IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

Heritage studies are attracting growing interest as a significant sector under Saudi Vision 2030. However, the phenomenological study of spiritual experience in non-religious heritage contexts receives little attention. This paper explores how spiritual experience is understood and interpreted within non-religious Saudi heritage architecture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty professionals in architecture, heritage, and interior design from Saudi Arabia. The interviewees were selected for their diverse regional backgrounds and experience levels; their interpretations combine professional knowledge with lived experience. Their professional backgrounds provided access to heritage buildings, including those not publicly accessible. The qualitative data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis following Braun and Clarke. The study does not assume a static definition of experiencing spirituality in heritage architecture. Rather, it explores how interviewees interpret the experience, drawing on their understanding of the spirit of place in Saudi heritage buildings. The initial findings identify four experiential dimensions: somatic, cognitive, emotional, and connected, which are activated by specific architectural triggers that deepen engagement with the heritage setting. These lived experiences can create a personal attachment to the building and, consequently, enhance its spiritual value. The contribution of this work lies in presenting a preliminary conceptual framework that links architectural triggers to experiential dimensions and value formation. Architectural triggers, such as natural materials, ornamentation, and narrative cues, that deepen engagement with the heritage setting. The study also invites critical engagement from the relevant academic literature (Pallasmaa, 2005; Norberg-Schulz, 1980; Böhme, 2017) on how lived experience in non-religious heritage architecture generates spiritual value.