Role and Significance of Place and the Spirit of Place in Architectural Design
What is meant by ‘place’ and ‘spirit of place’? What role does consideration of ‘place’ mean in architectural design?
Introduction
People make attachments to almost everything that they interact with. Whether it is with each other, a material object, a memory or even a perception about the three, There are subconscious relationships with things and thoughts. Often these interactions and experiences take place in a specific physical environment, a place which might be inhabited by many users or be discrete and special to an individual user (Hashemnezhad, 2013). This essay aims to understand a little more of the way humans relate to places, factors that affect these attachments and the consideration of this understanding in the architectural design process.
Place
A ‘place’ can be any setting or space. It’s identity or expression lies in the relationships people form with that space. ‘A place is a particular space which is covered with meanings and values by its user’ (Najafi, 2011). It can be as large as a continent or contained within a small area in a building or even an outdoor space in a natural environment. The school and the playground are places for which children can develop a strong sentiment early in their lives. Some mountaineers climb Mt. Everest to experience the highest point in the world, often describing it as a special place.
The practice of architecture involves the design and creation of place in a given space for its users (Portugali,2006). It is thus important to consider the purpose and emotions of users attached to that place. Religious monuments exemplify the expression of the emotions and beliefs of a group of people, in their architectural design.
Sense of Place
A sense of place is the perception that is formed by a user of that place. It is an understanding of the environment of a place that can be developed by experiencing the place over time. It is commonly related to ‘topophilia’ or the ‘love of place’. It is a
Introduction
People make attachments to almost everything that they interact with. Whether it is with each other, a material object, a memory or even a perception about the three, There are subconscious relationships with things and thoughts. Often these interactions and experiences take place in a specific physical environment, a place which might be inhabited by many users or be discrete and special to an individual user (Hashemnezhad, 2013). This essay aims to understand a little more of the way humans relate to places, factors that affect these attachments and the consideration of this understanding in the architectural design process.
Place
A ‘place’ can be any setting or space. It’s identity or expression lies in the relationships people form with that space. ‘A place is a particular space which is covered with meanings and values by its user’ (Najafi, 2011). It can be as large as a continent or contained within a small area in a building or even an outdoor space in a natural environment. The school and the playground are places for which children can develop a strong sentiment early in their lives. Some mountaineers climb Mt. Everest to experience the highest point in the world, often describing it as a special place.
The practice of architecture involves the design and creation of place in a given space for its users (Portugali,2006). It is thus important to consider the purpose and emotions of users attached to that place. Religious monuments exemplify the expression of the emotions and beliefs of a group of people, in their architectural design.
Sense of Place
A sense of place is the perception that is formed by a user of that place. It is an understanding of the environment of a place that can be developed by experiencing the place over time. It is commonly related to ‘topophilia’ or the ‘love of place’. It is a
Bibliography: Cross, J, 2001. What is Sense of Place?. In 12th Headwaters Conference. Western State College, 2-4th November . Colorado: Colorado State University. 1-4. Hashemnezhad, H, 2013. Comparison the concept of Sense of Place and Attachment to Place in Architectural Studies . Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 7:1, 219-225. Najafi, M, Shariff, M, 2011. The Concept of Place and Sense of Place In Architectural Studies. International Journal of Human and Social Sciences, 6:3, 187-192. Portugali, N, 2006. The Act of Creation and the Spirit of a Place: A Holistic-Phenomenological Approach to Architecture. Axel Menges. The New York Times. (2007). The Native Builder. Retrieved June 11, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/magazine/20murcutt-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0. Vidler, A, 2002. Warped Space: Art, Architecture, and Anxiety in Modern Culture.The MIT Press.