In his study of place, Genius Loci, Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Christian Norberg-Schulz explains the basic act of architecture as being ‘to understand the vocation of the place.’ ¹ He describes the need ‘to concretise the genius loci … by means of buildings which gather the properties of the place and bring them close to man.’ ² Throughout the book Norberg-Schulz draws out those features of topography and landscape which give a special character to places and shows how architecture can respond by creating a meaningful environment.