The Value of Current Sense of Place in Architectural Heritage Studies: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Architectural heritage, as a product of historical evolution and a symbol of national culture, has long been a major focus of academic inquiry. However, due to the different economic and political foundations of many countries, research on sense of place and architectural history is frequently influenced by underlying paradigms, restricting the diversity of study viewpoints. Based on the PRISMA 2020 checklist and process, this study conducted a rigorous selection and systematic analysis of 260 relevant papers published between 2020 and 2024, resulting in 23 representative studies that delve into the most recent academic perspectives on the relationship between sense of place and architectural heritage. This study adopts the scientometric method to systematically analyze the publication time, country, research method, research direction, and key concepts of the papers; at the same time, it applies the method of thematic analysis to systematically analyze and describe the research dimensions, research functions, and research values in the field, aiming to provide a broader international academic perspective and theoretical references for future researchers. The research results show that sense of place has a positive impact on architectural heritage, creating memory, sense of belonging, and place attachment; enhancing place and cultural identity; and promoting the role of placemaking. In addition, architectural history not only contributes to the sustainable development of cities but also supports local branding, which is essential for the formation and preservation of urban identity. Currently, research in this field is more active in developing countries, and the study of sense of place and built heritage is dominated by architectural and qualitative research, lacking a multidisciplinary perspective and objective data analysis. Future research should strengthen the integration of multiple disciplines, optimize research methods, and further deepen academic exploration.

1. Introduction

Architectural heritage carries significant cultural, social, and economic value, not only contributing to sustainable development and shaping urban characteristics but also playing a key role in enhancing the historical value and image of cities [1]. Research indicates that architectural heritage holds historical, aesthetic, social, and economic value. It not only benefits current development but can also be inherited and passed down to future generations [2]. Therefore, researchers have employed various methods to assess the value and potential of architectural heritage, such as digital modeling, cultural economics, spatial order concepts, and semantic conservation, among others [3,4,5,6].

Sense of place is an important interdisciplinary concept, widely applied in fields such as geography, architecture, urban planning, cultural studies, and heritage studies. In general, sense of place is understood as the connection between people and place [7,8,9,10]. An overview of the definition of sense of place shows that sense of place is the result of the relationship between people, people’s mental imagination, and environmental characteristics [11,12]. Sense of place is a complex collection of conscious or unconscious connections that individuals or groups have with a specific place or region, and long-term interaction between the public and a place helps to create a sense of place [8,13]. Sense of place not only stems from individual personal experiences but also gradually develops within groups across different generations [7]. It reflects the long-term relationships established between people and places, which endow places with unique identities and meanings, and shape the material environment with a sense of place [14]. The concept of place is rooted in subjective experience, including the experience of memory, tradition, history, culture, and society [15]. However, it can be influenced by objective and external environments such as design, landscape, smell, and sound [16].

In past studies on sense of place, scholars have proposed a research framework that includes cognitive, emotional, and dynamic dimensions. Regarding the cognitive and emotional dimensions, the renowned geographer Yi-Fu Tuan emphasizes that sense of place is constructed by both cognitive and emotional elements. He believes that on the cognitive level, people understand places through experience and learning, forming spatial cognition [17]. On an emotional level, sense of place includes an individual’s or a collective’s sense of belonging, attachment, and identification with a particular place. Secondly, Relph proposed the concepts of sense of place and placelessness. He believes that place is not just a physical space but also carries personal and cultural memories, allowing individuals to emotionally and psychologically connect themselves to a place [10]. Low and Altman believe that sense of place consists of a dual structure of cognition and emotion [18]. Regarding the dynamic dimension, Massey emphasizes that sense of place is not static but dynamically evolving, influenced by globalization, economic changes, and social interactions [19,20]. Seamon believes that sense of place is gradually constructed through people’s daily interactions and actions, possessing a dynamic nature [21].

Some researchers follow the research framework of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions to study sense of place and architectural heritage. Firstly, research on the cognitive dimension framework is mainly reflected in spatial cognition, local symbolism, and place identity [17,18,19]. Researchers have found that urban image shaping plays an important role in regional identity recognition [22,23]. In the preservation of architectural heritage, enhancing sense of place helps to strengthen cultural, historical, and local identity [24,25]. The preservation of architectural heritage is aimed at maintaining the unique characteristics of the city, sustaining the local identity, and providing the main factors for a sustainable sense of place [26]. When a city undergoes significant changes in form and style, elements of historical architecture may degrade due to modernization, thereby deviating from their local identity, causing the city to lose its sense of place [27,28,29].

Secondly, the research framework of the emotional dimension is mainly related to place attachment, sense of belonging, and identity [30,31]. Architecture is related to local identity, place, and culture, and even in foreign lands, architecture can connect with the region, helping people form their identity [32,33]. Architectural heritage provides cities with local characteristics, endowing each city with its own identity [34]. When the public recognizes a place and develops a sense of belonging and attachment to it, a sense of place is established [35]. Unique architectural heritage can foster a sense of belonging and place attachment among the public [36].

Finally, the dynamic dimension framework is mainly related to the flow, change, and development of a sense of place [37,38]. The sense of place of architectural heritage may change over time due to factors such as Industry 4.0 and changes in physical characteristics [39]. Sense of place is crucial for maintaining the sustainability of architectural heritage [40]. Urban development is inevitable, and the protection of architectural heritage is considered one of the most relevant ways to maintain historical cities [41].

