SENSE OF PLACE EVOLVES
WORDS & IMAGES Jillian De Beer
Managing Director of de Beer Marketing & Communications
How can we retain a sense of local place? The idealised notion of how communities relate to a specific sense of place is set against geographic fragmentation and disruption.
Time-space compression and convergence - the condensing of spatial distance and time through technological innovation, and the acceleration of time, transportation and social experience between places – has given rise to the movement and communication across space and place, to the geographic stretching out of social relations, the elimination of borders, and the disruption of horizons. It has produced social effects of insecurity, isolation and disconnectedness. In a world of constant movement and change, people need a strong sense of place, or locality, as a sanctuary or place of stability and connection.
The underlying meaning of place, and the revealing of natural and cultural heritage, is interpreted as a desire for security of identity and a sense of belonging.
The underlying meaning of place, and the revealing of natural and cultural heritage, is interpreted as a desire for security of identity and a sense of belonging.
There is a need to think of ‘sense of place’ in terms of how it relates to global-local time, feelings and relationships. People have multiple identities, and belong to numerous communities of interest. Communities form from networks of friends and connectedness through common interests and shared purpose. They increasingly choose a place to meet, participate, be inspired, contemplate and create, and therefore add rich social dimensions to the interactive cultural expression and experienced identity of the place.
A place can be seen as a unique point of intersection – attracting people and communities of interest to a particular location, enabling place-specific events, and producing transformational expressions and experiences that would otherwise not have happened. Cultural identity and ‘sense of place’ is defined by interaction with and sensory response to land, water, sky, objects, textures, colours, sounds, tastes, aromas and people. The intersection of social networks, of activity and dialogue, that become shared experiences in a place, are greater than the place itself. There is consciousness of the place and its links with the wider virtual world, connecting the global and the local.
Community-based research indicates that “people”, “relationships”, “communities” and “a village feel” are increasingly what people state is most important in their lives. Authenticity, cultural expression, inclusion, and a sense of intimacy are central to the ecosystem of engagement and participation.
The role of arts and culture can uncover and enhance hidden identity — through story, bringing to life the unique meaning, value, and character of the physical and social form of a community. This identity is reflected through the community’s unique character or sense of place. A community’s sense of place is not static; it evolves over time, reflecting the variety and kaleidoscope of social values within and around the community.
In this way, the community character of a city, town, neighbourhood or street can be viewed as a continuing narrative of a place. Community builders, designers, artists and community participants can come together to bring life to this narrative through: an expression of the historic, economic, and cultural context of the community; a commitment to the strengthening and enhancement of the community’s identity; and the implementation of design frameworks, and actions that support and enhance this evolving identity to be connecting, meaningful and memorable.
Community identity and character is strengthened through 360 degree thinking, understanding of multi-cultural dimensions and interests, matched with collaborative decision-making; and the integration of arts and cultural assets (people) with creativity, and the balancing of inter-generational social values. The global movement toward democracy has created extraordinary opportunities for the voices of individuals to be heard and seen. “Social influence”, enabled through social media, has opened up a sea-change of a global nature, on an unprecedented scale – and is at the very heart of where society is heading.
Since the 2008 economic crisis and the Arab Spring unrest, the world has experienced unprecedented change. People and the social experience has become core to new innovative enterprise models. We must look to people and communities as active “participants” in creating a sense of local, with heart, vibrancy and a sense of belonging.
The paradigm shift - from traditional hierarchical and linear approaches to business, design and manufacturing production – has moved to flat, flexible disruptive models formed around the participating customer, maker, and community. Participation, openness, sharing, and mass collaboration emanating from small-scale initiatives is shaping our future “now”.
Creativity and innovation are contributing to social solutions, health and well-being, and education. However, institutions and systemised forms of education are no longer keeping up with what people need in regard to ways to learn and know. Two main trends defining change now and within the next decade are 3D printing and renewable energy.
We are witnessing the reclaiming of knowledge systems and making with our hands, matched with new ways of knowing and new ways of learning.
We are witnessing the reclaiming of knowledge systems and making with our hands, matched with new ways of knowing and new ways of learning.
The demand for constant innovation to meet the aspirations and needs of communities requires cross-disciplinary collaborations, inter-disciplinary experimentation, and innovations that bridge art, science and design within collaborative, sharing-based “value ecologies”.
Society, the culturally elite, and Councils can no longer think in terms of constructs or objects. The desire for engaging, participatory environments and collaborative communities that harness an individual’s and community’s collective knowledge and experience for the good of people and planet, are now shaping the approach to creating and designing for today and the future.
‘Sense of place’ is organic and emergent. It evolves as participants, makers and curators of a space continually add value. We must embrace the value ecology - an environment of experimentation, value creation, participation, sharing, generosity of spirit, and belonging. It is now about the “we”.
