The Geometry of Feeling: Form as an Architectural Language to Create Emotional Experiences
1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2018)
Name: Zoe Low Li Mien ID No.: 0319444
Lecturer: Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 10am-1pm
Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling Synopsis No: 3
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
Juhani Pallasmaa wrote this text to give a further purpose of the meaning of form as an
architectural language. Form as not in negative usage but as a portrait in a positive
perspective.
Firstly he argues that we should view of form as an aspiration to create emotional
experiences, not as physical objects. “The artistic dimension of a work of art does
not lie in the actual physical thing;it exists only in the consciousness of the
person experiencing it.” Page 449. This point indicates that he stresses out the issues
of the common perceptions of form. He emphasized the fact that we often tend to
overlook and see form as a meaningless item left in place. Signifying that we don’t
implement the intention within it, hence the architecture of it but follow its rules.
He prioritise the use of imagery that form can create to communicate and portray the
emotional experiences. Affecting our feelings based on how it is represented as a
character. Even though this explanation is indeed challenging for individuals to
understand, he uses other fields as examples to further elaborate it. For instance in
Architecture without Architects, “novel writing, film, photography and painting, the
secret language by which landscape, buildings and objects influence people”
Page 451 can use imagery for the intention of making places and settings to create
certain environments. Using this as a stronger example to indicate that this language of
architecture is not very a hard tool to use to create the expressions of it.
I come to admit to admire his point of view based on my experiences. It gave me a
further understanding of how form can contribute to space making in terms of painting it
out. A free form of an artistic representation that should not be too restrictive by its own
obligations alone but the spaces we create to enjoy the beauty of it.
Word Count: 315 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.