Narrative- an investigation tool

Place

At the moment I am concerned with using narrative as a tool to investigate and understand place. (The place being the small fishing village of Pittenweem on the Fife coast). I feel there is something richer to be gained from the process of site study. Place is understood and experienced on deeper more intuitive level. Recently I have become interested in the memory of place.

‘Landscapes, towns and buildings are part of each person’s daily visual experience; they are not reserved for specialists. Of course the impressions of the public remain most often intuitive and hazy. Its views are, however,  governed by a combination of visual laws, acquired cultural values that have been imposed or accepted, by the memory of one’s own experiences...’

Pierre Von Meiss

Elements of architecture

Narrative of Pittenweem- initial thoughts and investigation.

The recall of place usually highlights the fact that the salient and emotive features become dominant. This is important as a memory of place will shape our appreciation and understanding of future spatial experience.

These memory sketches of Pittenweem highlighted to me the salient features of place. It became my personal, emotional reaction to place.

memory-recall-form

‘Let us observe it carefully and study its history before designing; it is our duty and our opportunity, because, in its origin, its formal structure and its meaning, we find the most powerful stimulants and the most enriching material for design: geometric lines, remains, fragments of nature and of human efforts.’

Pierre Von Meiss

Elements of architecture