione alla luce della filosofia di Heidegger.
Trovo sia un saggio pragmatico, oltre che analitico: fornisce strumenti utilissimi per la progettazione, e lo fa attraverso la costruzione di una fenomenologia dei luoghi, attraverso cui è possibile rileggere la storia dell'insediamento dell'uomo e della complessità del processo architettonico.
In tale direzione viene sviluppato il vasto tema del "genius loci", la cui salienza a fine lettura suggerisce un metodo sempre più affidabile con cui indagare le architetture del passato ma anche una via praticabile per le architetture del futuro.
Uno degli scritti più significativi letti in questi tre anni di università.
Abbiamo il saggio architettoso da 5 stelle di quest'anno, olè.
December 6, 2007
This book is a amazing and is now my belief on how we should design the built environment.
Read
May 23, 2013I have to read it again. I cannot remember much. I know I quoted it in some papers I wrote in University.
December 31, 2015
So much potential; so little substance.
Want to read
April 17, 2020fotocopiato
February 16, 2016
On of the best books of my University days.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews