I think it is worth comparing the idea of Norberg-Schultz’s Genius Loci with Rossi’s analogous city. Norberg-Schultz argues that there is both an abstract and concrete dimension to a place. He tells the story of an architect who had to use the pavements of Berlin to re-orient himself when he realized that his childhood home was no longer there. Rossi on the other hand suggests that different combinations of buildings with similar architectural compositions can be used to translate the same idea. In other words, we can image the city through its architecture.
The home of the Berlin architect was a concrete reference to a place. No matter how many homes were designed with the same architectural composition they cannot serve as substitutes. The pavement on the other hand is also a concrete reference but it is one based on architectural composition. Although the architect did not uniquely place every stretch of pavement he was able to place the composition. This in a way is analogous to Rossi’s idea that three palladian structures can be used to locate a significant place in Venice (even though these buildings are not actually situated in that place).
Norberg-Schulz, “Genius Loci” (1976)