Research for Better Quality of Urban Life: the Build4People Project
The Build4People project aims to research and promote the use of sustainable buildings and sustainable urbanization through re-configuring the urban transformation pathway of Phnom Penh. Thereby, it focuses on people’s aspirations and their behaviour. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Our project promotes sustainable buildings and sustainable urban development from a people-centred perspective. We aim at lowered greenhouse gas, pollutant emissions, a better indoor environment, an increase of urban green, a healthier urban climate. Read more.
The trans-disciplinary Build4People project connects scientific-conceptional and analytical aspects. The superior normative bracket is always the urban quality of life. We align people’s needs and aspirations with tools to benefit their living. Read more.
Cambodia’s traditional architecture took climate conditions into account. Today dynamic economic growth affects the way buildings are built and operated which is not energy-efficient nor tropical climate adapted. Reasons enough for B4P. Read more.
10 partners across continents join forces to implement 7 work packages: from Behaviour Change, Sustainable Buildings and Neighbourhoods, to Urban Green, Urban Climate to Sustainable Urban Transformation and Coordination. Read more.
Project Approach
The Build4People project considers sustainable, people-centred urban development as a crosscutting task. A genuinely people-centred planning system can neither be expected to “evolve by itself” nor is it feasible through legal regulations only. Our diverse team includes Cambodian and German partners which cooperate on a trans-disciplinary basis. Together they will develop innovative concepts aimed at urban sustainability that are based on scientific and regional expertise. The integrating link of our scientific-conceptional, analytical and normative dimension is the urban quality of life, which we consider to be the general foundation for our people-driven approach. The research consortium will carry out field research together with the most renowned local universities. Based on these insights, context-specific interventions will be implemented together with a number of core actors most important of all the Phnom Penh Capital Hall and the developer company Peng Huoth Group. Locally established multipliers such as the European Chamber of Commerce or the Center for Khmer Studies will support the dissemination of our approaches.
A strong partnership to deliver research results
Academic Quality We gathered a team with a proven record of academic excellence, extensive regional expertise and solid project experience.
Transdisciplinary Approach We draw from expertise and methods from Human Geography, Architecture, Urban Planning, Enviromental Psychology, Civil Engineering, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics and Climate Research.
Cross-border cooperation German Universities and private sector actors collaborate with Cambodia partners from the academic arena, the municial setting and responsible ministrial offices.
The work package teams cooperate together, share their findings and develop joint deliverables as part of action research processes. Tools and products systematically build upon each other. Learning curves and feedback loops are incorporated into the project design.
Build4People is happy to announce the publication of the second Build4People Snapshot Interview introducing about Annika Freudenberger from Impact Hub Phnom Penh, a social enterprise that supports entrepreneurs, youth leaders, content creators, and other innovators across Cambodia to kickstart and scale their impact. Annika’s academic background is in urban planning, but her career has spanned across many sectors, with a strong focus on sustainable development.
The interview provides insights into the rationale and the key results of the so-called Pop-Up Kiosk, an innovative participatory intervention, that was key part of the Build4People Ecocity Transition Lab 2024. Furthermore, Annika explains about the upcoming steps of Impact Hub Phnom Penh’s cooperation with Build4People with the joint vision of cities to become more inclusive, innovative and sustainable.
The interview was done honoring the 50th birthday of the “Ladder of Citizen’s Participation”, a participation model developed by Sherry Arnstein, which was first published in 1969 in the house Journal of the American Planning Association.
Build4People is thrilled to announce the 6th video clip of its online exhibition “Cambodia’s Green Pioneers”, introducing Thary Vorn, CEO & co-founder of SUDrain Co., Ltd.
Her company SUDrain provides innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions by recycling coconut waste into biofilm filters. This innovative easy-to-install technology delivers highly efficient pollutant removal for industrial, domestic, and ammonia nitrogen wastewater.
In this context, SUDrain is actively working on multiple projects to improve sanitation and climate resilience in coastal and vulnerable communities to enhance the quality of life of their inhabitants.
Thary Vorn is of the firm opinion that a sustainable waste management strategy with lasting impact must include behaviour change. This can only be triggered by active community building and by fostering strong relationships with the local population.
