Understanding inhabitant’s experiences of neighbourhoods to support their health and well-being

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Robust evidence on how inhabitants experience their neighbourhood [1] and the impact of these experiences on their health and well-being. The research informs policies, strategies, neighbourhood planning and procurement for the green transition [1] of neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive [3] transformation and climate resilience. Scope: Neighbourhoods are human-social constructs and environments. They are shaped by complex inter-connections and interdependencies of human and non-human actors in the natural and built environment [1] they comprise. An increasing body of research is looking at the relationship between people and the built environment, from neuro-architectural aspects of space to atmosphere and ambiance aspects in urban design and planning, influencing also the perception of beauty. Digitalisation is also allowing to understand, map and enhance how inhabitants experience the built environment. Yet, more evidence is needed on how inhabitants react to and identify with their neighbourhoods as well as the effects of these experiences on their physical and mental health and overall well-being. Such insights can help inform spatial planning and regeneration strategies for the green transition of neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive transformation and climate resilience, while delivering positive social and cultural impacts such as sense of community, security and belonging, or cultural identity. This topic will further investigate how inhabitants experience their neighbourhoods, the impact of these experiences on their health and well-being, and how these experiences can be improved through NEB in the context of the green transition. Proposals are expected to address all of the following: Obtain a deep understanding of inhabitants’ sensory and emotional experience of their neighbourhood and the impact of these experiences on their health and well-being. Proposals are expected to: Involve in the research a diversity of people and groups, including those in a vulnerable situation and/or marginalised (such as women, children, youth, older adults, people with physical and psychological functional variations and their families/carers, LGTBIQA+ people, migrants and refugees). Assess the extent to which experiences and impacts vary across sociodemographic groups as well as in neighbourhoods with different characteristics. For example, in relation to the geography (e.g. urban, peri-urban, rural, coastal, insular areas); the quality of the built environment, including its accessibility and perceived beauty; social, economic and demographic characteristics (e.g. population density, social mixing, social infrastructure [1] , property census); reputation; access to natural, cultural and artistic spaces and offers. Provide consistent and comparable data across different project sites and populations, making use of, among others, the NEB self-assessment method [6] . Validate the findings in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban and rural areas) located in at least three different Member States and/or Associated Countries. Based on the research evidence, provide recommendations to local authorities and the artistic, cultural and heritage sector in those neighbourhoods on how to: Improve inhabitants’ experiences and sense of belonging of/in their neighbourhoods. Support the health and well-being of neighbourhood inhabitants. Guide the green transition of neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive transformation and climate resilience. Proposals are expected to follow a participatory [1] and transdisciplinary [1] approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines. This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) [1] disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share their intermediate and final results, findings and learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment. [1] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [2] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [3] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [4] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [5] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [6] European Commission, ’NEB Self-Assessment Method’, New European Bauhaus , accessed 5 August 2025, https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/neb-self-assessment-method_en [7] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [8] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [9] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

