Cultural Context in Mobility, Networks, and Consumer Urbanism - Essay Example

?Introduction This aim of this paper is to examine the effects of tourism on how stakeholders consume space in their daily lives. The paper will be set in the British context and will examine how design and architecture has been modified to meet the needs and obligations of design and usage of land. In doing this paper, there will be a core examination on the concept of 'consumption' of 'space'. This will involve a critical literature review on how space is used in relation to a given function or activity and how this affects our lives. After the general framework is established, the paper will give an insight into the tourism sector. The fundamental concepts and ideas will be used to explain how the consumption systems of space relates to tourism. Literature Review Consumption relates to the use of natural resources and this is seen in relation to renewable and non-renewable resources (Armstrong, 2012 p328). This means that consumption relates to benefiting from a given resource either in the notional or tangible manner. In this case, 'space' can be seen as a 'consumable' resource that can be put to various uses which can bring varying degrees of satisfaction. De Carteau (1984) attempted to define the concept of 'space' in relation to the concept of 'place' in the quest to describe this abstract concept. In the bid, he stated that: “a place (lieu) is the order (of whatever kind) in accordance with which the elements are distributed in relationships of coexistence” (p117). This means that a place is defined in relation to the positions and other related things that are located close to a given area. On the other hand, he states that “a space exists when one takes into consideration the vectors of direction, velocity and time variables... in short space is a practical place” (De Carteau 1984 p117). This means that a space is a defined premises or unit within a given area that has certain laid down features that defines it (Williams, 2009). “Consumption of space relates to the relationship between the built environment and the organisation of space” (Kent, 1993 p1). The relationship between the built environment in a given area defines the consumption of space in the field of architecture. This is because the work of the architect is chiefly in relation to how the environment is ordered and how a given space is utilised to enhance human interaction and the interaction of the various members of the national environment. The legendary architect, Thackara defined 'space' from three main facades (1997): architectural space, operating environment and telematic space. Architectural space relates to the familiar concepts of dimensions, divisions and the design of structures to that are built on a given piece of land. Operating environment involves a given area where the core activities of the builder is carried out. In the case of Thackara's journal, the main area under discussion was an airport. Thus, the operating environment was the area where aviation activities were carried out. The third component, which is telematic space relates to the area of a given space where electronic communication systems and structures were situated. This gave room for the users of the 'space' to undertake communication through modern gadgets and telecommunication systems like Internet, radars and other things. In Robinson's descriptions, put forward by Kieller (1999), space consumption was seen to be varied in relation to its economics. In his descriptions, Robinson indicated that the dynamics of the use of space relates to changes in economic conditions and demand influenced by the economic gains which are attached to the satisfaction attained. Using the Port Statistics as a yardstick, the fictional Robinson indicated that port traffic in one of Britain's major ports had changed steadly since 1965. This was accelerated rapidly in the 1970s when the North Sea oil was first exploited and imports fluctuated. Due to this, the space of the part had to be varied over and over again to ensure that the changes in the land use reflected the dominant needs of the society at any point in time. In conclusion, the consumption of space relates to how the structures in a given area are ordered. This is strongly connected to the operational and modern communication needs of the sponsors of the project. And thus, the architect's contribution in the consumption of space should relate strongly to how to optimize it and improve the social and economic benefits meant to accrue from the space. Defining the Space of a Tourist Site & The Social Elements Tourism comes with its own unique dynamics and systems. According to Meetham (2006) “Tourism reconfigures and remakes socio-spatial relations in a number of ways, not the least being the fact that tourist space needs to be symbolically differentiated from the world of work, to be marked out as distinct and difference” (p9). This means that tourism requires that a given space be marked as unique and distinct. This requires a conscious effort to differentiate a given piece of land and make sure that it has features that connects the space with a social idea or concept which will satisfy the needs of people who will visit the area (Hyllar et al, 2009). This implies that a tourist space gets the best of recognition in relation to what it stands for and represents. There should be a strong indication that sets the piece of land apart from other lands that adjoin the area and this is a prerequisite for the maintenance of a space as a tourist