PLACE

The evolving relationship between people and the places they inhabit has always been accompanied by some degree of environmental manipulation. This manipulation may vary widely, but even in its most deviant manifestations represents the development of an incredibly cogent human self-consciousness; an increased awareness of self.

The built environment represents one such empirical assemblage - one may argue that the concept of religion is yet another; such systems, when they are made manifest through the manipulation of form and begin to make fundamental alterations to a priori space, reflect powerful human cognizance; the conscious act of creating a place for being.

Place is named; in all cultures, the name of a place reflects the relationship between its inhabitants and its constructs. The form of the built environment also reflects this relationship; yet this space is subservient to the cunning place and, "The power of place will be remarkable". (Aristotle, Physics)

WORKING DEFINITIONS:

space: a vessel, or container, represented by a void, created or defined by connected surfaces.

place: a mental construct (here we are interested in the physical manifestations of such a construct) by which humans create an understanding of their existence in reference to their specific geographical location.

culture: the cumulative knowledge and understanding of a select group of individuals; acts as the blueprint by which a group of people perpetuates their existence as a distinct and viable social group.

built environment: the physical and tangible manifestations of a culture, or several interacting cultures, acting on a place.