3.2.2.1 The Nature and Importance of Places

Question 1

What is Place?

Answer 1

A place is a location which has different meanings to various people.

A place is made up of its location, physical characteristics, human characteristics, flows in and out (money, people, ideas) and the sense of place.

Question 2

Sense of place

Answer 2

Sense of place is the subjective emotional attachment to a place which gives it meaning.

Question 3

Locales (example)

Answer 3

Locales are locations in a place that are associated with everyday activities. E.g. school, sports ground or theatre

Question 4

Place character

Answer 4

Place character relates to the specific qualities, attributes or features of a location that make it unique. Place character is affected by endogenous and exogenous factors.

Question 5

Insiders

Answer 5

Someone who is familiar with a place and who feels welcome in that place. (belonging to the place)

Question 6

Outsiders

Answer 6

Someone who feels unwelcome or excluded from a place. (feel they do not belong in the place)

Question 7

Experienced Places

Answer 7

Places that people have spent time in.

Peoples experiences of these places shape their sense of place.

Question 8

Media Places

Answer 8

Places that people have not been to, but have created a sense of place through their depiction in the media.

Question 9

Endogenous Factors

Answer 9

Are the factors which shape the place’s character. These could be physical or human.

Question 10

Examples of endogenous factors in relation to place

Answer 10

Physical:

• Location
• Topography
• Physical geography

Human:

• Land use
• Built environment and infrastructure
• Demographic and economic characteristics

Question 11

How does location contribute to the character of place?

Answer 11

Places can be characterised by the features that are present because of their location.

For example a coastal place may be characterised as a port due to its direct proximity to the sea.

Question 12

How does topography contribute to the character of place?

Answer 12

Topography refers to the shape of the landscape.

Places can be directly characterised by their topography, for example a valley or mountainous regions.

Topography also has other characteristics such as land use - flat places being suitable for farming.

Question 13

How does physical geography contribute to the character of place?

Answer 13

Physical geography refers to the environmental features of place, e.g. altitude, soil, rock type.

Places can be directly characterised by their physical geography such as its altitude.

Physical geography also affects other factors that give a places their character such as economic characteristics if an area is rich with natural resources.

Question 14

How does land use contribute to the character of place?

Answer 14

Land use refers to the human characteristics that occur on the land.

Land use is one of the most important human factors defining the character of place.

A place may be thought to be rural if the land is used for farming etc.

Question 15

How does the built environment and infrastructure contribute to the character of place?

Answer 15

The built environment refers to the aspects of places built by humans.

Places can be characterised directly by their built environment and infrastructure, e.g. towns have high density buildings and complex roads.

Question 16

How does the demographic and economic characteristics contribute to the character of place?

Answer 16

Demographic characteristics directly contribute to the character of place, e.g. sea side locations are characterised as old as people retire there.

Economic factors directly contribute to the character of place, e.g. places such as Kensington have disporoptionally higher