unit. There is the need for some kind of segregation in order to ensure that the land remains 'sacred' and the average visitor gets to feel a sense of satisfaction when s/he sets foot in the premises. The Economic Elements of Tourist Spaces “'Cultural turn' recognizes that economic relationships are imposed with symbolic processes interaction are expressed in different cultural systems” (Williams and Shaw, 2004 p13). This means that a specific area of land becomes 'sacred' when it exists in a social system that is rare in a given area. In describing the paradox of value, Asiamah (2003) states that “land values rise when they perform an economic and social function that is of higher value and is rare in a given community” (p16). This means that a land's worth changes as and when the value of that space appreciates. In the case of tourism, the economic worth of a given space is defined by the scarcity or how rare the experience it offers is to people. This will determine how much people would want to pay to be in that space at a given point in time. This therefore provides the case for the consumption of a given piece of land for a tourist oriented purpose. From the argument of Kieller made via Robinson's descriptions, if a piece of land is really appreciated by a community as a tourist site, it would be valued socially and this social value would translate to the revenue that would be earned from using that site as a tourist site as opposed to some other purpose. “Tourism is conditional on the production and consumption of production and consumption of a bundle of services, goods and ultimately, experiences” (Williams and Shaw, 2004 p21). This means that tourism and the economic worth of a given piece of land would be justified to an extent, by the value of revenue that are earned through the consumption of the services and experiences that the venue offers to the ordinary visitor. The Consumption of Tourism & the Use of Space As established above, the consumption of space for tourism purposes is influenced by the social attachment that people make to a specified space and the economic value generated by the use of land for that particular tourism service. This means that the the social value that we attach to a given piece of land and the economic worth affect the ordinary individual in several ways. This is done through the definition of some key components of the society which either influences people and groups in nations directly or indirectly. Values: The definition of a given space in a given area defines the values and the worth given to the land. This therefore makes a given area of land a heritage site (Hall, 2005). Due to this, the usage of the space is perceived in relation to the value that the society attributes to it. Also, the conduct of activities in the given space is defined by the values and the attitude that is assigned to the space. In other words, the kind of activity that a given area dictates the kind of activities that can and cannot be carried out in that space. For instance, it is not possible to go hunting in Piccadilly Square in London because more people would prefer to go there and have a relaxing time and it is absolutely wrong to carry a gun in that space. This is because of the value attached to it. It would not be right to have a conference in the Buckingham Palace because of the value attached to that place as the residency of the Queen of England. This implies that tourism and the inherent value attached to places restricts the activities that can be accepted or otherwise in a given area. This means that people have to restrictions due to the fact that certain architectural and operational spaces are seen by convention to be a place for a given social function or activity. This affects our daily lives and define what can be done in a certain place because of tourism. Business & Organisational Interests Most tourist sites are run by certain organisations for the purposes of generating enough funds to at least run the place and keep it going. This means that every business needs to make sure that it maintains the right systems and structures that will ensure that potential visitors are kept interested in coming to the place for various purposes. Meetham (2006) identifies that there is the need to advertise and promote the integrity of a given tourist centre in order to remain profitable. This means that the organisation running a given tourist site will have to work extra hard and ensure that they can get the attention of the public through television, internet and travel writing. Due to this, there is the need to preserve some rules on the premises. In most cases, rules kept by the authorities that run tourist sites regulate the conduct of people when they are on the site. This is because they have the right to define who should be admitted onto the premises, and hence they have the general right to demand the kind of conduct. They can also ban certain conducts that they consider to be wrong. This is often influenced by the need to maintain a standard that will enhance the economic flow of the managers of the premises. Government Policy In the bid to protect a given site, the British government has rules and regulations that protect certain sites defined as tourism sites (Goodman et al, 2010). These laws provide protection to the sites and allows people to carry out certain restricted activities on a given piece of land. The UK government has rules and regulations that limit the use of heritage sites for activities that are considered not to be appropriate for the site. Thus, this include