Dialectics of place attachment in the Palestinian traditional village dwelling- a phenomenological approach

Abstract

Purpose: This research uses the phenomenological approach to explore place attachment in the Palestinian village dwelling. The research explores this attachment through inside-outside dialectics and their representations on the architecture of the dwelling. Study design/methodology/approach: Place attachment is an important aspect of the relationship between people and their built environment. People are usually attached to their dwellings more than any other place. This attachment represents the bond between people and their dwellings. This bond and sense of belonging extend beyond the space of the dwelling and become important anchors for the attachment of people to the area around the dwelling that extends hierarchal to include the different spatial levels of the built environment around the dwelling and form the sense of patriotism. The Palestinian village dwelling represents place attachment in a distinguished manner affected by the ontological value of land in Palestine and the special aspects of the life world in Palestine under occupation. This study explored the dialectics of this attachment in the Magara (cave) dwellings in Al Khalil (Hebron) district using phenomenological interpretative analysis. Findings: The Palestinians could represent their attachment to their Magara dwellings in a distinguished phenomenological representation that gave the Magara great value and meaning. Originality/value: This study is the first of its type to deal with the phenomenological aspects of architecture in Palestine and it opens the door for future work to deal with this important issue.