Breakout Session | Genius Loci and Corbusier’s pack donkey. The unique character of place as a cornerstone of traditional building

Bob Tomlinson.

Let by Robert Tomlinson, this session will open with a discussion of genius loci—the spirit of place—and the ways in which traditional building was once intuitive, resourceful, and deeply integrated with natural placemaking. Le Corbusier’s ridicule of the pack donkey, which does not travel in a straight line, serves as a striking metaphor for how the post-Cartesian world lost its connection to nature and to human well-being in the design of settlements. The discussion will then turn to the potential of modern technology in design and site analysis, and how it can be harnessed to support placemaking and building in a truly traditional sense: one that respects both technique and materials, and the wider context and wisdom of place.

An aerial view shows how abandoned tents litter the camp sites after the Glastonbury Festival (Image: SWNS, via SomersetLive)

Desire paths, also known as desire lines or social trails, have shaped urban landscapes over time. Image source: Sweet Juniper.

Trier Museum Simeonstift – city model of Trier around 1800; in the center of the picture, near number 4, the Jerusalem Tower can be seen. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Village making is the art of learning from the best local places. Images: www.village-makers.com.

About Robert Tomlinson

INTBAU General Member Robert Tomlinson began training as an architect in the mid-1970s, but after early work on housing for a new town in Shropshire left him disillusioned, he turned instead to a career as a professional explorer and filmmaker. His return to architectural design and urbanism came in 1992, following an encounter with Bill Mollison, founder of the Permaculture movement, which inspired him to investigate sustainable settlements in the UK. The following year he became a Founder Director of The Living Village Trust, leading work on regenerative architecture and urban design for living places that both enhance human well-being and improve the natural world. His team delivered several pioneering ‘eco-development’ projects, gaining deep insight into the realities of development in practice.

Further information: www.village-makers.com & www.thelivingvillagetrust.com