Can We Design a 'Place to Belong' That Connects People? Rethinking Urban Planning to Prevent Loneliness Through the 'Memory of the Town' in Northern Settsu

This is a special feature from OTEMON VIEW, the dedicated website on the official university homepage [No. 104].

● This Issue's Theme: 'Social Isolation and Urban Planning'

While urban life becomes increasingly convenient, 'social isolation'—where people suffer from loneliness and a lack of belonging—has become a major social challenge.

How can cities nurture spaces where people can exist without isolation and feel secure? Together with Associate Professor Shota Takamine from the Faculty of Regional Creation, an expert in urban planning and community development, we explore possible solutions.

[Article URL] https://newsmedia.otemon.ac.jp/3889/

[Key Points of the Article]

Suburban Community Design That Encourages 'Neighborly Interaction' 〇 The Practice of the 'Neighborhood Unit Theory' in Senri New Town 〇 Cities are constantly changing. The 'Double Aging' Phenomenon and Its Link to Social Isolation

Can Urban Planning Rescue People from Loneliness? 〇 Practical Examples of Creating 'Places to Belong' in Local Communities 〇 'Place to Belong' and 'Opportunities to Contribute' Go Hand in Hand 〇 Architecture and Landscape Influence Human Emotions

'Socio no Nenrin' (The Annual Rings of Socio): Unearthing the 'Memory of the Town' and the Act of Sharing 〇 Interpreting Messages Embedded in Buildings and Landscapes 〇 The Exhibition Project 'Socio no Nenrin' Connecting the 'Memory of the Town' 〇 Perspectives Needed for Future Urban Planning

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● About OTEMON VIEW Otemon Gakuin, a school corporation, operates a dedicated website called 'OTEMON VIEW' on its official university homepage. https://newsmedia.otemon.ac.jp/ Under the concept 'The interest of news depends on how you look at it,' faculty members from Otemon Gakuin University analyze daily social changes through their academic expertise in education and research.