Fenomenolojik Bakış Açısıyla Mimari Deneyim ve Bedenlenmiş Özne

As a bodily being surrounded by the environment, humans encounter and experience the world. They are in a continuous dialogue with both the natural and built spaces in which they exist. Examining these experiences within a theoretical framework from all known and unknown dimensions undoubtedly aids in analyzing the complex and multifaceted nature of experience. It also supports the design of spaces that provide meaningful experiences for their users. This article, which seeks to clarify the notion of experience, delves into the relationship between architectural experience and the embodied subject. It first addresses the concept of experience, distinguishing between two types; lived experience and life experience, and discussing the differences between them. It explores which type of experience aligns with architectural experience and it also examines why and how certain types of experiences take precedence in the individual’s relationship with space. The article argues that architectural experience is a two-sided and dynamic interaction, directly encountered by the individual within the built environment, and that this interaction is shaped more by immediate perceptions than by past experiences. Focusing on the personal perspective of the subject, the article identifies subjectivity and embodiment as the two fundamental characteristics of architectural experience. The article traces these key concepts to phenomenology, particularly in the works of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who places the body at the center of perception. Finally, the article discusses a few architects and theorists, heavily influenced by Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological approach, highlighting their key theoretical contributions and the core concepts they have developed.