Comparative Study of Architectural Phenomenology in Theories of Juhani Pallasmaa and Steven Holl

Phenomenology as one of the philosophical fields of the twentieth century, was used in the last decades of this century as an effective approach to better understanding in architectural theorizing. The present study examines the viewpoints of Juhani Pallasmaa and Steven Holl through their key concepts, with the aim of showing the commonalities and differences of their views and explaining more clearly the method of architectural phenomenology. The results of the study reveal that under the influence of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the multi-sensory and embodied perception of architecture is a key common concept to the theories of this two architects. The critique of retinal architecture, the focus on touch and tactility, memory and imagination, silence and slowness in Pallasmaa’s theories, are in line with the concepts of light, colors, parallax, and duration in Holl’s theories. On the other hand, although form is one of the themes of Steven Holl’s theories, Juhani Pallasmaa emphasizes the non-priority of form in architecture by proposing the concept of atmosphere. The present research has been done qualitatively by descriptive-analytical method.