Novel architectural design strategies for enhancing societal equality in cities: an interdisciplinary case study approach to Swedish public buildings.

Project Information

EQUBUILD

Grant agreement ID: 101032687

DOI

10.3030/101032687

Project closed

EC signature date 22 April 2021

Start date 1 August 2022

End date 31 July 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 191 852,16

EU contribution

€ 191 852,16

Coordinated by

KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EQUBUILD (Novel architectural design strategies for enhancing societal equality in cities: an interdisciplinary case study approach to Swedish public buildings.)

Reporting period: 2022-08-01 to 2024-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Public spaces can serve as a tool for the administrations and society to support citizens’ equality as a basic human right. Equality is a global concern addressed by UN SDG 10 and a core value of the EU. However, there was limited knowledge of how to promote social equality through public buildings. Additionally, artificial intelligence is a new factor influencing our relationship with the spaces we inhabit.

To bridge this knowledge gap, I have analyzed how public spaces can promote democratic social equality and how artificial intelligence affects this relationship.
I have analyzed public buildings to understand: 1. how they can enhance equality today, and 2. the relationships between these buildings, their urban context, artificial intelligence, society, and time.

The results of this research contribute to empowering architects, urban planners, decision-makers, and citizens with new knowledge and recommendations to fight inequalities and foster a more cohesive society. These results will help reinforce citizens’ opportunities for equality through public spaces and artificial intelligence, promoting more balanced living standards and peaceful cities.

In conclusion, public buildings serve as an important framework that promotes equality. They can generate revenue for the private sector while addressing the needs and interests of a large and diverse population. Policymakers should, therefore, prioritize the maintenance, renovation, and construction of public cultural buildings in more widely distributed locations.
Some public buildings emphasize the commercial character of public spaces. To enhance equality, policymakers should focus on ensuring equal access and opportunities for all. When access to public spaces is restricted by economic barriers such as entrance fees or geographical distance, society risks perpetuating segregation and deepening inequalities. Moreover, cultural initiatives should aim to be inclusive and avoid increasing inequalities by relying solely on market-driven interests.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

I have:

1- obtained deeper insights into the relationship between equality, public buildings, and their urban context.

2- produced recommendations for promoting equality through public spaces.

3- developed transferable skills for my career.

3- contributed to academia by publishing and presenting research results, joining researchers’ networks, and organizing events. I organized an international hybrid conference on Architecture and AI and their social and environmental impact at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.

4- published two articles in international peer-reviewed journals: ▪ (2024) Campo-Ruiz, Ingrid. “Economic powers encompass the largest cultural buildings: market, culture, and equality in Stockholm, Sweden (1918–2023).” ArchNet-IJAR. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-06-2023-0160 and ▪ (2024) Campo-Ruiz, Ingrid. “Controlling the environment with Artificial Intelligence risks intensifying social inequalities and colonization.” Open Research Europe, 4, 16-.https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.16333.1

5- presented my research. I delivered a TEDx Talk in Stockholm in 2023. I won the First Prize in the Research Career category at the International Conference. I presented at the: ▪ 14th Annual International Conference on Architecture, Athens, Greece, ▪ UNITE! International Network of Researchers, Karpacz, Poland, ▪ Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in 2023, Lisbon, Portugal, and ▪ Higher Architecture Research Seminar at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.

6- contributed to civil society by disseminating the results of this research project. I gave three interviews on my research and promoted EQUBUILD, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the European Commission through the dedicated Instagram account @equbuild, as well as through my personal LinkedIn and Instagram accounts.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

EQUBUILD delivers new knowledge by presenting architecture as an active tool for implementing equality measures. In this project, equality is viewed in a broader context as an evolving concept that reflects how democratic societies address inequalities. Democratic equality provides effective access to opportunities for growth and well-being. Equality is a framework of multiple interconnected dimensions, including education, employment, financial resources, political empowerment, gender, and spatial factors.

This project innovatively addresses these challenges by providing new knowledge on how public buildings can support further societal equality in democracies, helping to create better strategies for sustainable urban development. This project shows how public buildings in cities are an important framework for socio-economic development and should be considered in debates around equality.

The results pave the way for new research directions in the EU, contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote gender equality, and strengthen equality among citizens, fostering balanced and peaceful cities. These findings will be valuable for architects, urban designers, policymakers, researchers, and society as a whole.

The findings of this research will offer cities an innovative starting point for implementing equality measures through architecture and public buildings in particular. Investment in both new and existing public buildings can play a key role in building more cohesive and inclusive societies.

Ingrid Campo Ruiz, TEDx Speaker 2023