Norberg-Schulz, Christian
Norberg-Schulz, Christian
Bio Sketch
Christian Norberg-Schulz (1926–2000) was a Norwegian architect, theorist, and phenomenologist, best known for Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture (1980) and Existence, Space and Architecture (1971). He theorized dwelling, "genius loci" (the spirit of place), and existential space through the concepts of place/path/domain, arguing that architecture must concretize and give meaning to place. He is a foundational figure in Geoffrey's phenomenology of place area and is invoked in discussions of the atmospheric turn.
Key Works
- Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture (1980).
- Existence, Space and Architecture (1971).
- Logik der Baukunst (1965) — the question "why does a building from a specific epoch have a certain appearance?" (used by Boucsein).
Key Concepts
Concepts associated with this author that have pages in this wiki:
Relevance to Geoffrey's Research
Norberg-Schulz anchors Geoffrey's phenomenology of place area: genius loci, dwelling, and the existential "loss of place." His account of the spirit of place is the backdrop against which both the atmospheric turn (Böhme, Pallasmaa, Borch) and the commodifying "branding" of place (iconic architecture, gentrification) are read. His question about why a building looks as it does is used methodologically by Boucsein on everyday architecture.
Source Support
Source notes in this wiki drawn from this author's work:
- Architectural Atmospheres (Borch ed.)
- Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture
- Existence, Space & Architecture
- The Ethical Function of Architecture
- Building Dwelling Thinking
- Iconicity versus Contemporary Architecture
- Critical Regionalism: A Not So Critical Theory
- Embodied Spaces in Digital Times: Exploring the Role of Instagram in Shaping Temporal Dimensions and Perceptions of Architecture