Rethinking place-making: aligning placeness factors with perceived urban design qualities (PUDQs) to improve the built environment in historical district

Understanding the concept of place is critically important for urban design and place-making practice, and this research attempted to investigate the pathways by which perceived urban design qualities (PUDQs) influence placeness factors in the Chinese context. Twelve hypotheses were developed and combined in a structural equation model for validation. The Tanhualin historical district in Wuhan, China was selected for the analysis. As a result, place attachment was verified as a critical bridge factor that mediated the influence of PUDQs on place satisfaction. Among the five selected PUDQs, walkability and space quality were revealed as the most influential factors associated with place attachment and place satisfaction. Accessibility was actually indirectly beneficial to place-making via the mediation of walkability. Corresponding implications and strategies were discussed to maintain the sense of place for historic districts

Supporting survivors of institutional child sexual abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of not-for-profit community and legal organisations in Greater Western Sydney

Before, during and since the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013–2017), not-for-profit community and legal services have been critical in supporting survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of community and legal service practitioners operating in Greater Western Sydney regarding the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the service system for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 21 practitioners at 15 community and legal services. Through thematic analysis, the study identified five areas of concern regarding service provision and COVID-19, including difficulties in navigating shifts to remote service delivery; changes in service accessibility; complications in accessing the National Redress Scheme; safety challenges for clients; and safety challenges for practitioners. The research identified a need for services to finesse frameworks that ensure remote services can be delivered safely for clients and practitioners alike. Priorities include adequate funding for technology and infrastructure, supporting survivors of abuse perpetrated online and encouraging effective coping strategies for practitioners who undertake trauma support work from home. Future research should consider how shifts to remote service delivery have impacted survivors of different demographic groups and the survivor support workforce

Ethnic and cultural representations in the built environment and their relationships to place-identity: A case-study of Cabramatta, Sydney

The concept of place-identity refers to the bond between people and place, with a congruence between a place’s identity and the way that people view their own identity being something that can increase their sense of belonging. Developing strong place-identity is challenging in contemporary cities with ethnic and cultural diversity, where people are exposed to diverse cultural representations in the built environment. This diversity may make it difficult for them to have identity that is congruent with the identity of place. This study explores the concept of place-identity by using a qualitative methodology and case study of Cabramatta, Sydney, with four cultural groups, representing both the dominant and minority cultures within the suburb. It considers the built environment in mediating the connection between people and place and argues that place-identity is an experiential and social construct. It examines how ethnic and cultural representations in the built environment influence the identity of place from the perspective of different cultural groups. It explores how people’s perceived identity of place shapes their connection with that place differently. Interviews and focus groups with locals reveal how the desire of having a strong place-identity motivates people to represent themselves and their culture. The analysis of news media coverage of Cabramatta unpacks the contribution of ethnic and cultural representations in constructing the identity of suburb for both the residents and the community at large. The findings demonstrate that ethnic and cultural representations contribute to shaping people’s place-identity based on the extent to which these representations reflect individuals and their cultural group in the built environment. The study reveals how accommodating ethnic group’s culture in the built environment affirms the place within their identity. It argues how the representations of ethnicities and cultures other than that of the individual, can cause psychological stress and alienation from the suburb. The findings highlight the implications for urban planning and design and indicate opportunities for developing a sensitive approach to cultural differences. As an application of this research, a typology of ethnic and cultural representations in the built environment is developed. Ultimately, this research informs approaches to managing cultural diversity