A place is not just another word for a space but it is a 'humanized concrete space.' A humanized space contains psychological phenomena such as memory. The starting point of this study is to attempt to clearly understand the two very similar concepts;...
A place is not just another word for a space but it is a 'humanized concrete space.' A humanized space contains psychological phenomena such as memory. The starting point of this study is to attempt to clearly understand the two very similar concepts; place and space. The fact that modern society is being restructured indicates that space or place develops into different aspects from the past.
In modern society, there is no doubting the power of technology, and the field of space design does not hide interest in and expectation of technology as ‘ubiquitous environment' does not. As we see in architecture which responds to manipulation of humans and adapts itself to change of nature, a space which gets smarter and smarter through connection between buildings and cyberspace which simulates real space, technology is pretty much omnipresent. This kind of phenomena can be understood in the holistic point of view which focuses on network.
With that respect, space design needs a pause to look around to understand the current situation clearly. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to interpret the meaning of placeness in modern society where space becomes holistic through the concepts of event and image. The concrete objectives associated with this purpose are, firstly, to clarify what it means that a space becomes holistic, and secondly, to suggest necessity of meinterpretation of place and placeness, and thirdly, to establish a new system of interpretation through the basic structure of recognition and experience, and fourthly, to clarify the meaning of placeness of holistic space by interpreting different types of places.
In this study, it was tried to establish a consistent view on the meaning of concept through historical investigation and systemization of the concept. Therefore, the starting point is consciousness of phenomena, and the phenomena is clearly described within the ken of recognition and then it is reduced into a tool for understanding, and the tool is used for interpretation of the phenomena, and conclusively, it reaches apprehension of modern spatial phenomena. It can be divided into chapters as follows.
In chapter 2, phenomena is a space is observed and described on the basis of flow of history of technology and its characteristics. That shows the ground and meaning of a phenomena called holistic space. In chapter 3, together with eternal phenomena, change of interest of an is also described. Theories of placeness are described on the basis of consideration that for a space to become a place depends on change of internal view. In chapter 4, a tool for interpretation of placeness of holistic space is induced by reinterpreting modern technology and traditional theories of placeness. For that, each concept is analysed by 'event' and 'image' which are new variables in forming placeness. In chapter 5, placeness of holistic space is interpreted. Aa a holistic space means a whole space, a concrete object is interpreted by singularity.
The result of the research is summarized as follow.
First, from the historical development of technology and characteristic difference between modern technology and technology in the past, it is shown that technology has become more autonomous and holistic. From the fact that technology changes space and technology itself becomes a space, it is understood that holistic thinking is a useful concept for explaining modern technological space. A phenomena is found that all the spaces are connected by networking technology and becomes holistic. Technology is not restricted by environment but evolves with environment, that is to say, humans and technology combine with each other to make a space which is called a holistic space. The concept of holistic space is used to explain a spectrum without disconnection such as connection between real space and virtual space, between urban area and rural area, between human and space.
Second, it is understood from the history of philosophy and science that the center of gravity moves from space to place, that is, from being to meaning. Thus, the concept of space which is created by combination between a space and human psychology should be redefined in a holistic space. It is critically reinterpreted on the ground that traditional placeness is based on 'authenticity' and 'every day life'. That is, unauthentic and unusual space can not be ignored in a holistic space. Therefore, placeness should be meinterpreted with respect to holistic space.
Third, event and image are suggested as tools for explaining placeness. It is inferred that place and placeness are the result of interaction between an object and an observer. It is understood that circulating structure of consciousness gradually expands and enhances placeness. Therefore, it is considered that image and event, which are essential elements of experience and recognition respectively, are the most important tools for interpreting placeness.
Fourth, concrete types of spaces are interpreted. A place is not a fixed in a holistic space but it is redefined and reproduced by image. Therefore, it can be said that placeness of holistic space is the newness created by derivation and redefinition.
In fact, holistic space is a very comprehensive and ambiguous concept, so it is hard to define clearly. It has been proven that hierarchical explanation is not always efficient and holistic approach of recognition and explanation is regarded importantly. There are two kinds of views regarding placeness of holistic space. According to traditional theory of place, modern trend is lack of authenticity and human aspects, however, from the progressive point of view, placeness is enhanced in modern trend. To understand the interaction between place and humans from the holistic point of view is not glorification nor expectation of technology, but is to assume an objective attitude. Thus, this study belongs to the side that supports coexistence of different views on phenomena and it is hoped that some other views can be induced on the basis of this study.