Belonging (and Avoidance)

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

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

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Gentrification vs. Belonging article in the Chicago Tribune

You guessed it… Kevin Lynch

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

Child’s mental map from Kevin Lynch’s Images of the City, via Slideshare

Vaccination

Vaccination

Tactical Urbanism, Interview with Roger Cummings of Juxtaposition Arts

Tactical Urbanism, Interview with Roger Cummings of Juxtaposition Arts