Exploring the Role of 'Visual Catalysts' on Influencing People's Attraction and Use of Place

procuring an attachment to place (Desimini 2015). However, <strong>the</strong>y can act as a significant
building block in that process, or be a foundation for greater attachment to occur.
REFRAMING THE EXISTING RELATIONSHIP OF PLACE
Whe<strong>the</strong>r ‘visual catalysts’ can promote greater place attachment depends substantially
on where <strong>the</strong> place is, and what <strong>the</strong> existing experience <strong>of</strong> that place is like before any
intervention occurs. In <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> this study, <strong>the</strong> site chosen was one that was inhospitable
and underutilised – one that was dominated by a main road that runs through <strong>the</strong> site and has
little features that relate to <strong>the</strong> human form. The ‘visual catalysts’ activated an underutilised
site and made it more relatable to <strong>the</strong> human form. This, in turn, has made <strong>the</strong> experience
<strong>of</strong> place more conducive to human centred experiences – something which is essential to
allow <strong>the</strong> foundation for a positive sense <strong>of</strong> place and attachment to occur (Altman & Low
1992). On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, where a ‘visual catalyst’ is brought into an already humanised
space <strong>the</strong>re is also <strong>the</strong> ability for <strong>the</strong> intervention to have a pr<strong>of</strong>ound impact on a person’s
experience <strong>of</strong> that place, as instead <strong>of</strong> being a foundational event it can act as a building block
to that establishment <strong>of</strong> attachment as described by Korpela et al. (2009). Yet, it is important
to note that this catalysed attachment to place may deteriorate following <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
intervention in <strong>the</strong> place if <strong>the</strong>re is no ‘lingering’ experiences <strong>of</strong> place (Desimini 2015).
MEMORIES
‘Visual catalysts’ have <strong>the</strong> ability to create more emotive and sociable interactions – as seen in
<strong>the</strong> findings <strong>of</strong> this study where people were more affectionate, talkative and likely to be more
engrossed with <strong>the</strong>ir surroundings. Although all <strong>the</strong>se factors may not be <strong>the</strong> case for all ‘visual
catalysts’, <strong>the</strong>ir transient nature certainly pertains <strong>the</strong>m to providing poignant and ‘punchy’
experiences as described by Kaltenborn and Williams (2002) and Stedman (2006). This, as a
result, can lead to <strong>the</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> meaningful memories. Memories are a significant factor in
relation to <strong>the</strong> ability for someone to have an attachment to place (Altman & Low 1992).
TIME AND TEMPORALITY
Time and temporality plays a significant role in <strong>the</strong> ability for ‘visual catalysts’ to promote
greater place attachment. Yet, <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> people having a limited amount <strong>of</strong> time in a
place, such as those which are engaged with temporary place-based interventions, primarily
promoting attraction ra<strong>the</strong>r than attachment as discussed by Smaldone (2006) is an accurate
proposition as seen through <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> this study. However, what fails to be noted is that
attachment can be cultivated from attraction – a notion which is proposed by Brown and
Raymond (2007). This is because <strong>the</strong> simple attraction <strong>of</strong> a temporary place-based intervention
embodies fundamental attributes that influence <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> a person’s attachment to
place. Through <strong>the</strong>ir transient nature, <strong>the</strong>y can instil poignant memories <strong>of</strong> an experience
<strong>of</strong> that place – one which is can be treasured just as significantly than that which is not
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