Exploring the nexus of genius loci, heritage and vernacular architecture: A systematic literature review

Abstract

According to Norberg-Schulz, genius loci is the “spirit of a place” and architecture creates an impression. Human identity is created by the identity of a place, which means place as a geographical entity gives humans the identity. There are various theories that have emerged on the topic of genius loci and most of them have similarities in defining it. On the other hand, heritage and vernacular architecture also determine the identity of a place, both in tangible and intangible ways. While genius loci are intangible, heritage and vernacular architecture have both tangible and intangible expressions imbibed. But, genius loci, heritage, and vernacular architecture are three strands of study having their own set of theories. This paper aims to interpret the various theories and find the relationship among the disciplines. Many authors have tried to explore these concepts through various perspectives but a clear connection is yet to be established. A systematic literature review adopted PRISMA 2020 guidelines to establish an interrelationship followed by the categorization of the expressions identified by various authors.