¹Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield, 3rd Floor, Arts Tower, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK

Correspondence: , Tel: +44 114 2220620; fax: +44 114 2754176; E-mail: k.thwaites@sheffield.ac.uk

Abstract

Experiential landscape place research is concerned with developing an open space design vocabulary to inform processes of urban place making in residential settings. It contributes to contemporary urban design and landscape architectural practice by emphasising quality of place, rather than mere provision for dwelling, in making residential settings that can sustain a good quality of life for their inhabitants. A conceptual framework has been developed to show how a range of human experience can be conceptualised spatially as four components called centre, direction, transition and area. The paper will build from this intellectual foundation to describe the development and application of methodology to map and analyse experiential potential in residential settings. This can reveal, for example, the potential of the site to encourage different types of place attachment in people, its capability to aid and facilitate orientation, and enhance or stimulate a sense of neighbourhood. This contributes to longer-term research objectives by accumulating data that are being used to hypothesise typical spatial and physical properties and characteristics for centre, direction, transition and area. Work conducted to date has focused on types of centre (subjectively significant locations) associated with restorative benefits.