Perceptual and affective aspects of water in architectural space by a biophilic approach: Examples of contemporary architecture

Water is an important biophilic element that effects the psychological and physiological structure of human beings in the space-body-experience relationship in architectural design. In this context, humans are in constant communication with water, which is a biophilic element of the natural and built environment. During this communication, the idea emerged that the water included in the architectural design creates a perceptual and affective aspect in the user. The aim of this master thesis was to examine the perceptual and affective aspects of water in the space. The scope of the master thesis consists of examples of contemporary architecture. The method of the master thesis was phenomenologically oriented holistic multiple case study with mixed qualitative research design. Three different reading methods adapted according to David Seamon's perspectives were used in this master thesis. In the first reading approach, the thematic analysis method was applied to users' online reviews about the cases. In the second reading approach, the method of hermeneutic phenomenology was applied through watercolor to the outputs of the researcher's visceral experience of the cases. In the third reading approach, thematic template analysis was applied to the author architects' statements or architectural theorists' statements about the cases. As a result, it was revealed that water, which is included in the design of contemporary architecture examples located in the natural and built environment (cases divided into two groups), creates a biophilic and phenomenal space together with the phenomenon of architectural design, this space creates several space-water oriented perceptual and affective aspects in the user according to the situations in the natural and built environment, and that it is associated with architectural experience, spatial perception, spatial affect, internal impression, transformative experience and hermeneutic phenomenological visual expression in terms of bodily experience in space.