The Challenge
Life in Amsterdam - like in many other urban centers - moves fast! The city buzzes with constant activity: busy traffic, hurrying cyclists, ongoing construction works and people with long workdays filled with some hurried breaks are the norm. Everywhere you look, you see people racing to their next appointment, workout, or social gathering. Slowing down has become challenging.
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The Problem:
Rat racing in Amsterdam
This rapid urban rhythm, while often perceived as a hallmark of productivity and progress, carries significant implications for citizen’s health and well-being, hence influencing urban comfort.
YOUNG ADULTS
In Amsterdam, 22% of adults experience severe stress, with higher rates among young adults, due to exposure to constant stimuli and high perceived societal demands.
DIGITALIZATION
Digitalization brought people closer and further away, increasing distractions and disconnection from the surroundings and the present.
CHRONIC STRESS
Studies have found elevated cortisol levels in urban populations compared to rural ones, indicating chronic stress.
PRODUCTIVITY
In modern society, productivity is seen as a major skill, while it contrasts with the ability to be aware of the present.
OVERSTIMULATION
Living in a bustling city exposes each individual to multiple stimuli, affecting the 5 senses, making us constantly alert.
PUBLIC SPACE
We often feel the ‘rush’ and ‘pressure’ of city life, and we find it hard to encounter public places with a low level of stimuli.