If “idea” is the originating concept, phenomena are the living realities of architecture as we experience it. SHA’s design philosophy balances both: the intellectual clarity of an idea and the sensory richness of phenomena. Influenced by phenomenology, SHA strives to create environments that heighten our awareness of light, sound, material, and space. In practice, this means envisioning how a building will feel to inhabit – the slant of a sunbeam at dusk, the echo in a concrete atrium, the cool touch of a stone wall – and designing for those moments. Holl’s collaboration on the book “Questions of Perception” (1994) further underscores SHA’s commitment to the phenomenal realm of architecture. The firm designs spaces to engage all senses: the scent of wood, the play of dappled shadows through leaves onto a wall, or the way a floor’s slight slope can make one aware of gravity, inviting us to discover new phenomena.