Build4People

From 23-24 October 2025 the German Build4People project partners and collaborators met at the seat of Build4Project project partner Eble Messerschmidt Partner in Tübingen for the Kick-off Workshop of the Build4People Implementation Phase (2025–2027). It was truly energizing to launch this next phase of Build4People. After years of research and development, we are now turning our insights into real-world impact in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

🔍 Over the coming two years, we’ll be implementing the B4P Transformation Toolbox (already prototyped during the Build4People RD phase) as a digital, participatory learning and urban planning platform, merging green and smart city strategies through the “Twin Transformation” approach.

🏘️ One of the key goals will be to implement minimum criteria for sustainable districts, that are now to be piloted on the ground in Cambodian project developments. Based on the B4P Transformation Toolbox planning and design guidelines, these neighbourhood evaluation criteria specifically contribute to the measurement of urban sustainability, and generally aim to balance environmental quality, social inclusion, and local context.

The whole Build4People team is very much looking forward to sharing updates from the field, lessons learned, and success stories as we move from lab to implementation. Stay tuned!

#Build4People #SustainableCities #DigitalTransformation #Cambodia #TwinTransformation #BMFTR_SUREregions

គោលការណ៍ណែនាំអំពីការរៀបចំផែនការ និងការរចនាថ្មី “ការរចនាទីក្រុងបែបសមាហរណកម្ម” ត្រូវបានបោះពុម្ពផ្សាយ ដែលជាផ្នែកមួយនៃ B4P Transformation Toolbox។

គម្រោង Build4People មានសេចក្តីសោមនស្សក្នុងការប្រកាសអំពីការបោះពុម្ពផ្សាយគោលការណ៍ណែនាំអំពីការរៀបចំផែនការ និងការរចនា ដែលហៅថា “ការរចនាទីក្រុងបែបសមាហរណកម្ម” ដែលជាធាតុចូលសំខាន់មួយនៃ B4P Transformation Toolbox ហើយគោលការណ៍ណែនាំនេះ ជាលទ្ធផលគន្លឹះមួយនៃដំណាក់កាលស្រាវជ្រាវ និងអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ (ឆ្នាំ ២០២១–២០២៥) របស់គម្រោង Build4People។ អង្គការវិទ្យាស្ថានកម្ពុជាសម្រាប់ការសិក្សាពីទីក្រុង (CIUS) គឺជាដៃគូសហការ បោះពុម្ពផ្សាយ និង បកប្រែជាខេមរភាសា ដែលជាចលករជម្រុញឲ្យគម្រោងនេះទទួលបានជោគជ័យ។

Build4People is very happy to announce the publication of the Planning and Design Guideline “Integrated Urban Design“ in Khmer language, a key element of the B4P Transformation Toolbox, the central output product of Build4People’s Research and Development Phase (2021–2025). Co-publisher is the Cambodian Institute for Urban Studies.

Our sincere gratitude particularly goes to Prof. Dr. Tep Makathy, Kul Socheata and to their team of supporting students, who accomplished all of the valuable translation work.

Download link:

Build4People #CIUS #BMFTR_SUREregions #EbleMesserschmidtPartner #integratedurbandesign #integratedurbandevelopment #citiesforpeople #vibrantpublicplaces #balancedmixofuses #sustainableneighbourhoods #CambodianInstituteofUrbanStudies

The B4P Snapshot Interview #6 introduces about Prof. Dr. Tep Makathy, Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, and General Director of the Cambodian Institute of Urban Studies.

Makathy shares insights into the newly established Master Program “Urban and Regional Planning” at the Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration of the Royal University of Agriculture led by Prof. Dr. Sanara Hor, and his role as guest lecturer for the course “Sustainable Urban Transformation.”

This interdisciplinary program marks an important step in strengthening local capacity for urban planning and sustainable development. The course unit „Sustainable Urban Transformation” got developed with dedicated support from several members of the Build4People project.

The course unit contains basic principles of the Build4People like the inclusion of inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives, the comprehensive understanding urban design as a integrative and transformative communicative process involving multiple stakeholders, and in general the advocacy of putting the people and sustainability into the centre of attention.

Our particular gratitude goes to the course unit lecturer Prof. Dr. Tep Makathy for his great leadership in guiding the students on pathways of transformative learning towards more urban sustainability and better urban quality of life in Cambodia.

Finally, it must be highlighted that for the Build4People project the infusion of its comprehensive transformative approaches into the curriculum of innovative master courses such as in the case of the Royal University of Agriculture is regarded as a valuable and lasting impact, even after the ending of the project funding.

Curious about how education can drive sustainable urban transformation?

🎥 Watch the full interview here:

#Build4People #BMFTR_SUREregions #capacitybuilding #capacitymobilisation #UrbanPlanning #SustainableCities #SDG11 #HigherEducation #RUA #SustainableUrbanTransformation #CitiesforPeople #Cambodian #PhnomPenh #royaluniversityofagriculture

Build4People is thrilled to announce the publication of the Planning and Design Guideline “Social Inclusion & Local Economy“, a key element of the B4P Transformation Toolbox, the central output product of Build4People’s Research and Development Phase (2021–2025). Co-publisher is the Cambodian Institute for Urban Studies.

The rationale behind this guideline publication is Phnom Penh’s highly dynamic development as a central hub for business, industry, education and cultural heritage. Cambodia’s largest city has become an economic powerhouse, attracting both local and international businesses. From our viewpoint all this should be considered as a unique opportunity to leverage sustainable development as an integrative part of the city. By flourishing and committing to shared goals, stakeholders can create neighbourhoods and cities that are thriving, resilient and equitable for all.

That is why Build4People calls for integrating social inclusion and local economic strategies into new neighbourhoods which brings significant economic, social and environmental benefits. For private developers, for example, it enhances market resilience and investment appeal, while for public authorities, it strengthens economic value and social cohesion. Strategies such as social housing, diverse building typologies and vibrant public spaces create dynamic, livable communities, generating additional social advantages. By fostering inclusive economic growth, local entrepreneurship, and active public spaces, these approaches benefit residents, businesses and policymakers alike.

For example, this guideline calls for well-designed public spaces, combined with commercial, social infrastructure and a variety of housing typologies, which offer a unique chance to meet current market demands while fostering sustainable urban development. This approach not only supports vibrant communities but also invites investment by addressing diverse needs in a balanced urban ecosystem.

Build4People would like to express its deep gratitude to the lead authors of the planning and design guideline “Social Inclusion & Local Economy“, Nuria Roig and Oliver Lambrecht, at the time of writing both employees of the urban architecture and design practice Eble Messerschmidt Partner (EMP), based in Tübingen, Germany, a trusted Build4People project partner from its early beginnings in 2017.

Download link:

Reviewers of this guideline were Dr. Michael Waibel from the Department Geography at the Stiftung Universität Hildesheim, Germany, Rolf Messerschmidt from the urban architecture and design practice @Eble Messerschmidt Partner (EMP), based in Tübingen, Germany, as well as Prof. Dr. Tep Makathy, General Director of the Cambodian Institute of Urban Studies (CIUS), based in Phnom Penh, and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (FAUP-PUC).

#Build4People #BMFTR_SUREregions #sustainableneighbourhoods #placemaking #citiesforpeople #inclusiveurbandevelopment #sustainableurbantransformation #socialinclusion #fosteringlocaleconomy #affordablehousing