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divinity of that place. ... in the eighteenth century the Latin phrase was usually translated as ‘the genius of a
place’, meaning its influence. ... We now use the current version to describe the atmosphere to a place, the quality
of its environment. Nevertheless, we recognize that certain localities have an attraction which gives us a certain
indefinable sense of well-being and which we want to return to, time and again (Jackson, 1994, p. 64).
When Jackson refers to the ‘atmosphere’ of a place, he indicates that this acknowledgement of
genius loci is also linked to and has become allied to place character (Jiven & Larkham, 2003). This
is the unique constellations of socio- physical characteristics that differentiate these environments
from one another (Tuan, 1974). This place character – the spirit of a place – assumes high amenity
value, and can be defined as the most important aspect that adds value to a place. Place character
includes the values of that environment, i.e. the things that people experience that are special, including their emotional attachments and response to, and influence of, physical objects, including beaches,
historical buildings, trees, and footpaths. It is the visual attributes and the interplays of these objects
and spaces that contributes to a sense of place and the uniqueness of place- character, creating distinct
local values in each coastal town (Roös & Jones, 2013). Communities on the coast in part exist due to
their high visual and natural attributes they are situated within or adjacent to, which underpin the
qualities of these values. Changes in these landscapes and built values may cause a dramatic effect
upon their context, thereby influencing the overall place- character (Roös, 2014).
It can be argued that the principles of ‘living centres’ of a settlement (as defined by Alexander in
the Nature of Order; Alexander, 2001-2005, p. 80), which connect human built environments and
nature together in a wholeness, add to the creation of place character and ‘sense of place’. The living
structures within a neighbourhood are crafted over many years by local residents, resulting in a unique
character painted in the heritage and history of the place. This uniqueness is fundamental to the ongoing resilience of a place and results in the sustainable futures of the communities (Alexander, 2004).
An important aspect of place-character is the heritage and cultural identity of place, shaped by the
history of the settlement. In coastal towns it is this history that draws people to settle there, and results
in increased numbers of overnight visits during holiday seasons. Heritage and history, culture as well
as natural landscapes with its biophysical characteristics contribute to the appreciation of place (Roös,
2014). High visual and natural attributes of the coast are always in a transition stage, and the biophysical characteristics of the coastal zone are the foundation layer of patterns that influence the connection
of humans to their natural environment. For centuries these biophysical characteristics have influenced society’s decisions as to where to establish human settlements along the coast.
4.5 The Biophysical Characteristics of the Coast
Biophysical characteristics of the coast differ in various shapes and forms around the world, and this
is a similar phenomenon in Australia. The Australian coast has four major coastal regions, each with
their own geomorphology and climate characteristics. The dynamic interactions of land and sea over
time shaped the coastline as it is today, with over 10,000 sandy beaches that make up half of the coastline, and the remainder comprising mostly rocky and cliff shorelines (CSIRO, 2009, p. 12). Most of
the Victorian coast can generally be classified as a limestone rocky coastline, with sandy beaches
predominantly located at river inlets. The calcareous beach sands are ‘perched’ on the Calcarenite
ridges, as indicated in Fig. 4.3. This geomorphological arrangement is key in identifying which areas
of the Victorian coast are vulnerable to climate change impacts, as well as to determine the natural
attributes that contribute to the characteristics and values of coastal settlements in these sandy coastal
zones. Further, the biophysical characteristics of the coastline provide fundamental information in
considering the development of a pattern language to inform regenerative-adaptive design and planning decisions.
4 Affinity to Water: The Coastal Zone and Coastal Settlements
divinity of that place. ... in the eighteenth century the Latin phrase was usually translated as ‘the genius of a
place’, meaning its influence. ... We now use the current version to describe the atmosphere to a place, the quality
of its environment. Nevertheless, we recognize that certain localities have an attraction which gives us a certain
indefinable sense of well-being and which we want to return to, time and again (Jackson, 1994, p. 64).
When Jackson refers to the ‘atmosphere’ of a place, he indicates that this acknowledgement of
genius loci is also linked to and has become allied to place character (Jiven & Larkham, 2003). This
is the unique constellations of socio- physical characteristics that differentiate these environments
from one another (Tuan, 1974). This place character – the spirit of a place – assumes high amenity
value, and can be defined as the most important aspect that adds value to a place. Place character
includes the values of that environment, i.e. the things that people experience that are special, including their emotional attachments and response to, and influence of, physical objects, including beaches,
historical buildings, trees, and footpaths. It is the visual attributes and the interplays of these objects
and spaces that contributes to a sense of place and the uniqueness of place- character, creating distinct
local values in each coastal town (Roös & Jones, 2013). Communities on the coast in part exist due to
their high visual and natural attributes they are situated within or adjacent to, which underpin the
qualities of these values. Changes in these landscapes and built values may cause a dramatic effect
upon their context, thereby influencing the overall place- character (Roös, 2014).
It can be argued that the principles of ‘living centres’ of a settlement (as defined by Alexander in
the Nature of Order; Alexander, 2001-2005, p. 80), which connect human built environments and
nature together in a wholeness, add to the creation of place character and ‘sense of place’. The living
structures within a neighbourhood are crafted over many years by local residents, resulting in a unique
character painted in the heritage and history of the place. This uniqueness is fundamental to the ongoing resilience of a place and results in the sustainable futures of the communities (Alexander, 2004).
An important aspect of place-character is the heritage and cultural identity of place, shaped by the
history of the settlement. In coastal towns it is this history that draws people to settle there, and results
in increased numbers of overnight visits during holiday seasons. Heritage and history, culture as well
as natural landscapes with its biophysical characteristics contribute to the appreciation of place (Roös,
2014). High visual and natural attributes of the coast are always in a transition stage, and the biophysical characteristics of the coastal zone are the foundation layer of patterns that influence the connection
of humans to their natural environment. For centuries these biophysical characteristics have influenced society’s decisions as to where to establish human settlements along the coast.
4.5 The Biophysical Characteristics of the Coast
Biophysical characteristics of the coast differ in various shapes and forms around the world, and this
is a similar phenomenon in Australia. The Australian coast has four major coastal regions, each with
their own geomorphology and climate characteristics. The dynamic interactions of land and sea over
time shaped the coastline as it is today, with over 10,000 sandy beaches that make up half of the coastline, and the remainder comprising mostly rocky and cliff shorelines (CSIRO, 2009, p. 12). Most of
the Victorian coast can generally be classified as a limestone rocky coastline, with sandy beaches
predominantly located at river inlets. The calcareous beach sands are ‘perched’ on the Calcarenite
ridges, as indicated in Fig. 4.3. This geomorphological arrangement is key in identifying which areas
of the Victorian coast are vulnerable to climate change impacts, as well as to determine the natural
attributes that contribute to the characteristics and values of coastal settlements in these sandy coastal
zones. Further, the biophysical characteristics of the coastline provide fundamental information in
considering the development of a pattern language to inform regenerative-adaptive design and planning decisions.
4 Affinity to Water: The Coastal Zone and Coastal Settlements