04 September 2024 18:56
Glossary
Term Definition / Explanation
Cohesion Social unity in a place; the strength of connections among people living in a community.
Identity How people perceive themselves and are perceived by others, often linked to place, culture, and
social background.
Sense of place Emotional meaning and identity people associate with a location.
Place attachment Emotional bonds between people and specific places.
Place identity The distinct characteristics that make a place unique.
Heterogeneity The degree of diversity within a population, e.g., mix of cultures, ages, or social classes.
Multiculturalism Coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a place, reflected in festivals, food, language, and
religion.
Social inequality Unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and wealth across different social groups.
Ethnic segregation When ethnic groups are unevenly distributed within an area, limiting interaction.
Stakeholders Individuals or groups with an interest or investment in a place, e.g., residents, businesses, local
government.
Demographic change Shifts in population structure, e.g., aging populations, migration, or birth/death rate changes.
Migration Movement of people from one place to another; can be internal or international, voluntary or
forced.
Urbanisation Increasing proportion of a population living in urban areas.
Suburbanisation Outward expansion of towns and cities into surrounding rural areas.
Counter-urbanisation Movement of people from urban areas to rural or smaller towns seeking better quality of life.
Economic restructuring Changes in the structure of an economy, e.g., decline of manufacturing, rise of service industries.
Post-industrial An economy dominated by the service sector rather than manufacturing or primary industries.
economy
Regeneration Redevelopment or renewal of an area to improve economic, social, and physical conditions.
Urban regeneration Revitalisation of urban areas through redevelopment, investment, and social programs.
Gentrification Middle-class people moving into lower-income areas, improving housing but often displacing
original residents.
Agglomeration Benefits firms obtain by locating near each other, e.g., shared services, suppliers, or skilled labour.
economies
Localisation economies Benefits firms gain by being near similar businesses, e.g., sharing specialised labour or suppliers.
Place A location with meaning, shaped by physical, social, economic, and cultural factors.
Placemaking Planning or improving a place to make it more attractive and functional for people.
Amenity A feature that improves the attractiveness or usability of a place, e.g., parks, schools, shops.
Built environment Human-made surroundings in which people live, work, and play, e.g., buildings, roads, bridges.
Infrastructure Fundamental facilities and systems serving a place, e.g., transport, energy, water supply.
Land use The way in which land is utilized, e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural.
Townscape Visual appearance and layout of a town or city, including architecture, streets, and public spaces.
Vernacular architecture Buildings designed using local materials and traditional techniques, reflecting cultural identity.
Top-down approach Development or change directed by government or large organisations, often without local
consultation.
World city A city with a global influence economically, politically, or culturally, e.g., London, New York.
Deprivation Lack of resources, services, or opportunities, often measured using indices like the Index of
csmp Page 1
,Deprivation Lack of resources, services, or opportunities, often measured using indices like the Index of
Multiple Deprivation.
csmp Page 2
,1. What makes a space a place?
Affluence = wealth
Affluence depends on how much money is spent in an area. This is often because of the sectors the residents work in
Things that turn spaces (empty areas) into places:
• People
• Jobs
• Houses
• Shops
• Communities
• Roads
• Offices
People see, experience and understand places in different ways, this can also change over time
"Places are dynamic, changing both in terms of their material human and physical geographies, and also the
meanings that are associated with them. Therefore all places are changing places."
Places are multi-faceted, shaped by shifting flows and connections which change over time
Heart of a place = people
As people live, work and play, a space is changed into a place. Places are defined by a combination of characteristics over t ime
Characteristics of place
• Physical/geographical characteristics
○ Altitude
○ Slope
○ Aspect
○ Drainage
• Political characteristics
○ Government
○ Local resident groups
• Built environment
○ Age of buildings
○ Style of buildings
○ Building materials
• Demography
○ Number of people
○ Age of people
○ Ethnicity of people
• Socio economic characteristics
○ Jobs
○ Wealth
• Cultural characteristics
○ Religion
○ Local traditions and events
○ Local clubs and societies
Characteristic Meaning Place that is most influenced by this…
Physical/geographical Altitude, slope, aspect, drainage, geology Mount Etna (volcano) Manaus, Brazil
characteristics (Tropical Rainforest)
Political characteristics Local, regional and national government, local groups Brussels, Belgium (European Union)
such as residents’ association Washington, USA (White House)
Built environment Age and style of buildings including materials, density Central London (Big Ben, Nelson's Column,
of housing Buckingham Palace)
Demography Population, number of people, ages, sex or gender, China (one child policy)
ethnicity
Socio economic Employment, income, family status, education Northwood (rich middle-class commuters)
csmp Page 3
, Socio economic Employment, income, family status, education Northwood (rich middle-class commuters)
characteristics
Cultural characteristics Religion, history, local traditions, local clubs and Rome (Roman history and Catholic church)
societies
Most important characteristic
Physical/geographical
Built environment
Demography
Socio-economic
Political
Cultural
Least important characteristics
csmp Page 4
Glossary
Term Definition / Explanation
Cohesion Social unity in a place; the strength of connections among people living in a community.
