PROSPECTS OF PLACES

Edward Relph

 A geographer

 Wrote the classic Place and

Placelessness
 grew dissatisfied with the
definition of place
 Teaches at the University of
Toronto
2 Main Experienced Geographies

1. Place 2. Placelessness
Place
Concept of Insideness

If a person feels inside a place, he or she is here rather than there, safe
rather threatened, enclosed rather than exposed, an at ease rather
than stressed.

BUT. . .

Currently, people are becoming more geographically alienated and

are showing an uncommitted insideness.
 The loss of uniqueness of place in
Placelessness the cultural landscape to the point
that one place looks like the next
 A phenomenon that deals with increasing similarities
among places and lack of character

Various manifestation including universal –

standardized – look – alike landscapes, make believe
places, and environments lacking character
Placelessness
Stems from ignorance of local and regional
character

Brought about by increasing globalization and mass

culture
Forces that Lead
to Placelessness  ECONOMICS

2 Main Causes of
TECHNOLOGY
Contemporary 

Placelessness
PHILIPPINES Placelessness
 LANDSCAPE OF MASS CORPORATION
 PHILIPPINES
Placelessness
 LANDSCAPE OF
MASS
ENTERTAINMENT
PHILIPPINES Placelessness
LANDSCAPE OF AUTOMOBILE
PHILIPPINES Placelessness
LANDSCAPE OF SEGREGATION
Strategies of avoiding Placelessness

 Place design should be unique, original, and regional or in local in

character

 A good place design should be expressive, meaningful,

intellectually, provoking

 There needs of collaboration of numerous parties involved in the

design process
Some things to consider . . .

 Is Relph’s meaning of place out of touch with what places really are
today?

 Is placelessness inevitable?

 Does placelessness have any positive aspects?

 Could there be global sense of place?