Poetics and Existential Meaning in Housing Architecture: Toward a Phenomenological Framework for Poetic Dwelling

Subject Areas : Architecture

Farnaz Siamian ¹ , Siamak Panahi ^{2 *}

1 - Department of Architecture, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Architecture, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

Received: 2025-08-23 Accepted : 2025-09-21 Published : 2025-10-09

Keywords: Poetic Dwelling, Housing Architecture, Spatial Experience, Existential Space, Design Theory,

Abstract :

Contemporary housing architecture faces a growing crisis of meaning, as designs increasingly prioritize functional efficiency, visual spectacle, and market value over deeper human needs for belonging and poetic dwelling—a mode of inhabitation that transcends mere utility to foster existential connection through sensory richness, cultural memory, and emotional resonance. This study addresses this critical gap by developing the Poetic Dwelling Experience Framework (PDEF), a comprehensive model that identifies four essential dimensions of meaningful dwelling: spatial phenomenology (the lived experience of space), sensory interaction (multisensory engagement), cultural contextuality (connection to memory and tradition), and emotional topography (affective atmospheres). Through an interpretive, phenomenological methodology, the research analyzes seminal works by architects including Zumthor, Ando, Murcutt, and Siza, demonstrating how their designs embody these poetic dimensions. The findings reveal that truly meaningful domestic spaces emerge not from formal innovation alone, but from careful attention to sensory richness, temporal rhythms, cultural narratives, and emotional resonance. The PDEF offers both a theoretical lens for understanding dwelling and a practical tool for designers seeking to create housing that nurtures human flourishing. In an era of mass-produced, alienating urban environments, this framework provides a vital pathway for recentering architecture around the profound, often overlooked needs for rootedness, intimacy, and poetic imagination in our everyday spaces.

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