Case Description
Human health in cities is becoming increasingly important in modern-day densified and multifunctional cities. Many parties would benefit from a method that measures the health of residents in a specific neighborhood. For example, governmental parties could improve neighborhoods planning, and project developers and architects could make healthier designs. Various parties are developing dashboards that measure and monitor the health of people. One of the aspects of health is social health, how you socialize and stay in touch with neighbors. For four months, our team has been working on a project to improve measuring social health in a neighborhood-specific context for dashboard developers.
​
Data Knowledge Hub Healthy Urban Living (DKH GSL) is a network focusing on creating solutions for Healthy Urban Living (HUL) places together with citizens. The DKH is an independent and open-source platform initiated by a total of 12 parties, both public and private actors, who develop science-based, data-driven concepts and instruments. Two partners of the DKH, i.e. RIVM and Urban Sync, are both developing a dashboard to measure HUL in various aspects on a local scale. Therefore, the DKH, and RIVM together with Urban Sync, in particular, proposed this project with the overall aim to improve measuring healthy urban living on a neighborhood(wijk)-level. The DKH acted as the case owner during the project.
Research objective:
“Create guidelines on how to measure social health in a neighborhood-specific context by focussing on three indicators: social engagement, meeting places and activities."
​Our Living Lab is conducted in The Kolenkitbuurt, a neighborhood in Amsterdam West. During the project, the Kolenkitbuurt functioned as a case study to collect real-life data from citizens on how specific aspects in the neighborhood are perceived to impact their social health.
The Kolenkitbuurt was a formerly deprived area, located next to the A10 highway. Currently, the neighborhood is under redevelopment, with many new constructions and refurbished public spaces. However, low incomes and other social problems have not disappeared. This results in a socially mixed population.
Rhapsody in West is one of the new developments in the Kolenkitbuurt. A mid-market rent housing plot, designed to make a positive contribution to the neighborhood. The Living Lab is linked to Rhapsody since Tangram Architects and Urban Sync have been involved with the development and design from the start. They are interested in how citizens perceive their health with regard to the neighborhood. Therefore, the Kolenkitbuurt was chosen as a case location.
The Kolenkitbuurt as case study