In summary, whether in the past or present, sense of place has always been a key focus in studying the value and potential of architectural heritage, significantly contributing to its sustainable development and protection. However, in recent years, no one has conducted a review study on the changes in the value and research framework of sense of place within architectural heritage in the existing literature. Additionally, there has not been a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis systematically examining the key themes of sense of place in architectural heritage research. This study aims to (1) explore the national distribution, number of publications, research methods, research directions, architectural types, research fields, and the frequency and specific content of the application of the concept of sense of place in architectural heritage research through bibliometric analysis; (2) clarify the research dimensions and themes of sense of place in architectural heritage and systematically analyze and summarize each research theme; (3) analyze the role of the concept of sense of place in architectural heritage and delve into related research topics; and (4) summarize the main ideas, directions, and academic contributions of recent studies on architectural heritage and sense of place, identify the gaps and key areas in current research, explore future research trends, and propose further research suggestions.

2. Methodology

2.1. Data Search Process

The authors conducted a review based on the PRISMA 2020 checklist and flow diagram proposed by Moher [42]. The systematic review process of this study follows the PRISMA flowchart. It guides the selection of literature for systematic reviews based on the following eligibility criteria: research field, topic, research methods, language, publication status, database, and publication year. The preliminary search began on 26 October 2024, and the final search began on 25 November 2024.

The databases used for publication retrieval include Scopus, Taylor & Francis Online, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. The selection of these four databases is due to their international recognition and high-quality research. Searching across multiple databases can enhance the validity and accuracy of the review data. This study reviews research focusing on sense of place in architectural heritage from 2020 to 2024, as well as the research findings from different countries and regions.

To be included in the scope of this literature review, the terms “sense of place” and “architectural heritage”, as well as research related to sense of place, need to appear in the title, keywords, or abstract. The keywords “sense of place” and “architectural heritage” were chosen to cover the various terms that may be involved in the academic literature. Considering that some articles may be titled using common concepts included in the study of sense of place, the search scope was expanded to include the three dimensions of sense of place: place identity, place dependence, and place attachment. The search targeted publication titles, abstracts, and keywords, and the final query string used was the following: (“sense of place” OR “place identity” OR “place dependence” OR “place attachment”) AND (“architectural heritage”). Taylor & Francis Online retrieved only 5 articles using this string, so the string for this search was modified to (sense of place) AND (architectural heritage). Subsequently, this search yielded a total of 281 articles. Initial searches, limited to titles, abstracts, and keywords, yielded 30 articles retrieved from Scopus, 88 articles from Taylor & Francis Online, 106 articles from Web of Science, and 36 articles from ScienceDirect.

2.2. Data Selection Criteria

To ensure the quality of this study, the authors screened a total of 260 articles, applying the following exclusion criteria:

• English is the global language in academia. In order to better understand the content of the articles, only articles whose publication language is English were included.
• Only journal articles were considered. Publications in other formats, such as books or conference papers, were excluded to maintain the focus on peer-reviewed journal research.
• The search covered articles published between 2020 and 2024, to reflect the latest trends and developments in the field.
• Duplicate articles were removed to ensure accuracy. The retrieved articles that met the inclusion criteria were downloaded, and EndNote was used to eliminate duplicates.

After the preliminary screening, 66 articles were selected, as shown in

Table 1. Steps and results of this review.

Step	Stage	Research Criteria	Result
			Included	Excluded
1	Identification	Enter the set search terms in the title, abstract, and keywords	260	-
2	Screening	Records after exclusion: Language: English Article type: Article Publication time: 2020–2024 Remove duplicates	193	67
		Exclude articles that are irrelevant or weakly relevant to the research question	-	1
3	Included	-	66	-

.

According to the PRISMA flowchart shown in Figure 1, the articles were subjected to final screening, with 66 articles deemed eligible for evaluation. After careful reading and final review, a total of 23 articles were approved. Considering that the aim of this study was to conduct in-depth analysis and high-quality research, this number was appropriate.

2.3. Data Analysis

This study employs bibliometric techniques for analysis: (1) time analysis, summarizing recent developments in research within this field; (2) country-based publication analysis, identifying key contributors globally; (3) methodological analysis, summarizing recent trends in research methods to provide guidance for future researchers; (4) analysis of research directions and concepts, exploring the main research directions and building types related to sense of place in architectural heritage studies, and examining the application of the concept of sense of place in this field to help future scholars identify key research areas.

This study employs thematic analysis to analyze and organize the data from 23 selected articles. Thematic analysis is a flexible qualitative method, defined as “a method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns” [43]. The thematic analysis process in this study is as follows: (1) data collection and familiarization, identifying the publications and content to be studied; (2) generating initial codes, categorizing the publications by encoding and documenting information such as publication year, author, country, title, research direction, building type, and research concepts; (3) theme classification, inductively analyzing and organizing the cognitive, emotional, and dynamic dimensions in architectural heritage research, and categorizing the main research directions of sense of place in this field; (4) interpretation and conclusion, summarizing the role of sense of place in architectural heritage studies and exploring its impact in depth.

3. Results

3.1. Research Overview

The authors coded the final 23 articles.

Table 2. Details of articles included in this review.

