Paper short abstract:

In this presentation, we will scrutinize home as a constellation of materiality and affects, considering what kinds of objects might be crucial in reconceptualizing the feeling, sense, and atmosphere of a sustainable home.

Paper long abstract:

The Western way of life overflows with objects; they are literally everywhere. In our everyday lives, we deal with an abundance of items, most of which are saturated with numerous social and cultural meanings. Some of the objects surrounding us are everyday necessities, practical items, or tools, but many are objects of consumption that serve to build status, strengthen identity, or express taste. The objects we have at home also refer to many, different places, and times. Certain objects are related to a specific memory at a certain point in life and remind us about a past event or important people in our lives.

In our research project SENSOMEMO, we scrutinize sensory and affective experiences that are intertwined with personal memory in the context of both voluntary and forced relocation. We ask what kind of role do materiality and objects have for recreating a feeling of home? How do we value material objects, and make decisions about keeping them? And what kind of questions do we need have to think about in the future, if we wish to set off towards ecologically and culturally sustainable lives: Can we keep as much in the future as we do now? In this presentation, we will scrutinize home as a constellation of materiality and affects, considering what kinds of objects might be crucial in reconceptualizing the feeling, sense, and atmosphere of a sustainable home.