Evaluating Sense of Place through the Characteristics of Place Identity: Case of Gandhi Ashram Precinct

Abstract

Places play a major role in creating a strong existential relationship between man and its context. Other than the physical, every place has an emotional and functional quality attached to it. The purpose behind designing a place is not to only cater the activities assigned to it, but also to provide affective and meaningful qualities to a place. To maintain and create such meaningful qualities of a place scholars discuss that one of the utmost purposes of designing is to create ‘Sense of Place’ as it characterizes the relationship between people and the built environment. Although, nowadays it seen that there are growing number of studies that indicate that place meanings are diminishing in the newly designed places. Particular characteristics give a distinctive character to the place and this creates ‘Place Identity’. Jorgensen and Steadman say that ‘Place Identity’ plays a major role in creating ‘Sense of Place’. Settings which do not have any ‘Sense of Place’ threaten the quality of a places and weakens the ‘Place Identity’. Thus, to understand this the thesis dwells into places contextually and comprehend the various aspects which help in creating ‘Sense of Place’ through the characteristics of ‘Place Identity’ It is necessary that ‘Sense of Place’, which is a means to create, experience and maintain the significant places aren’t lost. And as architects we always question what is place and ‘Sense of Place’ but most of the times, we are unable to answer it. Thus, this thesis with the help of a detailed case study of Gandhi Ashram Precinct intends how meanings get attached to a place along with physical expression and activities and create a ‘Sense of Place’.