Memory of Space versus Memory of Place

Abstract

There are studies claim that an architectural space become memorable when it became a place, however a visual representation of architectural spaces on magazines, TV, social media and websites can leave traces in audience memories and become memorable too. Constantly it is observed that people refer to spaces they have never visited and only seen visually somewhere. Remembering spaces by human without visiting and shaping any direct interaction with the environment of those spaces, somehow shows the power of visualizing a design in making an architectural space memorable. Ability to keeping a space in mind only by visual representation without visiting and being in touch with the physical environment of a space arouse this question, does human memorize a space he/she never visited by shaping imaginary moments and experiences in that space or because of the identical design characteristics of that space? This study aims to learn if the design characteristics of an architectural space become dominant in defining a memory of a visually perceived space or that person visualize imaginary experiences in that space and transforming it to an imaginary place. To establish this research structured interview is adopted as research methodology and 100 interviewees were participated. Age of participants were defined as 30-40 and they were carefully selected out of people who were not designers and does not deal with design at any point of their profession. Participants were asked to describe an architectural space they have never visited but that space has remained in their memory. The review led through a pre-defined questions in order to find out the reasons interviewees keep the space they have mentioned in their memory. The results of the study provide findings that showed it was mainly the design of spaces that attracts participants to a specific space on the media, and major of participants build a memory about that space by shaping imaginary experiences and interactions. The results claims that an architectural space does not necessarily need to be a place in order to be memorable.