Name: Attia Rashid

Roll. No: 115, 2nd yr

SYNOPSIS:
1) PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Space is a physiological entity, how one associates with space and your personality acquires character of
the space. When one disconnects from their homeland and is relocated to another place, the memories
and visuals left behind create a feeling of love for that place. It is a notion of mixed emotions. Being split
up then leads to diaspora. Nostalgia, the longing for a place while topophilia is love for a space both play
an important part in diaspora (parting from a place). This phenomena of mixed emotions is to be
explored.

2) INTRODUCTION:

All places possess their own unique identity. These identities are from various events, people, materials
surroundings etc and every component has an impact on the memory that one has in the present day.
Being poles apart; the brisk breeze, the neat pathways, the walk to school in the blizzard snow. While
another be explained as; the scorching heat, the unhygienic atmosphere, the disappearing electricity
playing hide and seek and on goes the list. These are all experiences which gradually build up, piled upon
in our brain, memories stacked up one on the other. As time passes , some memories fade, some are left
behind. All these places have emotions attached to them which are tagged along and make distinct
images in one’s mind generating visuals and imagery. Disconnecting one from their present location and
making one fall back in to the river of memories. These associations and nostalgic flash backs related to
spaces are called topophilia. Topophilia is love for a space or a place. This connection is developed in
the subconscious mind which collects the appealing elements from different spaces and memory and
then reconstructs it in the mind with spontaneous perception. The love for any place commences when
similar mapping is present in real which matches the visuals in the memory. So here, the element of
conscious and subconscious also develops which will be studied upon. While undergoing topophilia it is
at times important to recreate the whole experience in reality, reliving those spaces bought to life
through memory and visuals.

The juxtaposition of spaces and memories construct within our mind, layering one onto the other,
world, a world of past. These are some factors which gradually build up the perception of a space. How
one associates with space is one query while another is that how your personality acquires character of
space. The expression of memory plays a vital role on how one perceives its surroundings. Space is a
psychological thing which develops through our minds by memories of past as-well as happenings of the
present. The construction and deconstruction of memory through time, space and place and its impacts
will be investigated as-well. My research is focused on diaspora in design and further on distinguishing it
from topophilia while exploring the connection between the two.
When one disconnects from a place and moves to another, in other words, when he migrates from one
place to another and is hanged between the two places, having topophilia present, it gradually leads to
Diaspora. Parting from one place, when you leave from that place, the memory remains in the mind.
Diaspora can be defined as being scattered who is nonetheless connected by a sense of imagery and
memory to its homeland. It is about complexities of connection between communities (in this case,
between to opposite places where community indeed plays an important role.) It leads to being
physically present at one place while mentally at another. This feeling and sense of expression will be
explored.

3) RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

3.1) What is the connection between topophilia and diaspora, weather they are linked or not?. If so,
then how topophilia leads to be being diasporic?

3.2) How does diaspora find its expression in design?

4) OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH:

 To explore the concept of topophilia and diaspora and identify appropriate design tools for its
expression in design.

5) SCOPE OF WORK:

Research the concept of topophilia and diaspora and its expression in literature, art and design and to
find appropriate design tools for its application in design parameters.

6) RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

 Literature review
 Case studies of related projects
 Internet: Literature matter available on the subject.
 Articles
 Books
 Interviews
 Photographic survey of emotions and surroundings could perhaps help.
 Topophilia and space design

7) POSSIBLE OUTCOME:

A comprehensive research exploring the connection between topophilia, diaspora and space design.

8) REFERENCES:

9.1) Tuan, Yi-fu. Topophilia: A Study of Environmental Perception, Attitudes, and Values.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1974. Accessed April 25, 2016.
https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=u783BAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=yi fu tuan -
topophilia&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=yi fu tuan - topophilia&f=false

9.2) Cho, Lily. "TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies." The Turn to Diaspora. Accessed
April 25, 2016. http://topia.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/topia/article/view/13229

9.3) Tuan, Yi-fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. London: Edward Arnold,
1977. Accessed April 25, 2016.
http://geog.uoregon.edu/amarcus/geog620/Readings/Tuan_1979_space-place.pdf.

9.4) Ann Dale. "Patterns of Our Footsteps: Rhythms, Diversity, and Topophilia in Urban
Landscapes." CRC Research. Accessed April 25, 2016. https://crcresearch.org/articles/patterns-
our-footsteps-rhythms-diversity-and-topophilia-urban-landscapes.

9.5) Suvorova, A. A. Lahore: Topophilia of Space and Place. Karachi: Oxford University
Press, 2011.