PERSPECTIVES ON URBAN LONELINESS : City Paths Toward (Un)common Lifeworlds

Abstract

Abstract Urban loneliness can manifest in various ways, and social connection is not always the solution. While some people find peace in spending time alone in public places, finding solitude can be challenging. Through the lens of social infrastructure and third places, I examine how dining establishments in Basel, Switzerland, influence the experience of dining alone. Ethnographic field notes from my students, as well as my own observations, show that seating arrangements, formality and atmosphere affect how comfortable people feel when dining alone. While many venues implicitly favour groups, few cater explicitly for solo diners, leaving them feeling uncomfortable and exposed. Against the backdrop of broader discussions on the temporality of loneliness, I argue for integrating solitude into both public and quasi‐public spaces to help reduce the loneliness associated with the stigma of being alone.

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