Abstract

At the end of 20th century was developed a theoretical-methodological perspective in Chile – where systems theory and phenomenology converge–to conceptualize and research residential habitats. We propose that systems theory contributed with the system/environment semantics to the definition of levels and dimensions of the so-called housing system (i.e. residentials or habitats systems) in the proposal developed by the Instituto de la Vivienda of the Universidad de Chile. This proposal was conceptually opened to the notion of ‘place’, which is a key reference to the architecture theory. This article concludes by describing the theoretical basis of the notion of ‘experience of inhabiting houses’ and highlighting its compatibility with systems theory.