Market life and the city (of Vienna) - The social infrastructure of attachment to place
(2023) SGEM08 20231Department of Human Geography
- Abstract
- In this thesis, the relationship between people and places is investigated through examining how migrants in Vienna create place attachment to food markets in the city. A place attachment is understood as the emotional bond that forms between an individual and a specific space, the theoretical foundation of this thesis lies within emotional geography, a sub-field of human geography which examines the relationship between emotions and spatial practices. Place attachment is connected to numerous benefits, including better health and wellbeing, and an enhanced sense of belonging to the local community (Scannell & Gifford, 2017). Thus, in this thesis it is understood that place attachment to food markets can enhance the wellbeing of individual... (More)
- In this thesis, the relationship between people and places is investigated through examining how migrants in Vienna create place attachment to food markets in the city. A place attachment is understood as the emotional bond that forms between an individual and a specific space, the theoretical foundation of this thesis lies within emotional geography, a sub-field of human geography which examines the relationship between emotions and spatial practices. Place attachment is connected to numerous benefits, including better health and wellbeing, and an enhanced sense of belonging to the local community (Scannell & Gifford, 2017). Thus, in this thesis it is understood that place attachment to food markets can enhance the wellbeing of individual migrants residing in Vienna. In understanding the market as a space of both physical and social features which contribute to place attachment, in this thesis, markets are looked at through the lens of social infrastructure, as spaces which support social connection (Klinenberg, 2018). The concept of social infrastructure is further theorized through Lefebvre’s (1991 [1974]) notion on the social production of space, in that the social infrastructure of the market space is the result of human activity, which continuously shapes how the space develops. To gain data on how markets perceive and use markets, seven interviews were held with migrants who have lived in Vienna for different periods of time. Additionally, one interview was held with a citizen’s initiative which works with the local market, and one with a local market actor. Through a phenomenological approach, direct experiences of those who use markets were gained, and the data was analysed through a thematic approach. The findings elaborate on how the social infrastructure of the market support place attachment. The main findings of the research are that emotional attachments to place are crucial in guiding spatial practices in the city. Through positive encounters, routinised use of markets is established, which further lead to the formation of place attachment. The other main finding is that what strengthens place attachment is the co-creation of the space. Instead of passively being in a structured space, markets enable individuals to be spontaneous, take agency in their use of space, and establish patterns of use according to their physical and emotional needs. Finally, the findings show that markets have the potential to be spaces which enhance citizen engagement and community action, which can, when mobilized, lead to more inclusive and tightly knit neighbourhoods.
This research emphasizes understanding the role of public spaces in enabling belonging for different people living in the city, and more specifically, which factors are crucial when developing these spaces further. As such, this thesis contributes on place attachment literature in enhancing understanding of the combination of physical and social features in creating an emotional attachment to place. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9118068
- author
- Stevens, Ulrika Elina LU
- supervisor
-
- Johan Pries LU
- organization
- course
- SGEM08 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- place attachment, public markets, Vienna, social infrastructure, production of space, emotional geography
- language
- English
- id
- 9118068
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-01 13:12:53
- date last changed
- 2023-06-01 13:12:53
@misc{9118068,
abstract = {{In this thesis, the relationship between people and places is investigated through examining how migrants in Vienna create place attachment to food markets in the city. A place attachment is understood as the emotional bond that forms between an individual and a specific space, the theoretical foundation of this thesis lies within emotional geography, a sub-field of human geography which examines the relationship between emotions and spatial practices. Place attachment is connected to numerous benefits, including better health and wellbeing, and an enhanced sense of belonging to the local community (Scannell & Gifford, 2017). Thus, in this thesis it is understood that place attachment to food markets can enhance the wellbeing of individual migrants residing in Vienna. In understanding the market as a space of both physical and social features which contribute to place attachment, in this thesis, markets are looked at through the lens of social infrastructure, as spaces which support social connection (Klinenberg, 2018). The concept of social infrastructure is further theorized through Lefebvre’s (1991 [1974]) notion on the social production of space, in that the social infrastructure of the market space is the result of human activity, which continuously shapes how the space develops. To gain data on how markets perceive and use markets, seven interviews were held with migrants who have lived in Vienna for different periods of time. Additionally, one interview was held with a citizen’s initiative which works with the local market, and one with a local market actor. Through a phenomenological approach, direct experiences of those who use markets were gained, and the data was analysed through a thematic approach. The findings elaborate on how the social infrastructure of the market support place attachment. The main findings of the research are that emotional attachments to place are crucial in guiding spatial practices in the city. Through positive encounters, routinised use of markets is established, which further lead to the formation of place attachment. The other main finding is that what strengthens place attachment is the co-creation of the space. Instead of passively being in a structured space, markets enable individuals to be spontaneous, take agency in their use of space, and establish patterns of use according to their physical and emotional needs. Finally, the findings show that markets have the potential to be spaces which enhance citizen engagement and community action, which can, when mobilized, lead to more inclusive and tightly knit neighbourhoods.
This research emphasizes understanding the role of public spaces in enabling belonging for different people living in the city, and more specifically, which factors are crucial when developing these spaces further. As such, this thesis contributes on place attachment literature in enhancing understanding of the combination of physical and social features in creating an emotional attachment to place.}},
author = {{Stevens, Ulrika Elina}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Market life and the city (of Vienna) - The social infrastructure of attachment to place}},
year = {{2023}},
}