No	Reference	Title	Country	Research Direction (Types)	Methodology	Research Concept
1	[44]	Identifying Formation of the Traditional Courtyard Shop Houses Interiors: Case Study in George Town, Penang	Malaysia	Interior design (traditional courtyard shop house)	Qualitative	Place identity Cultural identity Identity formation
2	[25]	Heritage, Identity and the Politics of Representation in Tribal Spaces: an Examination of Architectural Approaches in Mochudi, Botswana and Moruleng, South Africa	Botswana	Architecture culture (colonial architecture)	Qualitative	Identity construction Cultural identity
3	[2]	Architectural Heritage Values and Sense of Place of Kampung Morten, Melaka	Malaysia	Architectural heritage protection (dwellings)	Mixed methods	Sense of place Place attachment
4	[24]	Cultural Memories and Sense of Place in Historic Urban Landscapes: The Case of Masrah Al Salam, the Demolished Theatre Context in Alexandria, Egypt	Australia	Historic urban landscapes (theatre)	Qualitative	Place attachment Cultural Memory Place identity Sense of place
5	[45]	Making Post-colonial Place Identity: The regeneration of The St Lazarus Neighbourhood, Macau	China	Urban planning (commercial historic district)	Qualitative	Place identity
6	[46]	Presence of the Past: Digital Narrative of the Dennys Lascelles Concrete Wool Store; Geelong, Australia	Australia	Digital technology (the Dennys Lascelles Concrete wool store)	Qualitative	Cultural memory Placemaking Collective memory Sense of place
7	[47]	Branding Built Heritage through Cultural Urban Festivals: An Instagram Analysis Related to Sustainable Co-Creation, in Budapest	Hungary	Tourism (Urban heritage building)	Quantitative	Placemaking Place attachment
8	[48]	A Study on the Sustainable Development of Historic District Landscapes Based on Place Attachment among Tourists: A Case Study of Taiping Old Street, Taiwan	China	Landscape (commercial historic district)	Quantitative	Place attachment
9	[49]	Baan Fai Rim Ping: a Haptic Approach to the Phenomenon of Genius loci by a Riverside Residence in Thailand	Thailand	Architecture design (residence)	Qualitative	Belonging Sense of place
10	[50]	Assessing the Social Values of Built Heritage: Participatory Methods as Ways of Knowing	UK	Architectural heritage protection (social housing)	Qualitative	Belonging
11	[51]	Public Perception Influence on the Reshaping Urban Heritage: A Case Study of Port Said Historic Quarters	Egypt	Urban planning (historic district)	Mixed methods	Sense of belonging Cultural identity
12	[52]	Architecture of Polish Tatars-Local Identity and Heritage	Poland	Architectural and culture (religious building)	Qualitative	Local identity
13	[53]	Urban Morphology, Identity, Heritage, and Reconstruction Processes in Middle East Post-War Scenarios: The Case of Mosul Old City	Italy	Urban planning (reconstruction of the Old City)	Qualitative	Memory and reconstruction Identity
14	[54]	Examining the Symbolic Dimension of Aleppo’s Historical Landmarks	Saudi Arabia	Urban planning (historic district)	Qualitative	Inhabitant belonging Urban identity Sense of place
15	[55]	An enlightening Sacrifice: Discovering an Anonymous Building on the Campus of Nanjing University in China	China	Architectural heritage protection (campus building)	Qualitative	Sense of place
16	[56]	Malacca’s “Straits Chinese Traditional Courtyard Eclectic Style Shophouses”: Facades’ Architectural Design Elements through Place Identity	Malaysia	Building renovation (shophouse)	Qualitative	Place identity
17	[57]	Re-imagining the Port Heritage of Rosario: From Grain Storage Silos to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rosario (Argentina)	Argentina	Architectural renovation (museum)	Qualitative	Memory Identity
18	[58]	Transformed Landscapes, Tourist sentiments: the Place making Narrative of a Luxury Heritage Hotel in Singapore	Singapore	Tourism (luxury heritage hotels)	Mixed methods	Placemaking
19	[59]	Local Perspectives on the Cultural Significance of Rejuvenated Heritage Shophouses in George Town, Penang	Malaysia	Architecture culture (shophouses)	Mixed methods	Sense of place Belong
20	[60]	The Creation of “Sacred Place” through the “Sense of Place” of the Daci’en Wooden Buddhist Temple, Xi’an, China	China	Architectural materials (religious building)	Qualitative	Cultural identity Collective memory Sense of place
21	[61]	Restoring Broken Journeys in the Framework of Urban Reconstruction Urban Planning After a Disaster: the Ypres Case	Belgium	Urban planning (reconstruction of the Old City)	Qualitative	Place attachment Spatial memory War memory
22	[62]	Beyond Preservation: Heritage as an Educational Practice Process at 141 Neil Road, Singapore	Singapore	Architectural heritage protection (townhouse)	Qualitative	Identity Memory Sense of place
23	[63]	Social Cluster and Heritage Memory: A Study on the Space Perception of Zhaozhou Basin Horse Caravan Vernacular Architecture	China	Architectural heritage protection (vernacular architecture)	Quantitative	Local identity Social memory Place identity

presents an overview, including the references, country, title, research direction, methodology, and research concept of each article. Encoding publications is intended to facilitate subsequent statistical and thematic analysis on countries, research methods, research directions, architectural types, and the concept of sense of place.

Analysis of the 23 articles between 2020 and 2024 revealed that 2023 had the highest number of research articles on sense of place and architectural heritage, accounting for 48% of the articles. 2020 and 2024 constituted 17% of the articles, while 2021 and 2022 made up 9% of the articles. As shown in Figure 2, this study indicates that the research on sense of place and architectural heritage saw a sudden increase in 2023, while the numbers of articles in the other years remained relatively stable. This suggests that more and more scholars are focusing on this area of research; nevertheless, the overall growth in the number of articles is not significant, and the development remains uneven.

