Norberg-Schulz argues that architecture expresses human intentions through form, space, and meaning; buildings are not only functional objects but carriers of cultural and existential significance that help people orient themselves in the world.
The Role of the "Totality"
Crucially, he argues that these three are not separate layers to be added on, but an indivisible whole. When these are separated—as they are in functionalism—the result is alienating. The "intention" of architecture, therefore, is to translate the abstract structures of human existence into concrete reality. intentions in architecture norberg-schulz pdf
Unlike previous theories that sought a single cause for architectural form (climate, technology, or economy), Norberg-Schulz borrows from phenomenology (Husserl, Merleau-Ponty) and Gestalt psychology to propose an "intentional" model. In the PDF’s early chapters, he systematically dismantles the idea that form follows function. Instead, he suggests a triadic structure: The "intention" of architecture, therefore, is to translate
You can find digital versions and further summaries through the or academic archives like Internet Archive Genius Loci , evolved from these initial theories? Instead, he suggests a triadic structure: You can
to explain how humans perceive and organize their environment. He posits that architecture fulfills a fundamental human need: providing an "existential foothold".
Application of the theory to analyze past works, from Egyptian pyramids to Baroque churches, illustrating how "existential space" has been manifested throughout history.