Geography Adds Value to All Scholarship: Construing the Obvious in Geographical Space
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This article debunks the reduction of geography as the study of trivia about locations and instead considers geography to be a comprehensive discipline that examines spatial relationships and the interplay between physical and human environments. The author relies on secondary data sources, drawing on the works of prominent geographic scholars like Doreen Massey, David Harvey, and Peter Gould to underscore the importance of spatial analysis in understanding and shaping human experiences. In essence, geography can be regarded as ‘the mother of all disciplines.’ The author discusses ‘voluminous void’ as a metaphorical and existential concept, symbolizing the human drive to understand the unknown. For example, geography informs the architect about site-specific factors like topography, climate, and ecosystems. It fosters an understanding of cultural, social, and economic contexts, leading to contextually responsive designs, and enhances critical thinking about spatial and environmental relationships, which is essential for tackling complex design challenges.