Michel de Certeau shows us the relationship between place and space, defining how they are different from each other. “Places” have physical meaning, like different locations, being fixed points on a map, whereas “spaces”, according to de Certeau are ‘practiced places’, being defined by their function and users’ perception of the places. In other words,when one single ‘place’ is used in 2 different ways by 2 different users, who have different perceptions of the place, two distinct spaces are formed. Hence, compared with the physical and objective ‘place’, ‘space’ has a more subjective meaning. Regarding ‘stories’, a single place can hold different stories and memories for different people, further showing the difference between ‘place’ and ‘space’. In the case of Hong Kong’s development, as the Government judges the same old building differently than the users/residents, only focusing on economical values but neglecting the stories behind these structures, the ‘common spaces’ will be disappearing, changing from meaningful ‘spaces’ into monotonous ‘place’.
Ha Chun Ming Rex 3035696547
Rex, well done at this reading reflection on Certeau’s theory of space and place (it is not a simple theory to unpack). Appreciate also your efforts in referring to Abbas’ commentary on disappearance!