Written and Edited by Kha Den De / Lera
Sugar and Spice, Kensington Market
Photo by Kha Den De / Lera
Every time I find myself in a new place far or close by, whether it is a city or simply a neighbourhood, I feel both thrill and anxiety at the same time: "I am so excited to explore! ... Please let it be fun".
Such mixed feelings are quite common because we believe in a romantic notion of instantly falling in love with a city that is portrayed in many pop-culture movies and books. In reality, however, it takes time for a person to establish connection with a place.
“Cities are, by their definition, full of strangers” - Jane Jacobs
Relationships between people and places are created by... well, other people and places! As you meet people you like and discover places you enjoy, you get more and more attached to them. These touch-points are what make a place - your place.
Hence, people and places exist in an 'eco-system' where one affects another. A good public space brings people together and allows them to connect, which subsequently leads to a creation of community. As people continue to inhabit a space, signifiers of their presence start to appear and alter the character of a space. As such, you and your community become a driving force that initiate changes in the space.
The Outside
Photo by Kha Den De / Lera
In conclusion, people and places are interconnected more than one might expect. While certain spaces alter one's perception of a place or city in general, characters of those spaces are influenced by its occupants. So if you ever feel like you are falling in love with a place, it would be a fair assumption that you somehow contributed to that place's evolution or change.