Belonging by Design

Loneliness is a global epidemic, carrying similar health risks as smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. The sense of connection and belonging has far reaching mental health implications. The experiential installation ‘Belonging By Design’ showcases a solution from inside a century-old Toronto single family home. Located in a historically exclusive Victorian-settler enclave, the home has been reclaimed as a working laboratory for intentional co-living.

Belonging doesn’t happen automatically when people share a roof. It is designed, or, more accurately, it is fought for. Staged in a private dwelling, the space has been re-imagined as a multi-generational coliving home for a multicultural Canada. Imagine a beautifully-restored heritage home where co-creating a safe space and fond memories are part of the daily contributions.

The installation confronts the friction of shared living: divergent hygiene norms, inclusive of generations and abilities, varying boundaries around personal space, and cultural differences. Zone by zone, deliberate spatial design moves residents from guarded coexistence toward genuine community.

Through the “Museum of Belonging”, visitors are greeted by a 3D-printed entryway keypad. Dial your home country’s area code and it says “Welcome” in your language. As you tour the home, tactile and participatory elements guide you through the spectrum between isolation and connection. Play memory-laden cassette tapes, test your comfort level with thought-provoking art, and walk the history of the Dupont-by-the-Castle area.

This interdisciplinary installation invites you to physically experience what home, community and shared identity can bring to your sense of belonging.