A SENSE OF PLACE
Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.”
by Richard Austin Speaking of Success
This month, RICM is focusing on interior and architectural design. It’s obvious that a designer or an architect not only seeks to create a specific “look”, which may seem almost superficial, but also, on a deeper level, he or she is communicating a sense of place with their work.
“Place” is an interesting concept. A building, an office, or even a room can attempt to fit in, or “echo” its environs, or an entirely new place can be created that purposely stands out from all of its surroundings.
Place can be very personal and reflect an individual or even a company or organization. The latter is more difficult to achieve because an organization, by definition, is comprised of many individuals, all with their own values, goals, and sense of esthetics. An architect or designer must go beyond an individual’s taste and create a place that integrates corporate values and group esthetics.
It is even more problematic when an architect or designer must work on a community project. Members have their own beliefs as to what are the shared values and goals of their community. New (or redesigned) buildings should reflect those shared values. Community members are all “stakeholders” in projects that seek to create a sense of place through the construction of a new building or the renovation or redesign of an existing structure. All members of a community have a “stake” in the outcome of such projects.
Success is achieved when a harmonious combination of proportion, balance, form, and function that reflects the values of the majority of stakeholders is created. Examples of success stories abound, (along with some failures), in virtually any community. One of my favorite “ugly buildings” is the AT&T Central Office in Houston, Texas. As this is a digital publication, you can check it out right here.
On the other hand, for a true success story, look no further than the Arcade in Providence. America’s oldest indoor mall, built in 1828, has been re-imagined and transformed into a retail anchor and loft complex. This unique “place” is setting the stage for the next Providence renaissance.
Designers and architects help us create a sense of place in our communities, our businesses, and in our own homes. This sense of place is both communal and personal. To truly create a “communal” sense of place, the designer or architect will often reach out to it’s local art communities and bring them inside. (The Hive in North Kingstown does this very well.)
Providence, RI Arcade building
By incorporating the local art community into the newly created or renovated space, it brings the definition of “place” full circle, from professional design to community inclusion.
10 | Rhode Island Creative Magazine
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