Causal Layered Analysis of neighborhood concept change in relation to sense of belonging and presentation of alternative scenarios

The urban neighborhoods have a long history of urbanization and have undergone extensive changes over time and during these changes, sense of place belonging which is one of the communication bridges of citizen and living environment, has been declined. Then, the metaphor of the neighborhood and its changes in adaptation to contemporary periods, is only an issue that it should be attention by planners, urban designers and architects. The objective of this research is to achieve alternative futures based on different metaphors of neighborhood in creating the sense of belonging and to identify the possible scenarios of neighborhood for future in order to preserve cultural, social and physical values of neighborhood based on sense of place belonging. The present study using Causal Layered Analysis method in four layers of analysis including Lithuania, macro social causes, discourse - worldview and metaphor - myth, is attempted to achieve an clear understanding of the causes these changes, is provided the alternative futures for the concept of urban neighborhoods based on alternative metaphors of this concept focuses on a sense of place belonging. By using of purposeful sampling, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts who had sufficient knowledge and experience in the field of subject matter and sampling was continued until the theoretical saturation stage. Based on the research results, four scenarios of smart neighborhood, global neighborhood, sustainable neighborhood and flexible neighborhood have presented.