Belonging (and Avoidance)
Perhaps the biggest goal of urban planning and community development is creating a sense of place - a sense of belonging. But defining “belonging” can be tricky, and sometimes we’re better at defining what we avoid. On this episode, we discuss the subtle and not-so-subtle features in our environment that signal us to avoid. And then maybe we can start to get down to what makes us feel like we belong.
Spoiler alert: What is a welcoming signal to one person can be a red flag to stay away to another.
Maps from Kevin Lynch’s Images of the City, via Urban Omnibus
Show Notes + Links
Urban Omnibus/Architectural League article on the Perfect City Working Group’s Avoidance Mapping project (the inspiration for this episode)
Role of gender in perceived risk in urban neighborhoods
Gentrification vs. Belonging article in the Chicago Tribune
You guessed it… Kevin Lynch
Design Council (UK) document Inclusion By Design on social justice in architectural and interior design
Scholarly stuff on Belonging and Sense of Place in diversifying neighborhoods
10 Ways Designers Can Support Social Justice
Kevin Lynch and The Image of the City
Child’s mental map from Kevin Lynch’s Images of the City, via Slideshare
