The Spirit of Place
I have aways been fascinated with the idea of space. No not the space filled with stars and planets, but the places that we physically move through every day. Why do we feel a certain way when we enter these different places, why are we attached, afraid, or remember them differently. There are many types of spaces that can be engaging, including urban, rural, and indoor and outdoor environments. Open space can naturally create instant attachments, but architecture and urban areas also has the ability to be inspiring and create connections. Identifying one’s self within, and experiencing these spaces is a human experience we all have and desire. Visuals elements are important when identifying places, but it is our entire sense together that creates our interpretation and orientation of the space.
A while back I read the “Phenomenon of Place” by Christian Norgerg-Schulz and a thought has stuck with me since then. He talks about the spatial relationships we have within a place, and something called “genius loci” -the spirit of a place. Each house, city, town and building creates its own atmosphere that consists of the built environment, as well as how the people move through it, live, and interact with it on a daily basis. While he goes on to talk about how the natural environment and the man made environment together are what make up our spaces, it got me thinking about how our connection with the spaces we visit is starting to change.
With the digital world quickly creeping in on physical structures, houses, and urban spaces our relationship with these places is morphing. At a first level we are already seeing vast improvements with wayfinding and communication in urban spaces. These technologies have been around for a while and have been easily implemented into our mobile devices. Some would say they enhance our connection and movement through a city or space with interactive maps and navigation tools, while a small portion of people think it ruins the charm or excitement of happening upon something new.
Technology is also being implemented in our personal living spaces, and again, to some it is enhancing our day to day and access to knowledge of our home and community, and to others it is a disruption of the lives they are completely content with. As the pace of these technological implementations is only speeding up, how do we as designers make sure that marriage of a physical environment and the technical requirements of a screen or connection is a happy one. Can we make sure that these developments are seamlessly integrated to create livable and sustainable environments, while also making sure to not completely disrupt the spirit of that place.