the issuance of legislation which limits the tearing down of some important heritage sites and prevent their use for certain purposes. Notable examples are old buildings which are preserved for certain purposes. Through these laws, the society cannot just alter the use of certain sites for purposes that are not considered to be right in cities in the UK. This means that individual members of the society cannot trespass or bypass the laws. Failure to do this will lead to consequences that might be very detrimental. Hence, the use of some clearly defined spaces must conform to important standards and rules. These rules often affect the wider zoning regulations of a place. This is because the government has the final say in matters relating to the demarcation of large tracts of land. Thus, governments can come up with restrictive covenants which will affect the consumption of adjoining lands in a given tourist space. Naturalization and the Consumption of Tourist Spaces “Naturalization is a bounded sense of place as 'mosaic', the traditional way in which geographers viewed places, but a more relative identity, place and memory” (Hall, 2005 p9). As opposed to the financial oriented need to make rules, managers of specific tourists sites need to ensure that a tourist 'space' is kept in its natural state. In other words, if a landmark is being kept, it must be maintained as it was kept in the period within which it operated. Thus, for a Victorian house to be kept as a tourist space, it must contain things that makes the visitor connected to the Victorian age. Individuals cannot build or maintain operations in the site in a way that is different from what preserves the natural environment being upheld by the managers of a given tourist site. This affects the consumption of space on the premises and in other cases, can influence the people in adjoining lands. This is because there are some support services like the sale of souvenirs and the manufacture of some things in nearby areas which can also benefit other land users. Thus, the need to preserve naturalizations can influence rules on how to use the land and also influence other land users indirectly to use their lands in a manner that complements the main tourist space in a given area. Ecological Factors, Tourism & The Use of Space One popular concept that has evolved over the past years is the need for eco-tourism and ecological responsibility in tourism. This is a concept that is incidental to tourism but nonetheless, it affects the use of land in a given space and around that space. Cohen and Murpy (2001) identify that land must be used for a purpose that promotes sustainability and ensure that there is responsible use of land. Thus, there are ecological concerns that are coming up which affects the lives of people who use space within a tourist facility and/or nearby. The growth of eco-tourism and environmental responsiveness requires that some lands be declared reserve zones. Also, some species of animals are declared endangered and hence, protected due to their contribution to tourism. In London, the birds in Piccadilly Square are demarcated as endangered species. Hence, there are laws that ban people from killing them and abusing them. This means that the conduct of tourists must be in such a way that they do not harm these animals and birds. Conclusion Space is the defined within which architectural, operational and telematic activities take place. The consumption of space is influenced by social and economic concerns and activities. This influences the way land is used. Tourism affects our way of consuming land in many ways. First of all, the rules of authorities who run given premises defines how people will operate when they are on the land. Secondly, government zoning policies go a long way to define the protection of a given site and the way people in nearby lands should operate. Also, the need to maintain some natural trends and actions defines the consumption of space in tourism. Finally, ecological issues and sustainability matters defines how much space is available to people in the community, and those who visit the land as well as how they can utilize the space. References Armstrong, R. (2012) “Designing a Sustainable Interstellar World Project Perspective Journal of Architectural Designs & the Society Vol 2(9) pp327 – 350 Asiamah, A. (2004) The Theory of Land Values Kumasi: KNUST Press. Cohen, M & Murphy, J. (2001) Exploring Sustainable Consumption: Environmental Policy & Social Sciences London: Emerald Group De Certeau, M. (1984) Practices of Everyday Life Berkeley: University of California Press. Goodman, M, Goodman, D. & Radcliffe, M. (2010) Consuming Space: Placing Consumption in Perspective Surrey: Ashgate Publications. Hall, M. J. (2005) Nature Based Tourism in Peripheral Areas: Development or Disaster Bristol: Channel View Publication. Hyllar, B. Griffin, T. & Edwards, D. (2009) City Spaces in Tourist Places: Urban Tourism Precincts London: Routledge. Kent, S. (1993) Domestic Architecture & The Use of Spaces:An Interdisciplinary Cross-Cultural Study Virginia: Old Dominion University. Kieller, R. (1999) Robinson in Space London: Reaktion Books. Meetham, K. (2006) “Introduction: Narratives of a Place” Tourism, Consumption & Representation: Narratives of A Place Oxfordshire: CAB International Press. Thackara, J. (1997) Lost in Space: A Traveller's Tale Haarlem: Luminance Press. Williams, A. M. & Shaw, G. (2004) Tourism & Tourism Spaces London: SAGE Publications. Williams, S. (2009) Tourism Geography: A New Synthesis London: Taylor & Francis Read More