ABSTRACT
There seems to be little question that the physical-spatial environment is an important factor in determining how a person feels, what he can do, and how he interacts with other people. One of the most important contributors to this expanding concern with the quality of the physical environment is the cultural anthropologist, E. T. Hall. A change in attitudes or behavior around spatial problem solving, especially the variable feature of space aspect, can lead to greater “Environmental Competence” that is, to greater utilization of resources, better fit between activities and the spatial environment, and a richer learning process as people find out more about what can be done in their environment. For public spaces, an increase in spatial awareness could be one step toward building a feedback process between planners and users.
