Paper Short Abstract:

This paper investigates place attachment as experienced by residents and business owners in the Ferrovieri neighborhood of Vicenza, located in Italy's Veneto region. The study focuses on how this attachment evolves and is often strengthened when faced with external threats, such as the impending construction of the high-speed rail project (TAV), which is currently entering its initial construction phase. To explore these dynamics, participant-driven field research was conducted using semi-structured interviews combined with three elicitation techniques—video, photo, and audio recordings. Participants were asked to capture audiovisual material that symbolized their connection to the neighborhood, highlighting themes of identity, memory, and sense of belonging. The research was carried out across diverse settings, incorporating both individual and collective perspectives to analyze the interplay between place identity and perceived threats of socio-spatial transformations. The resulting data were examined through a mixed-method framework that integrated visual analysis, participant narratives, and spatial context to uncover deeper themes of belonging, resilience, and resistance to change. Findings reveal the effectiveness of native elicitation methods as participatory tools, offering new insights into how lived experiences shape and are shaped by place attachment. This approach contributes to both theory and practice: it enriches the understanding of place attachment while demonstrating practical applications for participatory urban planning and development. By giving voice to local communities, the study underscores the value of incorporating emotional and cultural, as well as sensory dimensions into decision-making processes, particularly in contexts of urban transformation projects.

Paper Abstract:

This paper investigates place attachment as experienced by residents and business owners in the Ferrovieri neighborhood of Vicenza, located in Italy's Veneto region. The study focuses on how this attachment evolves and is often strengthened when faced with external threats, such as the impending construction of the high-speed rail project (TAV), which is currently entering its initial construction phase.

To explore these dynamics, participant-driven field research was conducted using semi-structured interviews combined with three elicitation techniques—video, photo, and audio recordings. Participants were asked to capture audiovisual material that symbolized their connection to the neighborhood, highlighting themes of identity, memory, and sense of belonging.

The research was carried out across diverse settings, incorporating both individual and collective perspectives to analyze the interplay between place identity and perceived threats of socio-spatial transformations. The resulting data were examined through a mixed-method framework that integrated visual analysis, participant narratives, and spatial context to uncover deeper themes of belonging, resilience, and resistance to change.

Findings reveal the effectiveness of native elicitation methods as participatory tools, offering new insights into how lived experiences shape and are shaped by place attachment. This approach contributes to both theory and practice: it enriches the understanding of place attachment while demonstrating practical applications for participatory urban planning and development. By giving voice to local communities, the study underscores the value of incorporating emotional and cultural, as well as sensory, dimensions into decision-making processes, particularly in contexts of urban transformation projects.