Place attachment and social communities in the concept of smart cities

Abstract

Territorial identity and place attachment are examples of the soft factors in smart cities. Smart cities and communities are also those ones that make more efficient use of physical infrastructure, engage effectively with local people in the process of citizen participation. Every concept of place attachment requires a particular work within the community, its effective transmission to all the members as well as to outward environment. In the sense of place attachment there is the idea of urban gardening that generates uniqueness - specific character of places created by urban gardening contributes to calibration of unique place identity and develops emotional and social ties related to certain place. Urban gardening provides opportunities for social interactions that help residents develop their relationships in community, support community life and develop community and place attachment as well as enhance the quality of urban environment in the smart cities. Urban gardening is often viewed as one of the strategies which can improve urban sustainability and promote sustainable urban development in the smart cities.