Bachelor of Spatial Design
Bachelor of Spatial Design
3. Home and (Be)longing
TUTOR: Dr Danica Karaičić (danica.karaicic@monash.edu)
Lucija Ivšić (lucija.ivsic1@monash.edu)
PORJECT STATUS: INDIVIDUAL
For Chinese students, living abroad often leads to feelings of isolation and displacement. However, by adopting positive approaches, they can establish a connection to their homeland and cultivate a sense of belonging.
First and foremost, it is essential to maintain connections with family and friends. Modern technology, such as video calls, social media, and instant messengers, enables international students to stay in close contact with their loved ones. Additionally, forming a community with fellow Chinese students provides a way to create a sense of home. Shared cultural backgrounds and language can foster mutual understanding and support. Fortunately, the program is located in Melbourne's Chinatown, where the familiarity of the surrounding shopping streets and the presence of Chinese individuals can significantly ease the unfamiliarity of being in a foreign country. As Bertens suggests, "active engagement, for instance through ritual and ceremony, is needed to incite the process of remembrance, especially in audiences without personal memories of the commemorated events" (Bertens, 182). Building friendships and getting to know the local community can make international students feel more welcome and accepted, thus alleviating the sense of displacement.
From a personal perspective, choosing items with personal meaning and memories, such as family photos, favorite books, or daily-use items, and placing them in one's residence can greatly contribute to a sense of being at home. Cooking hometown dishes is also an important aspect. Guests can try preparing their favorite hometown dishes in the residence model. The unique aroma and taste will evoke a sense of home. Through these decorations and creative arrangements, they can feel the warmth of home and a sense of belonging in their overseas residences.
1 People Living Module, See more
3 People Living Module, See more
In my childhood memories, sunshine holds a special place. When the sun combines with certain objects, it creates a unique memory that is deeply personal. "Thus our experiences of place – and its social, physical, and intangible components – are inextricable from the invocation, creation, and reinvestment of memories" (Pink, 2012, 19). Whenever the sun was just right, my mother would take the quilts outside to bask in the sun, infusing them with the comforting scent of sunlight. Considering the site's less favorable sunshine conditions due to geographical factors, I have incorporated numerous windows into the living module's design to maximize the influx of sunlight.