People Place and Space

Space and place are inherent parts of our overall existence in the environment. The spaces and places which make up our environment should be in align with the nature and people’s values, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions about locations, districts, and regions. It is human nature to search for a relation with other people as well as the physical environment. Hence, the space and place are deemed to be constructed or organised in such a way as to compliment the human existence.
Space can be defined as a divergent, physical and imminently authentic or observable entity (Holt-Jensen, 1999). Space can be compared to a ‘neutral container’, which is open with loose ends and links and is to be occupied by human motion. It forms the milieu to human behavior (Willis, 2007). Basically space refers to the structural and geometrical traits of a physical environment whereas place characterize the various aspects and dimensions of lived experience, interaction and use of a space by its residents (Robertson, 2002). According to Dourish, a space is transformed into place when social actions and events makes up its background and settings, which are not limited to only material aspects, but also include social, cultural and historical values (Dourish, 2001). In other words, space is converted into places through the settings of various structural elements and features and it is in these places do the social relations and identity are constituted. In short, manifold of interconnected social, political and economic ties make up a place (Willis, 2007).
Phenomenology which is based on the concept of structural awareness as perceived and experienced from a person’s point of view, forms the basis from which the humanistic concept of place is largely driven. It deals with the notion that individuals form sentimental bonds and associations with particular places and with the symbolism of popular concepts of that place, which in turn link events and attitudes creating a amalgamated whole.

Yi-Fu Tuan’s expresses the same idea and defines placeas an emotional bounded area which holds a strong emotional connotation for an individual or a group. He has gone as far as to state that places could become a source of personal identity. Outside the perimeters of place commence the immeasurable and limitless space. Individual or group is aware of the existence of this space even have some knowledge but it is not a source of comfort or affection. (Tuan, 2001)

