Alireza Moshabaki Isfahani

QUID 2017, pp. 2010-2021, Special Issue N°1- ISSN: 1692-343X, Medellín-Colombia EXAMINING THE CONCEPT OF BELONGINGNESS TO PLACE AND ITS EFFECTIVE FACTORS: A CASE STUDY OF MASOULEH VILLAGE (Recibido el 07-11-2017. Aprobado el 09-11-2017) Alireza Moshabaki Isfahani Department of Art and Architecture, Payame Noor University (PNU), P.O.BOX, 19395-3697 , Tehran, Iran Faculty member of Payame Noor University (PNU), Abstract: Today, concepts such as sense of place, belongingness and place attachment in urbanization and architecture, especially in environmental studies have drawn the attention of the scholars. However, the relationship between the two concepts is not investigated. In the present research, first, concepts such as sense of place, belongingness and its effective factors were clarified and then, a theoretical framework was developed from the above-mentioned variables. The case study area is Masouleh in the north of Iran. The applied method in the research was Quantitative and qualitative approach, and library references were used. Moreover, interviews were conducted in order to develop theoretical foundations and collect information of the region. The content of the interview and its questions were based on the library studies. Accordingly, there are 8 open question items based on which the participants express their opinions and perceptions about their inhabitants. The results showed that there are four major categories of concepts including culture, nature, society and activity which form the concept of sense of place and is one of the most significant factors in creating the belongingness to the place. In the following, the secret for the survival of such places related to belongingness will be explained. Keywords: sense of place, belongingness, physical factors, perceptive-cognitive factors, Masouleh Village. Citar, estilo APA: Moshabaki, A. (2017). Examining the concept of belongingness to place and its effective factors: A case study of masouleh village. Revista QUID (Special Issue), 2010-2021. 1. INTRODUCTION place while reminding the people of the previous experiences and achievement to identity (Falahat, Sense of place signifies the mental perception of 2006). Amos Rapaport considers the role of people from an environment and a more or less dominant culture in a community in forming conscious feeling about it which creates an internal meaning of place as an important factor. In his connection between the person and the view, by the help of culture, that is, a set of values, environment in the sense that perception and beliefs, worldview and common institutional feeling of the person is integrated with semantic systems, people give meaning to their place context of the environment. The feeling is a crucial changing a meaningless place into a meaningful factor in changing a space into a place with one. On the other hand, he believes that culture is emotional and behavioral characteristics for special indirectly considers as one of the main foundations people. In addition to the fact that sense of place of human mental life and by studying culture, it is leads to comfort feeling in the environment, it also possible to understand the surrounding supports cultural concepts of people, social and environment by human perception (Rapaport, cultural relations of the community in a certain 1982). place while reminding the people of the previous experiences and achievement to identity. In Schulz’s view, sense of place means human mental perception of the place and and a more or Belongingness is considered as a cognitive relation less conscious feeling about it which creates an with an environment or a special space. In fact, internal connection between the person and the belongingness to place is the symbolic relation environment in the sense that perception and created by people to the place while signifying feeling of the person is integrated with semantic emotional, sensational and cultural meanings to a context of the environment. The feeling is a crucial certain place (Altman @ Low, 1992). In the factor in changing a space into a place with majority of the related literature, the concept of emotional and behavioral characteristics for special place emphasizes belongingness or emotional people. In addition to the fact that sense of place attachment to a place (Knox @ Pinch, 2000). leads to comfort feeling in the environment, it also Given the importance of this feeling in enhancing supports cultural concepts of people, social and the designed space quality, the present study cultural relations of the community in a certain examined the concept of belongingness to place place while reminding the people of the previous and its effective factors. In addition, it also experiences and achievement to identity (Norberg- investigates the effect of physical and perceptive- Schulz, 1975). cognitive factors of the place on individuals’ feelings toward the environment. In his Theory of city shape, Lynch considers the meaning of place as the result of the relationship 1. Review of the literature. between spatial elements and observers’ mental structures. In his definition, what is meant by 1.1. The definition of sense of place spatial elements are the factors by which physical environment is defined. In his definitions, mental Previous studies show that in addition to physical patterns incorporate all of the users’ concepts and elements, environments include messages, values including culture, manner, position, meanings and codes which are decoded by people experience, etc. He equals the place with the through the designs, expectations and motivations. concept of identity maintaining that identity means The general feeling that is given to a person after the extent to which a person can distinguish a place perceiving and judging the environment is called from others in the sense that there is a certain, sense of place which plays an important role in unique and special personality (Lynch, 1984). corresponding the person and the place leading to better utilization of the place, users’ satisfaction 1.2. Sense of place in phenomenological and finally belongingness. Sense of place means perspective peoples’ mental perception of the environment and their more or less consciousness about their Sense of place not only causes correspondence an environment which creates an internal connection efficiency of architectural place, but also it is a between the people and the place in the sense that factor for sense of security, pleasure and emotional perception and emotions of the person are perceptions of people while helping the identity of integrated with the semantic context. This feeling people and their belongingness. In a is a key factor in hanging a space into a place with phenomenological perspective, the major concepts emotional and behavioral characteristics for certain related to sense of place are loving the place, place people. In addition to the fact that sense of place experience and place personality and the sense of leads to comfort feeling in the environment, it also place means incorporeal characteristics related to supports cultural concepts of people, social and Genius Loci. Historically, Genius Loci were used cultural relations of the community in a certain for holding religious celebrations and festivals in which the visitors had to pay attention to rituals. object itself; and third, the ability to judge about an Hence, the place in which the rituals were abstract entity such as the sense in directions conducted became a special place and the sense of which means the ability of a person in finding the reverence was one of the characteristics of the direction or the ability in showing themselves to place distinguishing the place from others which human and finally the sense meaning complete called Genius Loci (Brinckerhoff, 1994). In knowledge of an object by human. However, the modern interactions, sense of place is created by term sense here means emotion, affection and people in a specific time period as a result of feeling, judgment and holistic experience of a repetitive traditions and events describing the place in creating a special or belonging feeling in sense of the place. Some places have such an people. In environmental psychology perspective, attractive sense that give people inexplicable human needs an emotional and incorporeal feeling making him happy, interested and joyful. experience for the place in which s/he is living. Relph holds that sense of place is not a certain This need is met through intimate interaction and concept for which we could provide an accurate identification with the place in which they are definition. Rather, it is tested and evaluated by the living. The intimate interaction and identification relations between the place and phenomenological is called Genius Loci (Relph, 1976). foundations. In his view, the main meaning of the place is beyond the functions it supplied (Relph, 1976). Initial level in sense of place is the familiarity with it which include being in a place without paying attention to its meaning or qualities. Different levels of familiarity with the place include: 1. Deep familiarity with the place: this level happens when the person is in present in the place while unconsciously experiencing it. This is when the person is unified with the place. 2. Normal familiarity with the place: This level is unconscious experience of the place which is manly collective and cultural rather than individualistic. It includes deep and un-thoughtful Figure 1. The relationship

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