The 23 articles were from 14 countries including China, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, etc. It can be seen that this research topic has global and universal significance. According to the United Nations’ classification of countries, the 14 research countries were categorized. The proportion of articles from developed countries was 40%, and that from developing countries was 60%. In terms of the number of articles, developing countries had a higher participation rate in this field. Additionally, China had the largest number of articles, accounting for approximately 22%, followed by Malaysia with about 18%, Australia and Singapore each with about 9%, and the remaining countries each with about 4%, as shown in Figure 3. This distribution trend shows that Asian countries, especially China and Malaysia, are more active in this field of research, while developed countries such as Australia and Singapore also have some influence on this research topic.

Qualitative research, quantitative research, and mixed methods are three common research approaches. Qualitative research focuses on understanding human behavior, experiences, and social phenomena through methods such as interviews, observations, and content analysis, emphasizing the subjective experiences and social meanings of individuals or groups. Quantitative research relies on numerical data and statistical analysis to explain phenomena, typically using surveys, experiments, and software analysis. Mixed methods combine both qualitative and quantitative approaches, allowing researchers to gain a more comprehensive and complete understanding of the research problem by utilizing both methods simultaneously.

The research methods employed in the 23 articles can be categorized as follows: 16 articles utilize qualitative research methods, 3 articles adopt quantitative research methods, and 4 articles employ mixed methods, as shown in Figure 4. Overall, research in this field tends to favor qualitative methods, emphasizing in-depth interpretation of cultural contexts, historical backgrounds, and social significance. The application of quantitative and mixed methods remains limited, and future studies could further strengthen quantitative analysis to enhance the objectivity and verifiability of the research.

The research directions of 23 articles in the study of sense of place and architectural heritage are analyzed, as shown in Figure 5. Among them, 19 articles are related to the field of architecture, including materials, design, culture, architectural renovation, landscape, urban planning, architectural heritage protection, and interior design. The remaining three articles are related to digital technology and tourism. The architectural functions studied in the 23 articles include residential, public (cultural, religious, recreational, educational), industrial, commercial, and mixed (a shophouse is a building with one floor for commercial use and two floors for residential use).

Seven articles primarily discuss the historical value of colonial-era architecture, identity, cultural heritage preservation, the reconstruction of sense of place, and post-colonial influences. These studies focus on colonial heritage architecture, analyzing its role in modern urban development and exploring how to maintain cultural identity and achieve sustainable development amidst the impacts of globalization, marketization, and modernization. A total of 16 other articles address the heritage of domestic historical architecture, covering topics such as the reconstruction of sense of place, cultural and local identity, urban renewal, attachment, perceptions of historical architectural heritage, value assessment, and the preservation of architectural heritage. This research reveals that while the concept of “contested heritage” has gained increasing attention, and scholars in many countries have shown a growing interest, the number of studies on colonial architecture within the category of “contested heritage” is still far behind those focused on national historical architectural heritage.

Sense of place is a complex and multi-layered concept that forms a deep connection between people and places through the combination of emotions, cognition, social interaction, and material characteristics. In the 23 articles reviewed, sense of place concepts include place attachment, identity, place identity, cultural identity, placemaking, belonging, and memory. The frequency of “sense of place” concepts in the articles was counted based on the title, abstract, and keywords (each part of the article containing one or more instances of a sense of place concept was counted, with articles being recounted if the concept appeared multiple times). The concept of identity includes local identity, identity formation, place identity, and culture identity, while the concept of memory encompasses cultural memory, social memory, collective memory, spatial memory, and war memory. The statistical results indicate that identity is the core topic in current sense of place research, while the concept of memory covers a broader range, offering multiple perspectives for this study, as shown in Figure 6.

3.2. The Research Dimension

The sense of place in the study of architectural heritage involves emotional, cognitive, and dynamic dimensions, and their interaction is both subjective and embedded in the collective social culture. This finding provides multi-level theoretical support and an analytical framework for in-depth understanding of the relationship between architectural heritage and sense of place.

Through systematic literature analysis and thematic analysis, this paper summarizes and analyzes the research contents of the cognitive, emotional, and dynamic dimensions of sense of place in architectural heritage at present and improves the classification and organization of themes and sub-themes. Among them, the cognitive dimension theme contains three sub-themes, the emontional dimension theme contains four sub-themes, and the dynamic dimension theme contains four sub-themes. The specific topics, subtopics, article coding classification, and research content are shown in

Table 3. Research theme analysis.

Themes	Sub-Themes	Article Coding	Research Content
Cognitive Dimension	Public perception and cultural value	11, 15	Studies on architectural heritage history, spatial organization, architectural forms, and public heritage perception reveal the value of heritage and its social impact.
	Architectural form and place identity	16	Explores how architectural design elements shape local characteristics and examines their influence on place identity.
	Space perception and place identity	23	Applies theories of spatial perception in architectural heritage research to explore the relationship between space and sense of place.
Emotional Dimension	Spiritual experience and emotional belonging of religious buildings	20	Investigates how religious architecture creates a sacred atmosphere, enhancing a sense of belonging, religious sentiment, and personal memory.
	Architectural sensory experience and place attachment	8, 9, 10	Explores how architectural design, through space, materials, and sensory experiences, shapes place attachment, belonging, and identity.
	Cultural memory and identity	1, 4, 14	Examines the role of cultural memory in shaping sense of place, emphasizing how iconic buildings can strengthen residents’ identity, place attachment, and sense of belonging.
	Community emotional attachment and modernization challenge	3	Analyzes the emotional attachment of communities to architectural heritage and the challenges modernity presents to place identity.
Dynamic Dimension	Modernization, urban renewal, and change in sense of place	2, 5, 18, 19	Explores how modernization, urban renewal, and market competition affect sense of place, and analyzes their impact on community identity, identity politics, and residents’ adaptive strategies.
	Sense of place in war destruction and heritage reconstruction	13, 21	Studies how war disrupts and reconstructs sense of place, exploring the roles of historical memory, symbolic spaces, and social resilience.
	Digital technology, social media, and the shaping of a sense of place	6, 7	Investigates how social media, digital modeling, and digital storytelling shape and spread sense of place.
	The dynamic changes in cultural memory, identity, and architectural reuse	12, 17, 22	Explores how cultural memory, identity, and adaptive reuse of architecture shape sense of place, reflecting the transformation of historical heritage in contemporary society, and illustrating how sense of place evolves with social and cultural changes.

