Concept of space vs place

• Place


  Position in abstract space has coordinates
• Place


  • Conveys meanings and personal identity
  • Dynamic, changing both in terms of physical geographies but also remaining associated with certain meanings
  • All places change over time
• Space


  • Exists between places and does not have inherent meaning
  • What is a 'place' for one person may be 'space' for another
• The North Atlantic Ocean is just a vast expanse of sea for some, but for cargo ships it is a space they understand in terms of currents
• Emotional attachment


  People can form emotional attachments to places
• Places are shaped by the past and present connections, including political, cultural, demographic, and socio-economic factors, as well as the physical geography
• Characteristics that identify a place

  • Coordinates
  • Meanings and personal identity
  • Dynamic and changing
  • Remaining associated with certain meanings
  • Changing over time
  • Political
  • National government
  • Regional government
  • Cultural-religion, societies, traditions
  • Demography-age, gender, ethnicity
  • Socio-economic-employment, income, education
  • Physical geography-altitude, slope, aspect, geology
  • Built environment-age/style of buildings, density, layout
• Space exists between places and does not have inherent meaning
• What is a 'place' for one person may be 'space' for another