The Narrative of Home: A Method for Interpretation and Representation of the Desirability of the Lived Experience of Being At Home

In the research for the desirability of the experience of “being at home,” a methodis required that would be capable of representing the specific features of the lived experience. The quality of lived experience unfolds at the simultaneous presence of the dweller and the physical form of the house; and in order for the specific lively experience to be perceived and then shared with others, the chosen method of research must respect the :::union::: of subject and object. This :::union::: is recognizable through different features of the “lived experience of home”, and they are introduced in this paper by studying the ideas of architectural phenomenologist sand utilized to define a suitable method for the interpretation and representation of the quality of that experience. In lived experiences, features such as the “unity of inner and outer time”, “tangibility” and “imagination” make narrative inquiry, which would preserve its lively experience, a suitable context for research. From information gathering to the final presentation, the research procedure isoutlined according to the main aspects oflived experiences and the specific quality of each spatial experience. Titled as “the narrative of home,” two types of narratives are introduced, both of which are concentrated on the role of place in the desirable lived experience. The first type is the narrative of home stated by dwellers and the other is the narrative of home stated by the researcher, each with its own strengths and limitations. Finally, this method was used in a case study of Tehran’s houses in the transitional period.