Prof. Eisenbach interviewed for Colorado Public Radio story

Ronit Eisenbach, an architect, artist and professor at University of Maryland who specializes in public art and placemaking, says “sense of place” is the idea that a space has a unique character and set of qualities.

“It’s defined by the spatial character, by the materials, by the colors, by the smells,” she said. “And our actions in those places and the actions of others often allow us to associate meaning with those places.”

She said public art can help shape a sense of place by contributing to an implicit or explicit sensory experience.

“We move through spaces with our bodies. All our senses are engaged,” she said. “We respond through our senses. That’s what hits us first. So maybe that’s the unspoken character of what makes a palace.”