Norberg-Schulz And Genius Loci Theory

As an extension of the previous theory, genius loci theory branches out of the social characteristic of the phenomenology theory. Norberg-Schulz (1980) was the first theorist to introduce this theory in 1979; he defined it as the sense or feeling humans have about a certain place. In 1980, he published “Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture” where he better explain the idea of a sense of place. He mentions that a sense of place should be seen from the view of the daily user (Norberg-Schulz, 1980). For this sense of place to be experienced, the daily user needs to be a part of its creation by contributing towards the ‘sprit’ that makes up this sense of place (Norberg-Schulz, 1980). Norberg-Schulz places significant importance on the word ‘spirit’ when mentioning its effects on the sense of place of an environment. He uses the word as reference to physical characteristics of a place; how people perceive and feel objects in an environment; how people express themselves culturally around that environment; and lastly, the building form adds up to complete the symbolism and spirit of this place (Norberg-Schulz, 1980).

John A. Jakle (1987) encourages that genius loci is enhanced through the perception of a visitor or an outsider. He supports this statement by arguing that a visitor cannot be bias when assessing the sense of a place since visitor has no former experience of that place. This he believes will allow the visitor or new comer to experience the place more clearly and receive the full sense of that environment.

Another expression of the ‘spirit’ of a place is the natural landscape. This natural spirit refers to the features that are special to the natural formation of an environment. Topography of an environ...

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...ain the core source of the area that gives it its identity?”(Frampton, 1987: 27).

In present day architecture, regionalist architects have committed a serious understanding of their surrounding in which they design in. They have achieved this by responding with an appropriate architecture that reflects site, climate, culture and tradition. Le corbusier, Tadao Ando, Alvar Alto, Louis Khan, Enric Miralles and many others take on this term ‘regionalist architects’ because of their attention to represent culture, identity and the environment in which the building is situated. They also design simplified structures that capture the symbolic values of the people whom that architecture serves. Applying critical regionalism to the proposed Pan-African Centre will be of significance to the everyday users as the building will add symbolic cultural and traditional value.