Students transform Breda neighbourhood through community-led design projects

The Urban Living Lab Breda serves as an independent catalyst for broad prosperity in the West Brabant region, bringing together students, researchers, residents, entrepreneurs, and community organisations, and the municipality of Breda to tackle urban challenges through collaborative action. Rather than focusing solely on top-down research, the lab work with community stakeholders and the municipality towards quality of life, health, happiness, safety, and environmental sustainability.

At the heart of this approach is the BUas Urban Living Lab, where students become genuine community partners, bridging education and action research through hands-on placemaking projects. Working from De Vlieren community space in De Heuvel, students apply their specialised skills to strengthen neighbourhood liveability from the inside out.

Anamarija Bacic, an Urban Planning student, has developed a dementia and built environment awareness campaign. Her research included visits to ageing facilities, behavioural observations, and walk-alongs with elderly residents. Drawing on dementia and wayfinding research, she developed a flower tile wayfinding intervention and awareness booklets now available in De Vlieren library.

Meanwhile, Amy Thanaporn Arnat, also studying Urban Planning, chose a topic particularly close to her heart. Her project on "Aging in Place" explores how community-focused initiatives help residents aged 65 and over remain in their neighbourhoods longer. Through soft interviewing techniques,  walk-alongs with elderly residents, and hands-on volunteering, Amy created a community asset pin-board for De Vlieren and developed a map showing community perceptions.

The ULLB demonstrates how cross-disciplinary collaboration between Dutch and international students can create lasting impact, building trust and social cohesion whilst empowering residents to tackle both major and minor challenges in their city.

More information: Meet the ULLB studenten. Dit zijn Amy & Anamarija - Urban Living Lab Breda