Living environment of Tomorrow
Major societal challenges converge in the physical environment: climate, energy, biodiversity, health and social cohesion all play out at the neighbourhood level. Although policies and plans often start with broad and sustainable ambitions, these tend to fade during implementation. Decision-making is frequently focused on short-term outcomes and isolated values, which limits the development of integrated solutions. At the same time, the desire among residents and professionals to jointly shape healthy, future-proof environments is growing.
The Living Environment of Tomorrow project explores how the creative industries — designers, makers and thinkers — can help safeguard sustainable and social ambitions throughout area development. The goal is to apply design and imagination from the earliest concept stage through to realisation and use. The project investigates how creative professionals can contribute to decision-making processes that prioritise public values and long-term impact.
The Living Environment of Tomorrow combines design-led research with action-oriented research. Within Living LAB040 — a physical test environment — the project carries out small-scale experiments with residents, professionals and policymakers. This includes new forms of participation, testing design interventions in public space, and developing methods to anchor values such as health and inclusion more effectively in policy and implementation. The project collaborates with existing initiatives, including Buurtschap te Veld and other local developments.
The project strengthens the role of the creative industries in area development — not just during the planning phase, but throughout the full process. It introduces a practical framework for collaboration between creative professionals, governments, market actors and residents. By openly sharing both successes and setbacks, The Living Environment of Tomorrow contributes to a learning environment that benefits a wider network.
Results and impact
- Methods to embed ambitions and values in area development
- New forms of collaboration between creatives, government, market and residents
- A shared learning environment for knowledge exchange
- Insights from experiments at sites such as LAB040
- Dissemination through publications, workshops and presentations
