Conceptualizing a Place Assessment Model: A Study of the Presence and Quality of Place-making Patterns

Conceptualizing a Place Assessment Model: A Study of the Presence and Quality of Place-making Patterns in Sacred and Secular Buildings

Differences in the presence and quality of expression of place-making patterns between a sacred building (i.e., Rothko Chapel, Houston, Texas) and a secular building (i.e., Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Texas) were explored. A place assessment model was conceptualized and tested – a model that can be used by researchers and architects to access the spatial and physical characteristics of built environments. In addition, a place-making pattern matrix meant to serve as a guide to architects in creating everyday architecture that is extraordinary was developed as part of this study. The research intends to increase an understanding of whether and how certain place-making patterns contribute to place being experienced as sacred. The study concludes that built environments which possess a higher presence and higher quality of expression of certain place-making patterns are more likely to be experienced as sacred than built environments with a lower presence and lower quality of expression of the place-making patterns.