The home remains a deeply symbolic space. Gaston Bachelard’s book, The Poetics of Space, published in the 1960s, was a groundbreaking
philosophical study of how space and our
environment affects our understanding of ourselves and our society. In his work, Bachelard discusses the many manifestations of "home" as both a tangible place and a place of dreams. The home acts as a shelter from outside forces as well as a space of the mind, one which inhabits an imagined as well as actual existence. As we
encounter the manifestations of that space it affects our behaviour and our understanding of both ourselves and our environment. Bachelard’s theory acknowledges how the spaces in which we live begin to consume us, affect us, and help define who we are. By looking at corners, attics, stairways, and rooms, Bachelard addresses how different physical formations psychologically affect us. We are deeply affected by our environment and how we encounter each other depends upon this space. To describe a place as "home" is to acknowledge its relationship to ourselves, to create a mutual sense of belonging. The space of home is a sanctuary, a refuge from outside sources, but also, according to Bachelard, if that space is in some ways less than ideal the crooked nature of the house will create a life that is warped or changed by its environment. A small or oppressive physical living space can make us feel oppressed, uncomfortable and stifled. Thus we are deeply influenced by our environment and we take on characteristics of the home and space we occupy.