Sense of Place, Authenticity and Character: A Commentary

This commentary develops in particular from the recent paper on sense of place and authenticity by Ouf (Journal of Urban Design (2001), 6(1), pp. 73-86) and other related contributions. To those points are added an historical dimension and an exploration of the theoretical positions of Christian Norberg-Schulz and M.R.G. Conzen in particular. A wider discussion of 'character' is developed, in relation to sense of place and genius loci , the preferred term here. It is suggested that these complex theoretical concepts have become confused, and that genius loci arises most particularly from the experiences of those using places rather than from deliberate 'place making'. Conservationists and urban designers in particular need to revisit the theoretical underpinnings of the terms and concepts that they employ, in order fully to understand the potential contributions of sense of place, authenticity and character.