ABSTRACT
An experiential landscape is not an objective
phenomenon in the sense that it already exists out
there in a predetermined form waiting to be
discovered. Revealing and then interpreting it is a
primarily qualitative pursuit. Ask 10 trained and
experienced landscape or urban design profes-
sionals to record their place perceptions of a
particular setting and you will get 10 different
results, even if instructions given to them about
how they should interpret the concept of place
perception is very precise. There is likely to be
some common ground governed by their shared
professional background and expertise, but there
will be many significant differences. This also
applies if you ask the same of 10 inhabitants of the
same neighbourhood, although here our experi-
ence shows that the differences far outweigh any
commonality because the relationship that people
develop with their home surroundings is so
intensely personal. The central point is, though,
that it makes no sense at all to ask which of these
is right and which is wrong, and it makes no sense
to ask which is better, more valuable, more signif-
icant, more important etc. We simply do not have
any way available to us of giving sensible, reason-
able answers to those questions. The reality is that
they are all right because, just like a fingerprint,
place perception is something that is unique to the
individual and is driven by a raft of personal
predisposition, preference and prejudice, influ-
enced by cultural, social, educational and
professional factors, and much more besides
(Figure 6.1).
