£1.5 million research partnership launched to transform how we design buildings and cities

Humanise, UKRI and the University of Glasgow have launched the £1.5 million Delivering Humanised Places research partnership to transform how Britain’s buildings, towns and cities are designed and to challenge the ‘blandemic’ of dull, soulless development. 

As the UK government pushes ahead with ambitious plans to build new homes and new towns, the partnership will explore how to design and deliver more humanised places at scale. It will bring together expertise in place research, neuroscience, citizen involvement, design and built environment practice to strengthen the evidence for human-centred design and put that learning into action. 

Professor Rebecca Madgin, Director of the AHRC Place Programme and Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow, said:

“Places aren’t simply physical settings. They shape how we feel, how we connect with one another and the extent to which we develop a sense of belonging.

“A humanised place is designed around people’s lived and felt experiences. It can nurture attachment, strengthen identity and inspire feelings such as joy and pride, while helping to reduce loneliness, frustration and disillusionment.

“By bringing together rigorous research, professional expertise and citizens’ experiences, this partnership will demonstrate how human-centred design can improve lives, create lasting public value and support better social and economic outcomes.”

Public demand for change is clear. Research commissioned by Humanise found that 76% of people in the UK believe the way buildings look affects mental health, while 69% agree that we should invest in buildings that make people feel good as they pass them on the street. 

Above, left-right: Professor Christopher Smith, UKRI creative industries champion and AHRC executive chair; Abigail Scott Paul, Global Head of Humanise; Professor Rebecca Madgin, Director of the AHRC Place Programme and Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow; Thomas Heatherwick, designer and founder of the Humanise campaign

Abigail Scott Paul, Global Head of Humanise, said: 

“Our ambition is to take this research and work with mayors, city leaders, developers and communities around the world to put it into action at scale, helping to end the blandemic of soulless, identikit development and create places that people genuinely value and feel proud to call home.” 

The project will include a major review of evidence examining how patterns, materials and other aspects of building design affect socio-economic outcomes, including health and well-being. It will also explore the economic case for more human buildings and cities, inform policy, develop resources for mayors and developers, and apply Humanise principles in regeneration and development settings.

Designer Thomas Heatherwick, founder of the Humanise campaign, said:

“Through Humanise’s partnership with UKRI and the University of Glasgow, we will strengthen the evidence about how buildings affect our health and wellbeing and turn that evidence into action. Our ambition is to turbocharge the creation of radically more human, engaging and joyful places. The opportunity to make meaningful change is massive. But it will only be able to begin with the deep understanding that comes from measuring.”