ABSTRACT
Chapter 6 discusses place: how scale, spatial characteristics, boundary, (social) field aspects and design attitudes, all affect us. Although architects, planners and developers typically focus on buildings, life actually ‘takes place’ in places. But, just as dimensions – vertical/horizontal, indoor/outdoor – differ in effect, place scale affects us differently from building scale. Moreover, undue focus on buildings can produce isolated pavilions in a life-inimical sea of car parking and/or abandoned space. Physical qualities, place-shape and character affect our moods, hence our relationships with others. Historically few places were designed, but came into being and evolved through natural socio-economic processes: shaped by response to life, activities and their interactions. Despite most contemporary places being thought-formed, translating traditional principles to contemporary circumstances can both improve suitability for purpose and make places feel they ‘naturally’ belong. Without this, they typically feel contrived, and may not perform economically, socially or ecologically as intended.
