Nexus of Place and Time: A Sociological Interpretation

Abstract

What is place? Place is how one comes to experience or inhabit a particular location or even how a culture begins to associate a place with a particular concept or idea. It can be something as simple as a sandbox that a child plays in or as intricate as a particular culture's interpretation of the functional or topology of an institution. ‘Place' is very subjective, with many interpretations and implicit intricacies attached to it.

Place and culture are both key elements in the creation of architecture. These factors tell us a great deal about how we as a profession should go about developing our designs. Architects must first understand the cultural background and the place in which they are designing. Therefore, research should be done to understand a culture's beliefs, traditions, and va1ues in association with the typology of the project.

First, to understand culture, we must acknowledge that any given culture is constantly changing and adapting over time because of many different factors. Culture would cease to be culture if it did not evolve or adapt; it would stagnate. It is proven that whatever is not useful to the perpetuation of society slowly becomes extinct. For example, if a public institution fails to adapt and remain relevant to society, it will eventually become unsustainable. Designers must understand cultures' interpretation of the function or typology being designed as well as the physical characteristics or the chosen location.

The physical location or the site selected for the project is also very important; it must portray the meaning and usefulness which warranted its selection.

To develop these concepts in an architectural context, one should select a medium which is vital to culture and society. A civic institution will be a good selection because, programmatically, it is a relative constant in its cultural interpretation. Then one must consider what is most important to a culture; what allows it to continue to grow and evolve over time. Knowledge is the answer; only through learning and understanding can we continue to thrive. With the criteria of a civic institution, specifically one which contributes to the grow toy culture and society, the logical choice of typology is a library.

The typology of the library has remained comparatively the same throughout history. Its purpose and function throughout all cultures and societies has remained a constant. However, with the development of technology, the way we as a society access information has changed drastically. Many simply access information and resources through the internet and computers; what once took a trip to the local library now takes mere seconds. The typology of the library has just now recently begun to incorporate some of this technology along with other societal and cultural changes in lifestyle and interaction. However, it is the intention of this thesis to examine the role of the library in today's society and culture.