. Table 3 summarizes the focus of the research conclusions in the publication. This method helps to integrate the viewpoints of different studies and provides theoretical support and reference direction for subsequent studies.

3.2.1. Cognitive Dimension Analysis

The cognitive dimension emphasizes the understanding and interpretation of place by individuals or groups through psychological processes such as perception, memory, and meaning construction, which are the basis of the formation of a sense of place. It mainly involves spatial cognition, memory, symbolic meaning, and cultural construction. The subtopics in the cognitive dimension theme can be expanded and explained as follows:

• Public perception and cultural value

(Article code 11) This research examines public perceptions of the city’s heritage, identity, and visual character, focusing on Port Said’s historical image through a visual preference survey. It also explores ways to raise public awareness of heritage in developing countries [51]. (Article code 15) This study highlights the cultural and historical value of campus architectural heritage through historical and empirical research, emphasizing the role of historical buildings in academic research and cultural preservation [55].

2.

Architectural form and place identity

(Article code 16) This research highlights how architectural design elements of Straits Chinese courtyard shophouses preserve local identity and cultural heritage, emphasizing their key role in shaping local characteristics and maintaining place identity [56].

3.

Spatial perception and place identity

(Article code 23) This paper examines the spatial perception of vernacular architecture in Zhaozhou Basin Horse Caravan, revealing its significant positive impact on place identity and spatial attractiveness [63].

These cognitive dimensions emphasize the space, image, history, and form of architecture, and this research shows that architectural heritage not only carries historical value but also influences cultural identity, public heritage awareness, and spatial experience. The results of this study provide theoretical support and practical direction for architectural heritage conservation, cultural heritage, and local identity shaping.

3.2.2. Emotional Dimension Analysis

The emotional dimension refers to the attachment, sense of belonging, and emotional experience formed by the emotional connection between people and places [64]. It mainly focuses on the individual’s emotional connection, sense of belonging, identity, and attachment to the place. The subtopics of the affective dimension theme are described as follows:

• Religion and emotional belonging of architectural space

(Article code 20) This research examines how religious architecture, spatial experience, and materials create a sacred atmosphere that strengthens residents’ religious emotions and sense of belonging, focusing on Chinese wooden Buddhist temples as spaces of spiritual connection and place attachment [60].

2.

Architectural sensory experience and place attachment

(Article code 8) This study examines tourists’ attachment to historic districts, linking landscape evaluation (visual preference, cultural value, authenticity) with place attachment, and provides practical guidance for sustainable landscape planning in historic areas [48]. (Article code 9) This research explores how architecture shapes residents’ sense of place and belonging through spatial design, materials, and sensory experience, becoming a symbol of identity [49]. (Article code 10) This study emphasizes the emotional connection between architecture and community, showing that residents with higher community participation are more likely to develop place attachment [50].

3.

Cultural memory and identity

(Article code 1) This study emphasizes the risk of identity loss during modernization, highlighting that preserving traditional architectural elements not only helps maintain cultural identity and memory but also fosters community emotional bonds and encourages policymakers to adopt sustainable conservation measures [44]. (Article code 4) This study finds that the loss of cultural memory weakens residents’ sense of belonging to the city and emphasizes the importance of protecting cultural heritage to maintain emotional bonds [24]. (Article code 14) This study explores the role of symbolic objects in shaping urban identity, cultural memory, and residents’ sense of belonging, emphasizing their key role in urban image and architectural heritage preservation, helping urban planners to create more vibrant and sustainable environments [54].

4.

Community emotional attachment and modernization challenges

(Article code 3) This study shows that emotional attachment includes functional attachment (the practicality of architectural heritage) and emotional attachment (residents’ sense of identity and belonging). Preserving these bonds ensures the continuation of the sense of place [2].

These emotional dimensions of this article show that architectural heritage carries history as a central medium for shaping cultural identities and memories. Whether it is a place of worship, a traditional shophouse, a historic district, or a symbolic building, it carries the sense of belonging and emotional attachment of its inhabitants.

3.2.3. Dynamic Dimension Analysis

The dynamic dimension emphasizes the change, generation, and adaptability of place, and the fluidity and evolution of the sense of place. To explore the role of heritage architecture in urban renewal and its impact on the sense of place, the subtopics of the dynamic dimension theme are expanded and described as follows:

• Modernization, urban renewal, and change in sense of place

(Article code 2) This study reveals the impact of identity politics on the preservation of architectural heritage by analyzing the recreation and adaptation of tribal architectural heritage in contemporary environments [25]. (Article code 5) This study demonstrates that the past is often selectively remembered or erased and that controlling factors such as heritage conservation policies and creative district planning have a significant impact on the construction of place identity [45]. (Article code 18) This study suggests that as the market changes, heritage hotels are challenged by emerging and postmodern hotels, and their placemaking needs to be constantly adapted to the changes of globalization and localization [58]. (Article code 19) This study analyzed the attitudes of different age groups towards the refurbishment of shophouses and found that the sense of place changes over time and through social transformations [59].

