HOMING INTERVIEW #31: MARGARETHE KUSENBACH

“All social relationships happen somewhere, even if located in virtual space. The meaning of places for people is often embedded in past, future or imagined social relationships with others, whether these others are people or pets or abstract others such as god or nature. A sense of home develops when one’s connection to a place (and, by extension, others) takes on particular emotional qualities, namely those of familiarity, shelter/comfort, personal expression and social belonging. When it exists, home is often unnoticed, just like the air that surrounds us. Ironically, home is perhaps most noticeable when there is something wrong with it or in its absence”.