VITAL

Major societal challenges converge in our living environment: climate change, the energy transition, biodiversity, social cohesion, and positive health all come together at the local level – in neighbourhoods and districts. While ambitions and plans are often lofty, in practice these goals tend to fade during the process from design to realisation. The current approach is too focused on short-term gains and single values, causing broad and sustainable solutions to fall out of sight. At the same time, there is a growing desire among both residents and professionals to work together on a healthy, future-proof living environment.

This project aims to turn the tide. We explore how the creative industry – designers, makers, thinkers – can play a key role in preserving ambitions and values throughout the entire area development process. The goal is to ensure that original sustainable and social objectives remain intact from the first idea through to realisation and use. We want to demonstrate that imagination and co-creation lead to better, more widely supported choices, and to greater impact on major societal challenges.

We combine design-driven research (small-scale experiments in practice) with action-oriented research (systemic interventions). In the Living LAB040 – a physical testing ground – we carry out tangible experiments in collaboration with residents, professionals and policymakers. These include new forms of participation, testing innovative solutions in public space, and developing insights that help embed soft values – such as health and inclusion – more firmly in decision-making and implementation. We work in close collaboration with existing initiatives such as Buurtschap te Veld and other local projects.

This project aligns seamlessly with the mission of CLICKNL to position the creative industry as a driver of innovation for societal transitions. We offer a renewed perspective for action in area development, in which creative professionals play an active role not only at the start, but throughout the entire process. By openly sharing both successes and failures, we contribute to a collective knowledge base that benefits the entire sector.

Expected results and impact

• Practical methods to safeguard ambitions and values in area development.
• New forms of collaboration between creatives, government, market and residents.
• A new learning environment where knowledge and experience are shared.
• Tangible improvements in the living environment from LAB040 and other pilot locations.
• Knowledge dissemination through a website, publications, workshops and presentations.

This project demonstrates how the creative industry can make a real difference in creating healthy, inclusive and future-proof living environments.
Together, we are working towards a new shared mindset among all those involved in area development – one that doesn’t lose sight of ambition along the way, but helps it flourish.