This poster and essay explore how architects are capable of impacting users’ perception and cognition of a space through the lens of both architectural phenomenology and space syntax theory. A synthesis and critical analysis of Herman Hertzberger’s account on his office building Centraal Beheer along with David Seamon’s article “The Life of Place” is established. Potential contributions and limitations of space syntax theory to the phenomenological study are raised. The impact of applying such study is addressing the gap of how design theories can serve not only an interpretive role, but also allow architects and planners to generate spaces that better respond to human needs.
