A Study on the Background and Characteristics of Pallasmaa's Architectural Phenomenology

The aim of this study is to review the background and characteristics of Pallasmaa's architectural phenomenology. As a prominent architect, educator and phenomenologist, Pallasmaa criticizes the contemporary architecture that has been commercialized and intended to addict superficial images. He suggests the restoration of essentials of architecture related to human existence. His architectural phenomenology shows a solution to problems of contemporary architecture through focusing on architectural experiences. Pallasmaa argues 'multi-sensory architecture' to criticize architecture based on visual images and emphasizes the importance of tactile sense for architectural experiences. His phenomenology of architecture has significant meaning in that it bridges between theory and practice but also has limits in depth rather than width of theory. Pallasmaa believes that the essence of architecture can be explained as existential activities to maintain existence of our lived space.