Task 1: Phenomenology

The Hand and Heart Pub (65-67 Derby Road, Nottingham, NG1 5BA)

The Hand and Heart Pub is an extraordinary building, one which I have not seen living back home on the Wirral. The pub, being built into the sandstone rock, produces a very vintage vibe when you enter. At first your eyes can’t quite adjust to the non-reflective sandstone walls of the ground floor, however this complete opposite compared to when you go upstairs. The back of the first floor is still built out into the rock; however it all opens up when coming to the front (overlooking Derby Road). The upstairs is made up of very reflective materials and colours (i.e. baby blue walls and marble tables) which helps with the huge amounts of light coming through the wall of windows and window light in the roof. Even with all this light, the vintage feel is kept with decorative ornaments in the open area and wooden furniture.

Fig 2. Interior of First Floor (Bagnall, 2013)

Fig 1,Open Extension with Hollow Window Frames
(Bagnall, 2013)

Park Tunnel

With living in Nottingham for just over a year now I have only heard whispers of Park Tunnel, tucked away in the Ropewalk area and hidden under all the residential homes within the area. Once you find the very subtle and steep stairway down to the Park Tunnel itself, it feels like you have become 10 times smaller in size, in a world you aren’t quite comfortable in. The tunnel is a masterpiece in itself. Looking down the tunnel towards the residential area full of greenery and brick houses, you sense you are in a different world to that which is only a couple of hundred meters away. The sheer size and quietness you experience when down there by yourself is spooky.

Fig 3. Park Tunnel Panoramic (Bagnall, 2013)

Fig 4. Park Tunnel (Bagnall, 2013)

The Malt Cross (16 St James’ Street, Nottingham, NG1 6FG)

Walking into the Malt Cross pub, it seems you have stepped through a time warp. The interior still has some of its Victorian roots from which it was built.  The hollow upstairs seating area makes the internal area seem larger than it really is, and this is emphasised by the curved glass roof which seems to absorb the light from outside and reflects it within all round. I personally like the furnishing and finishes within; the strong use of timber for the floors and also the balustrades, timber topped with their decorative iron balusters, really produces a sense of class and elegance.

Fig 5. Interior of First Floor
(Bagnall, 2013)

Fig 6. Malt Cross Curved Roof (Bagnall, 2013)

 1.     Use a Dictionary of Philosophy to help you to write one paragraph about your understanding of phenomenology. Think particularly about how it relates to architecture and design. Try to find concrete examples to illustrate your description.

I understand phenomenology to be the learning and understanding of various different concepts and appearances. In relationship to architecture and design, I see phenomenology as exploring what the architectural differences are between didn’t styles which have been present throughout history and understanding why these styles were adopted.

2.     Take one quote from the ‘Place’ text and write about what you think it means and why it is important to you

“First of all we may point out that any place ought to have the ‘capacity’ of the receiving different ‘contents’, naturally within the certain limits. A place which is only fitted for one particular purpose would soon become useless.” (Norberg-Schulz, 1980, pp. 18)

In this section of the text, he is stating that a building built for one purpose is not one which can have a long lifespan. In the modern day, the environment and the way we live is changing every day, therefore I agree that building have to be built to serve multiple purposes within (such as a domestic home) if not adapt. 

Bibliography

Fig 1. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Open extension with hollow framed windows. Photograph taken: 16th October 2013

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Interior of First Floor. Sketch drawn: 18th October 2013

Fig 3. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Park Tunnel Panoramic. Photograph taken: 16th October 2013

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Park Tunnel. Sketch drawn: 18th October 2013 

Fig 5. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Interior of First Floor. Photograph taken: 16th October 2013

Fig 6. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Malt Cross Curved Roof. Sketch drawn: 18th October 2013 

Pallasmaa, Juhani, “Multi-Sensory Experience”, from The Eyes of the Skin:

architecture and the senses, Chichester, Wiley-Academy, 2005, pp. 41-46, Available at: NOW. [Accessed 19^th October 2013].

Norberg-Schulz, Christian, “Place”, from Genius Loci: towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, London, Academy Editions, 1980, pp. 18. Available at: http://database.emrearolat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Genius-Loci-Towards-a-Phenomenology-of-Architecture.PART1_.pdf [Accessed 19^th October 2013].

Smith, D. (2003). Phenomenology. [online] Plato.stanford.edu. Available at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/ [Accessed 19^th October 2013].