The development of computer-based techniques for generating photorealistic renderings of designs promises to overcome difficulties many lay people have in understanding conventional architectural drawings. Greater "realism", however, does not necessarily lead to converging interpretations. Existing studies of perception have shown that architects 'see" in quite specific ways. This paper examines "architectural seeing" from a phenomenological perspective, using examples from previous studies of perception in design representation and from recent fieldwork carried out at Queen's University. The paper suggests that a combination of phenomenological homeworlds and canonically defined appreciative communities offers a new approach to understanding differences in perception among architects and non-architects.