William Light's Adelaide: The genius of place and plan

Henderson, Kelly (2008) William Light's Adelaide: The genius of place and plan. In: 16th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Finding the spirit of place – between the tangible and the intangible’, 29 sept – 4 oct 2008, Quebec, Canada. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract (in English)

In designing the City of Adelaide Colonel William Light reveals the effect the landscape had on him. The form of Light’s plan is largely due to the topography and his sensitive response to the place. Analysis of the physical site, its creator and the people who use it, suggests the plan has been enjoyed, revered, and stoutly defended for generations. Accumulated layers of meaning and misunderstanding and social and political practices and pressures have left their mark. Nevertheless the pervading sense of significance remains attributable to Light’s intuitive act of creative genius. Set betwixt hills-face and harbour, spanning a river valley, laced with a unique figure-eight of open space, Adelaide demonstrates a rare rapport between the genius of place and plan. Today Light’s city remains a permanent testimony to a man who had the sense to recognise, and the ability to respect, the genius of the place.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Authors:	Authors Email Henderson, Kelly UNSPECIFIED
Languages:	English
Keywords:	William Light; town planning; urban development; spirit of place
Subjects:	O.INTANGIBLE HERITAGE > 01. Generalities D.URBANISM > 02. Urban planning D.URBANISM > 01. Generalities H.HERITAGE TYPOLOGIES > 26. Habitations urbaines
Name of monument, town, site, museum:	Adelaide, Australia
ICOMOS Special Collection:	Scientific Symposium (ICOMOS General Assemblies)
ICOMOS Special Collection Volume:	2008, 16th
Depositing User:	Jose Garcia
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2010 07:39
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2011 19:12
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URI:	https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/140

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