2.

The sense of place in war damage and heritage reconstruction

(Article code 13) This research focuses on Mosul’s post-war architectural reconstruction, emphasizing the role of sense of place in urban renewal, community restoration, and social structure rebuilding. It finds that reviving symbolic spaces is key to restoring the sense of place, reshaping community identity, and fostering social resilience [53]. (Article code 21) This study examines the urban reconstruction of Ypres after the war, highlighting how the sense of place evolves through historical memory, urban planning, and national identity, shaped by historical trauma and social needs [61].

3.

Shaping of digital technology, social media, and sense of place

(Article code 6) This study highlights digital modeling and narrative methods, exploring the role of digital technology in heritage conservation and placemaking [46]. (Article code 7) This study emphasizes the contribution of social media to placemaking, aiding in the creation of local brands for architectural heritage [47].

4.

Dynamic changes in cultural memory, identity, and architectural reuse

(Article code 12) This study explores how Polish Tatar architecture adapts to environmental and cultural changes, finding that historical buildings intertwine with community cultural practices, forming new identities and collective memories, thus supporting the ongoing evolution and recreation of sense of place [52]. (Article code 17) This study emphasizes that the image and meaning of architectural heritage continuously evolve and are redefined over time, reshaping cultural memory and fostering residents’ new daily identity with heritage [57]. (Article code 22) The renovation of Singapore’s architectural heritage showcases the evolution and recreation of heritage in practice, emphasizing that architectural heritage is an ongoing cultural and technical process [62].

These dynamic dimension articles show that sense of place is shaped by social change, history, modernization, digital technology, and cultural memory. Modernization and urban renewal drive its evolution, while post-war reconstruction restores identity through symbolic spaces. Digital technologies and social media enable the recreation of sense of place, promoting cultural heritage interaction. Architectural heritage reuse is both a physical and cultural recreation of identity and memory.

3.3. Function Analysis

Through a systematic analysis of 23 relevant studies, this paper probes into the role of the concept of place in the study of architectural heritage. The concept of a sense of place encompasses attachment, identity, placemaking, memory, and belonging. In the context of architectural heritage, these concepts play an important role. This paper will analyze and summarize their specific roles in architectural heritage and reveal the core position of these concepts in understanding and shaping architectural heritage.

3.3.1. Creation of Place Attachment

Historical urban buildings preserve cultural memory through their connection to the community, fostering a strong local attachment among residents. This highlights the importance of cultural memory and landmark buildings in generating public attachment to a place [24]. The characteristics of old places are more likely to foster place attachment than new places. Cultural memory can influence attachment and sense of belonging. When people’s attachments are broken, they will feel lost [61]. Tourists’ visual preferences, assessments of authenticity, and destination image have a substantial positive impact on place attachment [47,48]. Older places are more likely to foster place attachment than new ones. The community’s social ties, business opportunities, and public services deepen residents’ emotional connection with history, culture, and tradition [2].

3.3.2. Place Identity and Formation

History and architecture make connections that can shape our identity [55]. Multiculturalism affects identity formation because people and spaces give meaning to each other, and people define spaces as their places, which forms place identity [44]. Development planning for heritage spaces needs to be mindful of the relationship between people and spaces, and this connection can enhance residents’ spatial awareness and place identity [52,63]. Local identity has a positive effect on spatial attractiveness, and the connection between spaces and people needs to be emphasized in the future development and planning of heritage spaces, which can enhance the place identity of local residents and contribute to the sustainable development of architecture [25,63].

3.3.3. Cultural Identity

Cultural identity can influence human cognitive processes as an affective factor in environmental perception [44]. Cultural characteristics reflect lifestyle, traditions, and beliefs, with spiritual unity helping achieve cultural identity [60]. Architectural heritage acts like an “open-air museum”, reflecting traditional values and helping local people build cultural identity [25].

3.3.4. Placemaking and Narrative

“Placemaking” refers to the creation of a destination or site image, where its form, development, and connection to the destination must be strong. The narrative and storytelling of “digital heritage” can serve as a tool to achieve the framework of digital placemaking, promoting the digital development of architectural heritage preservation [46]. Urban architectural heritage and placemaking practices, as resources for sustainable urban tourism, create unique and sustainable local identities for the community [47]. In the context of hotel placemaking, the dominant role of local narratives in placemaking may change over time. Strengthening the marketing and narrative of “placemaking” can leave an indelible mark on heritage experiences [58].

3.3.5. The Construction of Memory and Belonging

Architectural heritage plays an important role in reshaping urban forms, enhancing public sense of belonging, cultural identity, and local authenticity [53]. Local heritage conservation plays a key role in shaping citizens’ identities, with memory being central to fostering a strong sense of belonging [62]. Memory is the collective recollection of everyday experiences, work, and place, with daily life and family memories playing a significant role in strengthening this connection [50,57]. As urbanization accelerates, place and historical memories gradually disappear [60]. Memory and forgetting interact, and neglecting everyday heritage in the process of memory reconstruction can lead to alienation and a loss of belonging; preserving and restoring spaces are essential for renewing residents’ sense of belonging [61]. Symbolic objects help to form a unique urban identity, enhance residents’ pride and sense of belonging, and contribute to balancing the relationship between memory and forgetfulness, tradition and modernization, and reconstruction and restoration [53,54]. Historical buildings can recreate cultural memory, which is vital for creating a sense of place and enhancing residents’ well-being [24,46]. Architectural design should cultivate a sense of place, while spatial restructuring helps restore historical memory and meet residents’ spatial expectations [49,63].

