Place-Identity and Post-war Rebuilding

Abstract

In and after times of war the pressure to rebuild as fast as possible is enormous. Research shows that during such pressure, qualities in housing and public spaces that acknowledge symbolic value, including social interactions and different levels of memories, are often overlooked. However, during a war it is not only houses and buildings that are destroyed, but also public and private spaces, places with memories and invisible networks. To (re-)create resilient places, it is essential to look at the different identities of places. This article argues that place-identity is essential in relation to building resilient communities since places can enhance and empower people to adapt and recover from adversity. According to a. o. Jacobs places get meaning by social interactions enabling new connections and experiences, as well as reflecting on and making space for collective and individual memories. In post-war rebuilding a sense of identity, local knowledge, social interaction and past experiences are even more urgent as demonstrated by Bakarat and others. Based on these findings a proposal is done to use the following leading notions in urban planning processes for post-war areas: memory—individual and collective—sense of safety and control and sense of belonging. One cannot just take out one aspect: it is the constant interaction between these three aspects that constitutes the sense of place-identity. As such these notions can be used as a tool in rebuilding practices for new emerging, different identities that are locally embedded, nationally and internationally supported.