Pathways and paws(es): engaging human-animal partnerships for community building and slow cities

We report on an early design concept that focuses on how we en-gage with our contemporary urban environments along with ani-mal companions. The project recognises that dogs and dog walking both contribute to mental and physical health and well-being, and builds on a growing awareness that companion animals and walking in urban localities also fosters community cohesion and social capital. We put these themes together in the context of de-signing for Queeland’s growing senior population with the in-tent of gaining insights into connections made through place-making activities of human and animal companions. The project is currently in its exploratory design phase as ‘grounded’ practice-based work with on-going emerging insights to underpin the development of a design scenario and cultural probe. We begin with insights generated from personal experienc-es and a desire to foster age-friendly, intergenerational ‘slow’ urban environments. This paper offers the background and context, and then considers some of the design dilemmas. We share an early design concept that draws on lessons learned from game design and theories of place-making that has the potential to reveal experience in place (for both humans and our animal companions).