Identity How people perceive themselves and are perceived by others, often linked to place, culture, and
social background.
Sense of place Emotional meaning and identity people associate with a location.
Place attachment Emotional bonds between people and specific places.
Place identity The distinct characteristics that make a place unique.
Heterogeneity The degree of diversity within a population, e.g., mix of cultures, ages, or social classes.
Multiculturalism Coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a place, reflected in festivals, food, language, and
religion.
Social inequality Unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and wealth across different social groups.
Ethnic segregation When ethnic groups are unevenly distributed within an area, limiting interaction.
Stakeholders Individuals or groups with an interest or investment in a place, e.g., residents, businesses, local
government.
Demographic change Shifts in population structure, e.g., aging populations, migration, or birth/death rate changes.
Migration Movement of people from one place to another; can be internal or international, voluntary or
forced.
Urbanisation Increasing proportion of a population living in urban areas.
Suburbanisation Outward expansion of towns and cities into surrounding rural areas.
Counter-urbanisation Movement of people from urban areas to rural or smaller towns seeking better quality of life.
Economic restructuring Changes in the structure of an economy, e.g., decline of manufacturing, rise of service industries.
Post-industrial An economy dominated by the service sector rather than manufacturing or primary industries.
economy
Regeneration Redevelopment or renewal of an area to improve economic, social, and physical conditions.
Urban regeneration Revitalisation of urban areas through redevelopment, investment, and social programs.
Gentrification Middle-class people moving into lower-income areas, improving housing but often displacing
original residents.
Agglomeration Benefits firms obtain by locating near each other, e.g., shared services, suppliers, or skilled labour.
economies
Localisation economies Benefits firms gain by being near similar businesses, e.g., sharing specialised labour or suppliers.
Place A location with meaning, shaped by physical, social, economic, and cultural factors.
Placemaking Planning or improving a place to make it more attractive and functional for people.
Amenity A feature that improves the attractiveness or usability of a place, e.g., parks, schools, shops.
Built environment Human-made surroundings in which people live, work, and play, e.g., buildings, roads, bridges.
Infrastructure Fundamental facilities and systems serving a place, e.g., transport, energy, water supply.
Land use The way in which land is utilized, e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural.
Townscape Visual appearance and layout of a town or city, including architecture, streets, and public spaces.
Vernacular architecture Buildings designed using local materials and traditional techniques, reflecting cultural identity.
Top-down approach Development or change directed by government or large organisations, often without local
consultation.
World city A city with a global influence economically, politically, or culturally, e.g., London, New York.
Deprivation Lack of resources, services, or opportunities, often measured using indices like the Index of
csmp Page 1
,Deprivation Lack of resources, services, or opportunities, often measured using indices like the Index of
Multiple Deprivation.
csmp Page 2
,1. What makes a space a place?
Affluence = wealth
Affluence depends on how much money is spent in an area. This is often because of the sectors the residents work in
Things that turn spaces (empty areas) into places:
• People
• Jobs
• Houses
• Shops
• Communities
• Roads
• Offices
People see, experience and understand places in different ways, this can also change over time
"Places are dynamic, changing both in terms of their material human and physical geographies, and also the
meanings that are associated with them. Therefore all places are changing places."
Places are multi-faceted, shaped by shifting flows and connections which change over time
Heart of a place = people
As people live, work and play, a space is changed into a place. Places are defined by a combination of characteristics over t ime
Characteristics of place
• Physical/geographical characteristics
○ Altitude
○ Slope
○ Aspect
○ Drainage
• Political characteristics
○ Government
○ Local resident groups
• Built environment
○ Age of buildings
○ Style of buildings
○ Building materials
• Demography
○ Number of people
○ Age of people
○ Ethnicity of people
• Socio economic characteristics
○ Jobs
○ Wealth
• Cultural characteristics
○ Religion
○ Local traditions and events
○ Local clubs and societies
Characteristic Meaning Place that is most influenced by this…
Physical/geographical Altitude, slope, aspect, drainage, geology Mount Etna (volcano) Manaus, Brazil
characteristics (Tropical Rainforest)
Political characteristics Local, regional and national government, local groups Brussels, Belgium (European Union)
such as residents’ association Washington, USA (White House)
Built environment Age and style of buildings including materials, density Central London (Big Ben, Nelson's Column,
of housing Buckingham Palace)
Demography Population, number of people, ages, sex or gender, China (one child policy)
ethnicity
Socio economic Employment, income, family status, education Northwood (rich middle-class commuters)
csmp Page 3
, Socio economic Employment, income, family status, education Northwood (rich middle-class commuters)
characteristics
Cultural characteristics Religion, history, local traditions, local clubs and Rome (Roman history and Catholic church)
societies
Most important characteristic
Physical/geographical
Built environment
Demography
Socio-economic
Political
Cultural
Least important characteristics
csmp Page 4
