Environmental Changes and Impacts - Chiang Mai has transformed from a city with a vital ecological network to one dominated by roads and concrete structures [1] - Natural areas have decreased by 1837%, leading to a temperature increase of 10 degrees Celsius in the city, significantly higher than the 2 degrees Celsius increase in rural areas [1] - Currently, trees cover 18% of the city area [1] Proposed Solutions and Initiatives - The association aims to restore the relationship between people and nature in the city through data and design [1] - The city needs to plant an additional 300000 trees to significantly improve the environment within the Chiang Mai municipality [1] - A campaign encouraging each of the 129000 residents to plant and care for one tree could create 2 million square meters of shade, potentially reducing street temperatures by 10-20 degrees Celsius and surrounding temperatures by 3-8 degrees Celsius [1] Global Examples and Design Implementations - Bangkok's "15-minute park" policy aims to ensure every area is within a 15-minute walk of a park, promoting equal access to green spaces [2] - New York City surveys and registers every tree, encouraging residents to become caretakers, fostering a connection between people and urban trees [2] - Chiang Mai's projects include transforming a 12-rai private land into a public park and converting a 3-meter-high garbage pile into a community garden for food production and education [2]

Core Argument - The fundamental human need for connection and belonging should be a central consideration in architectural and urban design [1][4] - Design choices, from microspaces like living rooms to macrospaces like cities, significantly influence human interaction and feelings of belonging [10][11] - Design is not neutral; it actively shapes human behavior and emotions, either fostering connection or creating barriers [22][23] Design Implications - Microspaces should be designed to encourage interaction, exemplified by the common arrangement of a three-seater couch facing the television [6] - Macrospaces, such as cities, should prioritize communal areas like parks and accessible transportation networks to facilitate connection [8][20] - Urban design should focus on creating spaces that evoke feelings of safety, invitation, and visibility, moving beyond mere traffic flow [18][19] Examples and Illustrations - Traditional architecture and communal living arrangements demonstrate the innate human desire for connection [4][9] - The design of guest rooms can subtly discourage or encourage interaction, highlighting the power of design to influence behavior [12][13] - Examples from literature, like Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene, illustrate how architectural elements can enable and shape human relationships [17][18]