People don’t like to feel alone, and that’s completely understandable. The sentiment of wanting to feel close to something or someone is wrapped up in our sense of belonging. Why do we feel like we have to belong somewhere? Well, it roots us in a place and time. It gives us a place to refer to back when people go looking for “who we really are”. But, a sense of belonging also helps us identify ourselves and locate ourselves in the larger context of society. It makes us feel like we belong with a group of people and that that group all have certain identifying characteristics. For some reason, we take comfort from these abstract concepts. I’ve been struggling with these concepts for the past two years, and while I’m not any closer to answering the question of why we feel the need to belong, I can say that I’ve learned a few things along the way…..

Strategies for Enhancing Belonging

Inclusive urban planning, such as mixed-use developments and sustainable social architecture, promotes communal housing and equitable access to facilities. Community public spaces alleviate alienation among youth by enabling interactions, while religious sites and cultural hubs support diverse identities in global cities. For urban geographers, frameworks like sense of place attachment emphasise integrating these elements to counter modernity’s isolating effects.

Belongingness in modern cities refers to the emotional attachment and sense of connection residents feel toward their urban environments, often challenged by rapid urbanisation, migration, and social fragmentation. In urban geography, it manifests as place-based affect, where individuals derive their identity and contentment from neighbourhood interactions, contrasting with alienation caused by gentrification or spatial inequalities.​

Key Factors Influencing Belonging

Trust among neighbors and frequent conversations strongly predict a sense of belonging, surpassing factors like length of residence. Social infrastructure—such as parks, community centers, and participatory spaces like sports clubs—fosters interactions that build attachment, while economic venues like cafes offer weaker ties. Perceptions of safety, diversity, and harmony (e.g., in diverse areas like London’s Camden) further enhance feelings of inclusion, as well as access to urban nature.​

Challenges and Alienation

Modern cities often erode belonging through spatial, social, and psychological alienation, leading to isolation amid chaotic urban fabrics and gentrification pressures. Deindustrialisation and unequal infrastructure access exacerbate this, particularly for migrants and low-income groups, disrupting temporal processes like intergenerational place-histories. Gender dynamics and public space rights also influence belonging, with limited “right to the city” reducing attachment for marginalized groups.​

Strategies for Enhancing Belonging

Inclusive urban planning, such as mixed-use developments and sustainable social architecture, promotes communal housing and equitable access to facilities. Community public spaces alleviate alienation among youth by enabling interactions, while religious sites and cultural hubs support diverse identities in global cities. For urban geographers, frameworks like sense of place attachment emphasise integrating these elements to counter modernity’s isolating effects.

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