Sensory Neighborhood Mapping and Well-being

The Comparative Research Network (CRN) provides a framework for integrating the qualitative experiences of inhabitants into urban spatial design. Our work moves beyond standardized surveys to capture the sensory and emotional layers that define neighborhood well-being. By mapping where residents feel stress, security, or belonging, we provide the evidence base needed to design healthier, more inclusive urban environments.

Core Expertise and Lived Experience

Our methodology is grounded in a decade of field research within diverse European urban landscapes. We specialize in identifying the subtle links between a neighborhood’s aesthetic quality and the mental health of its residents.

• Experience Mapping (MAXICO Framework): In projects like MAXICO and Eurospectives 2.0, we worked with residents to document emotional responses to their surroundings. In Berlin-Wedding, for example, we engaged elderly populations to map neighborhood accessibility and perceived safety, turning personal stories into actionable spatial data.

• Engagement of Diverse Populations: Our history with projects like VOICITYS (Voices of Diversity) and EU-Prepare has established a robust toolkit for reaching marginalized groups, including migrants and refugees. We ensure that the voices often missing from city planning are central to the co-design process.

• Game-Based Deliberation: Through our Justurbanities and EUrbanities initiatives, we use non-digital and digital simulations to lower the barriers to participation. These tools allow residents and civil servants to prototype neighborhood changes collaboratively, fostering mutual understanding before any physical construction begins.

Technical Contributions to a Consortium

As a Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) partner, we offer the structural support necessary for a high-scoring proposal:

• Qualitative Data Curricula: We provide validated methods for capturing health and well-being data through community reporting and storytelling.

• Prototyping & Co-Design Loops: We lead the iterative process of testing spatial interventions with local communities to ensure social acceptance and aesthetic alignment.

• Local Governance Links: Based in Berlin, we maintain active relationships with district administrations, providing ready-to-use pilot sites for real-world testing and prototyping.

• Transnational Validation: With partners across Europe, we can implement and compare methodologies across multiple European contexts, meeting the cross-border requirements of Horizon Innovation Actions.

The Value of Collaboration

Consortia find a partner in us who views "Beauty, Sustainability, and Inclusion" as a single, practical system. We handle the logistical and ethical complexities of public participation, allowing architects and technical partners to focus on design while ensuring that the final outcome is defined by the actual needs and health of the community.