Yi-Fu Tuan’s in his book Space and Place mentions that the people are affected by the way they reflect and feel about space. They form attachments to places like home, neighborhood, city, country and the feeling about space and place are affected by the sense of time. He has suggested that place as bounded by structural and architectural elements is security for an individual whereas space is freedom. We as human beings are attached to place but longs for the freedom of space. (Tuan, 2001)
Humanistic studies support Tuan’s observation that people psychologically associate place with wellbeing and sanctuary but also sometimes due to the improper management and organization of the place can lead to imprisonment and isolation. The place where one lives, with its social pressure, and forced solidarity, overloaded structural and architectural elements can be perceived as suffocating. Space compared to the latter can be perceived as free and dissolute.
The urban spaces and centers should be treated keeping the above notions in mind. They should serve to create an environment which converts the space into places in a manner as to produce positive social effects on the society giving them a common ground to form relationships and social ties. Town centers should provide the platform for various recreational activities enabling a social contact between people. Centers, therefore should serve as cognitive place fully serving the social, economical and cultural requirements of the society.
The concept of an environmental image or cognitive place of an urban space was established by Lynch. According to him a place should be developed distinctively upon the pattern of high continuity with many unique parts clearly fused together. A process of image construction is initiated as a result, which constitute a series of psychological alteration by which an individual acquires codes, remember and decipher information about relative locations and attributes in a spatial environment (Willis, 2007).
Expanding further the idea of spaces and places in urban localities, according to Whyte the urban places are ‘priceless,’ and the perseverance and purity of public spaces should be kept intact. The city street or centers are ‘the river of life’ where human beings come together forming a society, therefore unless they are not properly maintained the formation of social ties and values in society will remain incomplete. In short it is the ‘primary place’. The most important observation dictates that people tend to sit where there are places to sit, however the view is also significant.
The places with the full and enriching view of the main show which are the streets are the prime place. Successful spaces, therefore, are those which are not isolated from the street. The elements of a good city space encompass the basic notions of life and nature such as people to watch, sun to bask in, etc. (Willis, 2007).
It is also crucial that the places should be such as to appease the human artistic instincts on one hand and be socially relatable on the other. According to Arnold Berleant, ‘what we do in environment we do to ourselves’. The way we shape our outdoor spaces affects us as a community. If the spaces are not planned smartly they often results in professionally excellent but socially irrelevant alienating user groups. (Thwaites, 2007) Basso sees place as an extension of the existence of people and not as something which is merely an external object (Basso, 1988).
Spatiality is inescapable for us as human. We are spatial beings who live and meet each other in space. Space therefore is never insignificant and meaningless. We are surrounded by it. It is our habitat and our bodies are the central reference point for perception. Place, hence is created through the acuity and movement of our bodies which are tightly coupled together, as we interpret spatial qualities and positioning of other objects. Spatial qualities have psychological meaning, i.e. space can feel protective, enclosing or claustrophobic (Hornecker, n.d.).
Explaining the same point Merleau-Ponty writes that, a person body is treated as the third object as far as spatiality is concerned, and understood in reference to the figure-background structure. Every figure stands out against the dual horizon of external and bodily space. The only accept analysis of the bodily space is the one, which encompasses the evaluation and consideration of all the figures and points in reference to horizons (Merleau-Ponty, 1962).
It is a fact that a real space is also always occupied and positioned giving it meaning and making it a place. For example, the entrance to a building affects our discernment and form an expectation which in turn changes our view of the object that we find inside. Real places furthermore have an atmosphere as a result of a complex interplay of social factors, aesthetical, and physical factors of the setting. Reconciliation of space and place is very important with the users. Taking into reflection how these structural aspects of space communicate to the user body, geometrical space turns from a mere collection of synchronize into meaningful, lived-in space (Hornecker, n.d.).
Sharing of space leads to many social impacts including proximity, social nearness and a higher tendency to cooperate. Being in the same place is a reciprocal situation where seeing implies being seen (Robertson, 2002 & 1997). This creates both vulnerability and trust.
Arcadian Centre is an example such social space. Formally built amid the established Chinese Quarter of Birmingham, now the center has grown to be an intrinsic part of the city of Birmingham. It is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Set in the centre of vibrant Chinatown and the Theatre District, the Arcadian is the entertainment venue for a more individual Birmingham night out. The bars, restaurants and comedy club set in this friendly and relaxed atmosphere are some of the best in the city of Birmingham. The Arcadian is a unique complex set around an attractive piazza and is the perfect place to relax with friends and enjoy al fresco dining and drinks. The Arcadian has a wide range of retailers and service providers catering to needs of the local community. (www.thearcadian.co.uk)
It also serves as the setting for a variety of street entertainment and themed weekends. The collaboration of restaurants, clubs, cafes, shopping areas allows for the formation of social ties and bonds among the community. Keeping it in line with the concepts mentioned above, the center has been planned as to be compatible with the surrounding area. The Arcadia site is an extremely complex one in planning terms and impacts on the lives of all those who live, work or pass through the town centre.
If one refers to the pictures of the center, one has to appreciate that the space has been utilized in a tasteful manner to provide socio-cultural activities. Whyte’s philosophy of perseverance and
sanctity of public spaces being intact is evident and the fact that people tend to sit where there are places to sit, is employed in the development of the centers. People comes to the center to enjoy many activities all in the same space between divided into various places provides them chances of social interaction. Another interesting feature of the Arcadian Center is the variety of architectural and design elements. The existence of relatively homogenous and standardized architecture often diminishes the local specificity and variety of places. The different designing of restaurants, clubs, shopping area, etc., provides diversity and refreshment to the eyes of the visitors alluring them to revisit the place without getting bored or too familiarized.
To sum up, the example of Arcadian Center illustrates how inhibition and structural characteristic of space correlate creating place. The space is bounded by boundaries in a manner to create an open yet comfortable, artistic yet practical, relatable and social place with interact with the people as well as enable them to interact with each other.