This Destination addresses three of the Commission political guidelines 2024-2029 [1] , namely: Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model, Protecting our democracy, upholding our values, and A new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness At a moment where less than half of Europeans believe that society is fair and equal [2] , this Destination focusses on inhabitants, social inclusion and local democracy as key pillars. It seeks to reduce inequalities and strengthen social cohesion, in line with the Strategies for a Union of equality and the European Pillar of Social Rights. It also aims to contribute to local democracy and sense of belonging in communities [3] as well as the overall increase in their quality of life, and support both a competitive economy as well as an inclusive [3] , fair, climate-neutral and circular [3] society supporting peaceful coexistence. This Destination looks into innovative participatory [3] , co-governance [3] and co-creative approaches to actively engage inhabitants in decision-making processes for the revitalisation of their neighbourhoods [3] . It also explores how to increase the sense of belonging and engagement between people with different age, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, and physical and psychological functional variations to reunite society, increase ownership of the green transition [3] on the ground, and ensure more inclusive neighbourhoods. Moreover, this Destination also fosters a better understanding of how inhabitants experience their neighbourhoods as well as further investigates the role that arts, culture, the cultural and creative sector, cultural heritage, cultural and linguistic diversity, informal and local [10] forms of knowledge systems and different types of research can play in placemaking and enhancing neighbourhood transformation processes. As the green transition is at the heart of the NEB Facility, this Destination contributes to the Clean Industrial Deal [11] , the European Green Deal [12] and the European Climate Pact [13] as well as to the key policy spending target of Horizon Europe for climate and biodiversity action. This Destination also contributes to the delivery of the New European Agenda for Culture [14] , Davos Declaration 2018 [15] , the New Leipzig Charter [16] , the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage [17] , and the EU Intergenerational Fairness strategy [18] . Finally, by exploring how digital technologies can play a role in transforming neighbourhoods into beautiful [3] , inclusive and sustainable [3] places, this Destination contributes to the key policy spending target of Horizon Europe for digital. In Work Programme 2026-2027, this Destination aims to: Better understand the impacts of neighbourhoods on inhabitants’ experiences, health and well-being, to inform the development of more beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods. Develop innovative design, planning, and management strategies for neighbourhoods to prioritise adaptability, quality of experience, accessibility and inclusion – especially of groups in a vulnerable situation – while enhancing health, well-being and community cohesion. Enhance the green transition, including renewable energy supply and efficiency aspects, through inclusive and transdisciplinary [3] approaches to innovation that leverage arts, culture, cultural heritage, history, design, architecture, digital technologies, social innovation, (citizen-)science, and informal and local forms of knowledge systems. Encourage co-governance approaches to enhance transparency, multi-level engagement [3] , and community resilience, to give nature a voice, and to support adaptive and inclusive decision-making for the long-term social, environmental, cultural and economic sustainability of neighbourhoods. Explore evidence-based mechanisms to foster ownership, balance public and private interest, and enhance acceptability and democratic participation by neighbourhood actors towards a fair green transition at the neighbourhood level as well as to tailor policy-making and public service design for neighbourhoods. Proposals for topics under this Destination should set out a credible pathway to contributing to connecting the green transformation, social inclusion and local democracy, and more specifically to one or several of the following impacts: Stakeholders involved in the green transition in neighbourhoods adopt a holistic approach which takes into consideration the complex interplay between local and cultural specificities; the social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions of neighbourhoods; climate; inhabitant’s experiences; health and well-being; inequalities; and democratic, participatory and deliberative practices and governance approaches in neighbourhoods. Inclusive, healthy, and active communities with sustainable ways of living and consumption develop a sense of belonging and ownership of change that supports a fair green transition in neighbourhoods. Better embedding history, arts, culture, cultural heritage, cultural and creative industries, cultural and linguistic diversity, cultural participation, placemaking and digital technologies in innovation, transformation, social inclusion and civic engagement processes for a fair green transition in neighbourhoods. When possible and relevant, actions are strongly recommended to collaborate with and build on the results of past and ongoing relevant research projects, including regional, national or European funded projects and/or European partnerships, to ensure consistency and continuity in research, as well as to integrate expertise from the relevant actors from the construction ecosystem [23] (such as architects, urban planners, landscape designers). [1] European Commission, ’Von der Leyen Commission 2024-2029', accessed 5 August 2025, https://commission.europa.eu/about/commission-2024-2029_en [2] European Commission, ’Fairness, Inequality and Inter-Generational Mobility’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2652 [3] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [4] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [5] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [6] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [7] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [8] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [9] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [10] See definition of 'Local knowledge’ in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [11] European Commission, ’Clean Industrial Deal’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en [12] European Commission, ’The European Green Deal’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en [13] European Commission, ’European Climate Pact’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://climate-pact.europa.eu/index_en [14] European Commission, ’ A New European Agenda for Culture - SWD(2018) 267 final’, 2020, https://culture.ec.europa.eu/document/a-new-european-agenda-for-culture-swd2018-267-final [15] Davos Declaration, ’Davos Declaration 2018’, 2018, https://davosdeclaration2018.ch/en/ [16] European Commission, ’The New Leipzig Charter. The transformative power of cities for the common good’, 2020, https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/brochures/2020/new-leipzig-charter-the-transformative-power-of-cities-for-the-common-good [17] European Commission, ’European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage’, Publications Office of the European Union, 2019, https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5a9c3144-80f1-11e9-9f05-01aa75ed71a1 [18] European Commission, ’Paving the way for an EU Intergenerational Fairness Strategy’, EU Policy Lab, 2025, accessed 5 August 2025, https://policy-lab.ec.europa.eu/news/paving-way-eu-intergenerational-fairness-strategy-2025-02-25_en [19] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [20] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [21] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [22] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27. [23] See definition of “construction ecosystem“ in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

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