Jie Xiong

As a PhD student who specializes in urban design, I have always asked myself what I can do to improve human happiness and social well-being in contemporary society, more specially, in people’s daily life place, such as street or community. These related questions aroused my interests and curiosity which drove me to be eager to study in such specific associated scope.

During my master’s study in SSoA, I was privileged to be encouraged by my supervisor, Dr. Cluadia, to continue my research at postgraduate level, which equipped me with solid foundations to have a better understanding of the relationship between space, place and people, rather than randomly designing a place without detailed investigation and thinking. More importantly, beside, the capabilities to think about such issues from macro to micro, general to particular perspective, which could intersect different philosophical notions and opinions from various disciplines. Through my dissertation work, in which I concentrated on how spatial regeneration acts as a design catalyst for socio-spatial resilience, this research design project experience has made me realize how my research interests can contribute to social well-being. At the same time, it also raised new questions with regards to the importance of such well-being can be associated with people’s collective sense of belonging.