This article aims to explore the potential of Schütz' sociological phenomenology for spatial phenomena and its integration into human geography. Although the influence and productivity of phenomenology in general could contribute significantly to shed light on spatial phenomena of the life-world, such as a progressive sense of place, transnationalities, socio-spatial atmospheres, home and encounters, it has never become a major strand of contemporary (German speaking) human geography.

This article is written from the perspective of phenomenology. Its potential gain for a critical human geography is discussed in contrast to constructivism. The example of atmospheres will illustrate another theoretical conception of space. Atmospheres we feel like a cloud in our sense perception in situations of awareness. Finally there is a close link to the work of Michel Foucault as well as the Critical Theory (Frankfurter Schule).

Based on a reading of the book „Was Räume mit uns machen – und wir mit ihnen. Kritische Phänomenologie des Raumes“ by J. Hasse (2014), the article discusses the noteworthy role of phenomenology within German-speaking human geography. The phenomenological work by Hasse and his close referring to the philosophy of H. Schmitz will be discussed in the context of the sociology of knowledge and the history of the discipline.