You belong here: vernacular solutions against urban loneliness in the city.

Fostering Connections in Urban Spaces through Localized Strategies

Hosted by Barbara Hernandez Gaitan

This project is now archived and was part of DDW24

Event type

Workshop

Location

Center

Burgers (Stichting Hertogstaat)

Hertogstraat 2

5611PB

Collage of physical archive and other resources

Through a guided workshop, participants will explore how to engage with spaces, objects, people, and encounters in “unproductive” ways. By addressing the complexities of loneliness, this process will culminate in a living archive that documents these instances of belonging within the city.

Unwanted Loneliness in the Urban Context

Loneliness is a complex phenomenon, usually accompanied by a range of emotions such as isolation, alienation, anxiety, guilt, shame, abandonment, and even boredom. Today’s society is commonly believed to be the one with the most tools and services developed to facilitate connection. In spite of this, there is a prevailing sense of lack of belonging and misplacement, proving loneliness to be a growing intergenerational and socio-cultural concern.

Vernacular Design and Establishing a Sense of Belonging

"You belong here" addresses the complexities and subjectivity of unwanted loneliness experienced by people living in cities. Initially conceptualized as an archive, the project has expanded to include a workshop component for DDW. This will focus on the exploration of accessible strategies and toolkits, helping participants visualize the subtle systems of resistance that individuals, communities, and neighborhoods employ—both consciously and unconsciously—to foster a sense of belonging.