Prospects for Places

Anna Bielawski2.10.10

Some Topics Covered in this Section

Edward RelphPlacePlacelessnessThe Placeless American landscape2 Case StudiesStrategies for Avoiding PlacelessnessCriticisms of Relph’s WorkConclusion

Edward Relph

a geographerwrote the classic Place and Placelessnessgrew dissatisfied with the definition of placeteaches at the University of Toronto

2 Main Experienced Geographies

1. Place

2. Placelessness

Place

Concept of Insideness

If a person feels inside a place, he or she is here rather than there, safe rather threatened, enclosed rather than exposed, an at ease rather than Stressed.

But…

Currently, people are becoming more geographicallyAlienated and are showing an uncommitted insideness

Placelessness

1. A phenomenon that deals with increasing similarities among places and lack of character

2. Various manifestations including universal-standarized-look-alike landscapes, make-believe places, and environments lacking character

3. Stems from ignorance of local and regional character

4. Brought about by increasing globalization and mass culture

Forces that Lead to Placelessness

2 Main Causes of Contemporary Placelessness

1. Economics

2. Technology

American Placelessness

Landscape of Mass Corporation Landscape of Mass Entertainment

Landscape of Automobile Landscape of Segregation

Tanner Fountain at Harvard University

Dynamic

Mysterious

Metaphor

Whitehead Institute-Splice Garden

2 in 1

A formal French hedge garden

A Japanese Zen Garden

Strategies for Avoiding Placelessness

Place designs should be unique, original, and regional or local in character

A good place design should be expressive, meaningful, and intellectually provoking

There needs to be a collaboration of numerous parties involved in the design process

Some Things to Consider….

Is Relph’s meaning of place out of touch with what places really are today?

Is placelessness inevitable?

Does placelessness have any positive aspects?

Could there be a global sense of place?

Conclusions