Sense of place: inquiry and application

‘Sense of place’ is a fundamental, yet presumptive concept within the planning and design disciplines. Professional theories have largely remained focused on the physical aspects of place, as this is their primary mode of production. However, the academic literature suggests that sense of place is a multidimensional concept that extends beyond the physical attributes of a given location. A thorough literature review reveals that sense of place is influenced by four primary dimensions. It is argued that this theoretical perspective can better inform the transformation of space into place by linking each dimension with specific design processes.