Dezeen · Creativity & design

Heatherwick's Humanise Campaign Funds UK Urban Design Research

Thomas Heatherwick's Humanise campaign has launched a £1.5 million research project with the University of Glasgow and UKRI to improve UK urban design and combat "dull development."

The "Delivering Humanised Places" research will explore how streetscapes can be beautified to improve wellbeing, focusing on external building and street design's impact on passersby.

Heatherwick argues current designs prioritize internal function over the public experience, leading to characterless streets.

Humanise research suggests 76% of UK residents believe building appearance affects mental health. The project aims to strengthen evidence on this link.

The initiative will involve local voices and aims to influence policy by providing resources for "humanised" design in regeneration projects.

Heatherwick sees the UK's plan to build new towns as a key opportunity to prioritize human experience in development.

The campaign, launched in 2023, seeks to end "boring buildings" but has faced criticism for its approach to architectural issues.

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