3.4. Research Values

Architectural heritage is a link between the past, present, and future of the city, creating the identity of residents and the city, carrying collective memory and cultural identity, and influencing residents’ emotional attachment and sense of belonging to the city. Through the analysis of 23 pieces of article-related research, it is found that architectural heritage is not only a physical manifestation of the city’s history but also plays multiple important roles in shaping the city’s sense of place, enhancing the city’s image, promoting sustainable development, and facilitating place branding.

3.4.1. Promoting Sustainable Urban Culture Development

Public recognition and understanding of historical values are key in defining urban identity. A strong architectural heritage enhances citizens’ local identity and national pride, influencing the implementation of social protection goals and sustainable conservation strategies [65,66]. Urban planning and design must focus on creating vibrant, sustainable spaces [54]. Residents’ perspectives play a vital role in shaping inclusive and socially sustainable conservation and adaptive reuse policies, contributing to urban vitality [59]. Society, environment, and culture shape the sustainable development and vitality of architectural heritage [44,45]. Sustainable traditional architectural design elements enhance place identity [62], helping communities develop a unique and sustainable local identity. Architectural heritage and placemaking practices also maintain the urban image [47]. As a resource for sustainable tourism development, architectural heritage can boost the city’s image. Historic districts, with rich architectural resources, can be sustainably developed through protection and renewal, adding commercial value through tourism [48]. Enhancing public pride through spatial design contributes to a positive urban image, and protecting the authenticity of urban space and architectural features helps strengthen this image while promoting sustainable cultural tourism development [51,67].

3.4.2. Architectural Heritage Protection of Urban Image

In the process of modern urbanization, the destruction and remodeling of architectural heritage is inevitable for the sake of economic development [68]. Local communities often lack a role in urban heritage reconstruction, leading to the loss of cultural heritage and identity. This negatively impacts residents’ perception of urban heritage. The interaction between memory, forgetting, and the neglect of daily heritage can erode the public’s sense of belonging, making it crucial to preserve these memories consciously [61]. Architectural heritage plays a vital role in shaping urban identity, memory, and reconstruction. It helps reshape city images, strengthen public belonging, and enhance cultural identity. Many local residents believe preserving architectural features improves the city’s image and fosters civic pride, benefiting the city’s overall perception [51]. Architectural heritage can be redefined as a new urban icon [57].

3.4.3. Architectural Heritage Promotes Local Brand Development

Heritage branding has become a global approach to urban branding [69]. Tourists’ visual landscape preference, authentic experience, and destination image can stimulate tourists’ place attachment [48]. Photos of residents visiting architectural heritage uploaded to social media can provide a basis for real experience for visitors, and photos can contribute to the construction of local branding, and the process of architectural branding also contributes to the construction of heritage values and places [70]. The preservation and renovation of buildings can play a role in preserving history and attracting visitors’ attention [71]. The combination of history, architectural heritage, and creative industries can play a role in promoting local branding, tourism, and consumption [72].

4. Discussion

A systematic and comprehensive assessment of the research value of the sense of place in architectural heritage research was carried out, using scientometric methods to highlight the country of research, research methodology, time of publication, field of research, direction, type of architectural research, and the main contribution of the concept of sense of place in this field of research, and to highlight the current research trends and research priorities of sense of place in architectural heritage. A thematic analysis was used to summarize and analyze the research dimensions, concepts, and values of the current sense of place in architectural heritage.

4.1. Research Overview Analysis

4.1.1. Publication Timeline

In 2023, the number of research articles in this field significantly increased, showing explosive growth. The reasons behind this may be related to several factors, including the academic community’s in-depth exploration of the relationship between sense of place and architectural heritage, the growing global concern over heritage preservation and local identity issues, and the promotion of relevant policies and projects. The specific reasons for this growth require further investigation, and future research may help uncover the underlying causes behind this trend.

4.1.2. Research Countries

This study analyzed 23 articles from 14 countries, with China and Malaysia having the highest research participation rates at 22% and 18%, respectively. This distribution trend suggests that China and Malaysia, in particular, have developed a significant research presence in this field, and there is an increasing interest in the topic among Asian countries. The lower research output from some countries may be related to their different research focuses or a shift toward other fields, which warrants further exploration.

4.1.3. Research Methods

Qualitative research dominates this field, with leading scholars typically analyzing the relationship between architectural heritage and sense of place from cultural and social perspectives. This may be due to the complexity and multidimensional nature of research in this area. Future studies could strengthen quantitative analysis, relying more on data-driven methods to enhance the support, credibility, and persuasiveness of their findings.

4.1.4. Research Fields and Concepts

Research in this field is primarily concentrated on architecture, with fewer studies in areas such as digital technology and tourism. Future research could expand into these areas to broaden the academic scope. Identity research, such as place identity and the formation of identity, is a core component of the concept of sense of place. The study of indigenous architectural heritage far exceeds that of colonial architectural heritage, and the concept of “contested heritage” deserves further attention. Future studies may need to focus more on colonial architectural heritage, particularly public identity studies in the colonial context, exploring how to balance cultural identity and heritage preservation in the context of globalization and modernization.

