 |
| Illustration - The flyover area at the intersection of Jalan Urip Sumoharjo and Jalan A.P. Pettarani, Makassar City, Indonesia, during the first construction phase. Photo: Sociology of Space Document/Repro. |
Space is not a passive, unchanging entity, but constantly shifts and is interpreted dynamically over time. The urban space we see today, so advanced in its modern appearance, is actually the result of a long historical process. Similarly, urban public spaces or elite housing complexes, which today appear neatly arranged as icons of modern cities, may have once been slums.
This context is where historical geography and the sociology of space meet. Through historical geography, we learn about the dialectical changes in landscapes over time. Consider the old towns inherited from the Dutch colonial era, which are traces of changes in urban spatial planning and architecture. Consider also several areas or housing complexes in urban areas that were once ethnic villages.
The sociology of space, in this context, examines these areas in a more elaborate manner and goes beyond the processes of change and their spatial implications. It further examines how humans give meaning to space, how they live in space through various activities, and how they fight for and defend it.
The integrative link between the two teaches us that historical geography is oriented toward the temporal context, while the sociology of space focuses on the social aspect. This is why Lefebvre, through his sociology of space paradigm, asserted that space is produced. Space will always be dynamic along with patterns of power relations, social practices, and symbolic representations.***
