De La Cruz, Jan Andrea L.

205635
BFA Information Design

Place is where the Heart is

Word count: 989 words

Previously, a place for me was simply a space where I could pass through and exist. I had a neutral
view towards it and it was something that I did not give much thought to. It was just a geographical location,
a space with a distinct physical environment and characteristics. However, after going through the readings
and learning more from our lecture, a place, for me, has now evolved into something more personal.
To understand further what a place is, I’d like to recall the difference between space and place
according to Tuan (2001). Space is the more abstract, geometric aspect of the environment and it is defined
by distance and coordinates. This definition is what I used to perceive a place to be, not something that you
really think about, merely a passing environment. On the other hand, place is an activated space, it’s imbued
with meaning, emotions, and human experience. It is a space where people dwell and engage with their
surroundings. This difference in definition is important because it made me distinguish spaces between places.
It also made me realize that a place is not merely an environment but rather, it is something that we tie our
own feelings and memories.
Tuan (2001) also introduced other concepts that further define a place. Topophilia, the love that
people have for certain places, helps us understand how individuals and cultures develop attachments to
specific places which helps them develop the sense of belonging and identity. This results in people doing
place making. Place making is the reason why we see a place the way it is. Its layout, architecture, and
landscape are done in a way that reflects the values, aspirations, and cultural identities of the place makers.
Aside from topophilia, Tuan (2001) emphasizes the importance of human perception and experience in
shaping our understanding of space and place. In my understanding, this also means our sensory experiences,
memories, and cultural backgrounds influence how we relate to and interpret our environment. An example
of this is my initial perception of Metro Manila. As a native Southern Leyteño, I used to view Metro Manila as
a place full of traffic, pollution, and urbanness. I also used to view it as a place for vacationing, a place to just
blow off money. Now, it’s a place where I study at one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines, a place
where I made new friends and found my partner. The experiences I had, shaped how I turned Metro Manila a
place for me to live comfortably and possibly have a future.
Another concept that I understand from Cresswell (2011) is the relationship between place and time.
This temporal aspect affects how we perceive or define a place since places change over time. Because of this,
our experiences of them are influenced by the rhythms and narratives that we were exposed to at that
moment. Our definition of that place may change. For example, when I interned for Ateneo Innovation
Center in 2019, the Arete was simply a place for me to test out our experiments and run our prototypes. In
the present day, Arete is now my home. It’s where I have my design and art classes, have meet-ups with my
friends and blockmates, had my first presentation and panel defense in college, and so much more. I
developed a more personal attachment to this place as time went on and as I had more positive experiences in
it. Furthermore, at the start, I was merely an intern when I first went to Arete, an intern who focused more
on technology and innovation. My understanding of the place changed as I shifted into a different stage in
life, becoming an art student. With this, Cresswell’s concept of place identity comes in. This concept states
how places play a crucial role in shaping our individual and collective identity. People often form deep
connections to specific places that contribute to their sense of self and belonging. Based on my previous
example, I identified as an art student more due to where I’m usually situated, which is in Arete. The majority
of the students and staff who have their classes or spend time in Arete belong to the Fine Arts department.
Thus, when a student says that they have classes in Arete, people tend to assume that that student is an art
student.
Another way of defining a place is by looking at it in the context of our everyday life. De Certau
(1980) introduced concepts of defining a place by walking in the city. According to him, the act of walking
represents a tactical practice within the urban environment. Walking is an everyday activity that allows us to
assert our own agency and desires within structured spaces created by the authority. In other words, walking
allows us to make our own place, to give definition to a space based on our own decisions and experiences.
Let’s look at the city as a text where we, the pedestrians, “write” as we move through it. Walking becomes a
kind of symbolic inscription in the urban landscape where we create our own narratives and paths within the
city. As we walk, we create our own personal stories and places. The act of walking in turn, becomes an act of
storytelling. Another experience that I can relate to this is when I go to Binondo. When I first went to
Binondo, I had an itinerary on hand based on the local guides that were made but now, I go there based on
what I am feeling at that moment or what I’m craving for.
In summary, places made me realize that everything is a blank sheet of paper waiting for me to write
on. I have control over how I turn spaces into a place I can dwell in and I now understand that having this
knowledge is having some sort of power over your life.

Sources:
● Creswell, Tim, “Defining Place,” in Critical Encounters with Text: Finding a Place to Stand,
ed. Margaret Himley (London: Pearson, 2011), 127-136
● de Certeau, Michel, The Practice of Everyday Life, trans. Steven F. Rendall, (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 1984), 102-110.
● Tuan, Yi-Fu, “Experiential Perspective,” in Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience,
8th ed., (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2001), 8- 18.