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Book contents
- The Psychology of Place
- Contemporary Social Issues
- The Psychology of Place
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Note on the text
- Introduction. Psychological Conceptions of Place
- Part I Conceptual Frameworks and Worldviews
- Part II Examples, Issues and Opportunities for Policy and Practice
- Part III Building Bridges
- 11 Indigenous Nation-Building
- 12 Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Keys to Rebuilding Humans’ Relationships to Place and Planet
- 13 The Architecture of Belonging
- 14 The Courage to Heal
- Part IV Reflections
- Index
- References
13 - The Architecture of Belonging
Finding the Pulse of a Precinct
from Part III - Building Bridges
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 May 2026
Book contents
- The Psychology of Place
- Contemporary Social Issues
- The Psychology of Place
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Note on the text
- Introduction. Psychological Conceptions of Place
- Part I Conceptual Frameworks and Worldviews
- Part II Examples, Issues and Opportunities for Policy and Practice
- Part III Building Bridges
- 11 Indigenous Nation-Building
- 12 Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Keys to Rebuilding Humans’ Relationships to Place and Planet
- 13 The Architecture of Belonging
- 14 The Courage to Heal
- Part IV Reflections
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter investigates the architecture of belonging by examining how built environments can foster genuine emotional connection and a sense of place. Drawing insights from a Melbourne-based panel hosted by Six Degrees Architects, it explores how planners, developers, and architects can design precincts that nurture a profound sense of belonging. Emphasising the importance of emotional wellbeing and ecological sustainability, the discussion integrates Indigenous perspectives on place and custodianship, contrasting them with human-centric Western planning practices. Case studies, including Melbourne’s Public Office precinct, Canberra’s Dairy Road, and Hobart’s In the Hanging Garden precinct, illustrate creative strategies for revitalising urban spaces through adaptive reuse, community engagement, and landscape-led design. The chapter underscores the need to prioritise values of Country in architectural and urban-planning processes, advocating systemic change in procurement and planning practices, fostering authentic engagement, and promoting reconciliation through the collaborative stewardship of the built environment.
Keywords
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Psychology of PlaceRebuilding Sense of Place in a Post-Colonial World, pp. 255 - 272Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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