Dwelling is an experience intrinsic to the human condition, a deep need that binds us to a specific place and time. As Freud pointed out, the home often represents a metaphor for the womb, the first safe and protective refuge. The inhabited space, whether a hut or a metropolis, is more than just a physical structure: it is a place where practical and symbolic needs are intertwined. Within it, the individual constructs his or her identity, memories and relationships. The origins of dwelling are lost in the mists of time. The earliest forms of habitation, simple natural shelters, testify to the innate need to protect oneself from the elements and to demarcate a space of one’s own. With the advent of agriculture and the subsequent sedentarization, dwelling evolved, giving rise to increasingly complex and articulated constructions.
The home, then, is not only a material shelter, but also a cultural expression, a symbol of belonging and identity. Its forms and meanings vary according to different eras, societies and cultures, but the fundamental need for dwelling remains universal. Inhabiting a space, in the anthropological sense of the term, means much more than occupying a physical volume. It is a creative act, a deep immersion in which we invest desires, dreams and memories, transforming a simple space into a “place” that belongs to us, a reflection of our identity. Marc Augé reminds us that man is a social being, intrinsically linked to places. We continually construct and reconstruct our environments, shaping them in the image of ourselves, just as we need meaningful relationships with others. In these places, our identity is formed, refined and transformed, in a constant dialogue with the outside world.
