Abstract

Architectural space is directly related to the lives of individuals and is experienced by them. This experience can give meaning to the body and lived space for the person who is experiencing it. Many studies have focused on lived space in architecture; however, their statements primarily address theoretical, rather than practical, frameworks. In addition, these researchers often describe lived space from their own perspectives, although it is a tangible space that each person must experience directly. Thus, the current study seeks to identify the different levels of lived space. The objective of this research is to identify the dimensions of lived space by examining how different people perceive it. In this regard, the subject was given as an assignment to twenty-four undergraduate students in their final semester of study (“Architecture Design 5”). They were asked to describe the most important lived space that they have personally experienced at the scale of architecture and state the factors that makes this space alive for them. The student descriptions were then subjected to qualitative content analysis. The results indicated that lived space has cultural roots and is a continuum of five levels: meaning and concept, spatial elements, formal and spatial structure, livability (presence of people in the form of family and social groups), and functional levels.