4.2. Research Dimension Analysis

The cognitive, emotional, and dynamic dimensions of sense of place highlight its multifaceted nature. The cognitive dimension emphasizes the complex relationships between architectural heritage, cultural significance, public perception, and local characteristics. While research on public perception and cultural value is abundant, studies on the influence of architectural form and spatial perception on sense of place remain limited and require further exploration. The emotional dimension suggests that emotional attachment to architectural spaces fosters a sense of belonging and cultural continuity, yet modernity and urban development may weaken these emotional connections. Therefore, architectural preservation should not only focus on the physical structure but also on maintaining emotional and cultural ties. Research on the impact of architectural sensory experience and cultural memory on identity and place attachment is relatively extensive, but studies on the emotional attachment to religious architecture are sparse and warrant further attention. The dynamic dimension highlights the ongoing evolution of sense of place, with modernization and urban renewal driving transformations. The challenge of balancing tradition with modernity is increasingly prominent. Current research mainly focuses on the dynamic impacts of urban renewal, cultural memory, identity, and adaptive reuse of buildings on sense of place. However, there is limited research on the role of wartime destruction and digital technologies in shaping sense of place, an area that should be explored further in future studies.

The study of sense of place initially identified three key dimensions: cognitive, emotional, and dynamic. As society has evolved and people’s emotional and material needs have changed, research in this field has become increasingly innovative. In architectural heritage studies, subsequent scholars have largely followed the principle of combining theory with practice, exploring the value of sense of place in the protection of architectural heritage, thereby promoting its sustainable development. However, due to space limitations, this study has not thoroughly explored the differences in the number of articles across these dimensions in past and current research, an issue that warrants further investigation by future scholars.

Through a statistical analysis of the relevant literature from the past five years, this study found that research on the dynamic dimension significantly outnumbers that on the cognitive and emotional dimensions. Furthermore, while some studies have explored the application of digital technologies and interdisciplinary methods, there remains substantial room for further research on their role in the transmission and protection of sense of place. Future studies should place greater emphasis on integrating digital technologies and innovative methods to facilitate the deeper integration and effective preservation of architectural heritage and sense of place.

4.3. Research Function Analysis

Through the analysis of 23 relevant articles, this study reveals the central role of sense of place in architectural heritage research. Sense of place involves the construction of emotional identification, cultural identity, sense of belonging, place atmosphere, and memory. These studies demonstrate the multiple roles that sense of place plays within architectural heritage, including creating place attachment, shaping identity, carrying cultural identity, generating place atmosphere and narrative, and building memory and belonging. Overall, the widespread application of these concepts in architectural heritage research provides a multifaceted perspective. As globalization and modernization progress, the shaping of a sense of place has become increasingly complex, with diverse influencing factors. This study, based on 23 articles, sheds light on the importance of sense of place in architectural heritage but does not cover all research in the field. Future studies could expand the scope to further validate the specific expressions and changes in sense of place in different historical and cultural contexts.

4.4. Research Value Analysis

This study reviews the multidimensional value of sense of place and architectural heritage in urban development, including promoting sustainable urban development, shaping urban image, and fostering local brand development. Many scholars have already theoretically outlined the key role of architectural heritage in urban sustainability, image maintenance, and brand construction. While these theoretical insights have been well articulated, in practice, conflicts between historical building preservation and modernization—especially the tension between commercialization and the protection of traditional culture—often lead to the underappreciation of the value of historical heritage. Research on sense of place tends to focus on cultural values and theoretical aspects, so with the acceleration of urbanization, further theoretical and practical exploration is needed to balance heritage preservation with the demands of modernization.

5. Conclusions

In this systematic review study, 23 articles that met the requirements for the period 2020–2024 were analyzed in depth. The findings show that research on sense of place and architectural heritage in 2023 shows explosive growth and a range of research participation from developing countries, including the largest number of studies in China, indicating that more and more scholars are beginning to pay attention to this field. In terms of research methodology, qualitative research is dominant, emphasizing the study of culture, social significance, and historical development. The research direction is dominated by architecture, and the study of local architectural culture is far more important than the study of colonial architecture, which is a “controversial heritage”. Moreover, the concept of identity is a central theme in the study of architectural heritage, and is mentioned most frequently.

The dimensions of this study are cognitive, affective, and dynamic. Specifically, the cognitive dimension includes public perception and cultural value, architectural form and place identity, and spatial perception and place identity; the affective dimension includes spiritual experience and emotional belonging of religious architecture, architectural sensory experience and local attachment, cultural memory and identity, and community emotional attachment and modernization challenges; the dynamic dimension includes modernization, urban renewal and changes in sense of place, war destruction and reconstruction of heritage, sense of place, digital technology, social media and the shaping of sense of place, and the dynamics of cultural memory, identity, and architectural reuse.

The analysis of the research concepts shows that the function of sense of place in architectural heritage is mainly reflected in the following aspects: creation of place attachment, identity shaping and place identity, transmission and reconstruction of cultural identity, placemaking and narrative, and construction of memory and sense of belonging. In addition, the value aspect of this study shows that the important role of architectural heritage in the construction of urban sense of place in recent years is reflected in the promotion of sustainable urban development, the protection of urban image, and the promotion of place branding.

This analysis summarizes the relationship between sense of place and architectural heritage, reveals its key role in urban development, cultural heritage, and social identity, and provides clear guidelines for future research directions.