In recent time, SUDrain has won several prestigious awards for their innovative approaches, among others the Khmer Enterprise Startup Award in 2022, 1st Prize at the Lafiya Innovators Program in 2023, and the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge grant, funded by UNDP, ASEAN, and the Government of Japan, in 2024. 🇰🇭💡💪🏼 💙💧🥥💚 💪🏼💡🇰🇭
On 29 March 2025, the Build4People Work Package “Urban Green Infrastructures” successfully held a Science Workshop at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), Phnom Penh. The workshop provided an interdisciplinary platform for knowledge exchange among experts, scholars, and young researchers from Cambodia and abroad. Its main focus was on sustainable urban transformation with a special emphasis on green and blue infrastructures as key pillars to improving the urban quality of life (UQoL) in Phnom Penh.
With in-depth presentations, case studies, and research findings sharing, the workshop emphasized the role of collaborative and data-driven approaches to shaping more liveable urban futures. Key highlights included the transformation of degraded sites into public spaces, sustainable riverfront urbanism, urban waterbody monitoring, and the practical use of citizen science applications in environmental planning.
The workshop started with the welcome speech by Dr Sanara Hor, Dean of Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration (FLMLA) at RUA. He welcomed all the guests from both Cambodia and Germany. He specifically mentioned the collaboration between Build4People Project and RUA how it brought fruitful research results last four years of RD phase.
Then, Build4People consortium leader Dr Michael Waibel, Hamburg University, (in his absence) shared his presentation on the general approaches of the Build4People project.
This was followed by a presentation by Ms. Sina Boramy (Graduate student, Czech University of Life Sciences) who explained about a comprehensive case study on converting the Stung Meanchey Dumpsite into a community park, based on local perceptions and international design references. Her presentation demonstrated significant potential for environmental restoration, public engagement, and improved urban health.
Then, Mr. Hor Keomayourado (Tianjin University) discussed a sustainable planning strategy for Preah Sisowath Quay, integrating Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles. The presentation highlighted the use of rain gardens, permeable pavements, and stormwater retention strategies to enhance biodiversity and reduce urban heat.
After this, Mr. Ali Dia (Graduate student, Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development) shared findings from his remote sensing-based analysis of permanent waterbodies from 2016 to 2023. The results showed a 28.2 sq. km reduction in blue infrastructure, urging the need for data-driven interventions to protect urban water systems.
Then, Build4People Work Package “Behaviour Change” Leader Dr Anke Blöbaum presented about the Build4People Citizen Science APP development in regard of urban quality of life in Phnom Penh which is a cooperation between WP “Behaviour Change” and WP “Urban Green Infrastructures”. She highlighted how the proposed APP can collect citizen’s perception on UQoL from an urban green infrastructure perspective and how it will be useful for increasing participative decision-making and as a digital urban planning tool.
Finally, Prof. Dr. Jan-Peter Mund (Leader of Build4People Work Package “Urban Green Infrastructures”) closed the session by reflecting on the presented work and emphasizing the critical need for interdisciplinary approaches in urban environmental planning. He noted the strong contribution of student-led research and the ongoing development of innovative planning tools through Build4People.
All in all, the Build4People Work Package “Urban Green Infrastructures” Science Workshop 2025 highlighted the pressing environmental challenges Phnom Penh faces amid rapid urbanization. The event demonstrated that integrating data science, urban design, citizen participation, and policy frameworks is not just beneficial – but essential – for a sustainable and equitable urban future. With engaged contributions from Cambodian and international scholars, the Build4People project continues to pave the way for a transformative shift in Phnom Penh’s development trajectory—prioritizing sustainability, inclusivity, and urban quality of life.
Build4People is very proud to announce the 5th video clip of its online exhibition “Cambodia’s Green Pioneers”, introducing Saroth Tonn and his family. Saroth is a fierce bicycle 🚲 enthusiast who is regularly organizing bicycle trips for his family and his friends in and around Phnom Penh.
In his opinion, all mothers and fathers should be role models and motivate their children to do sport, for example to encourage them to bike. Saroth is convinced, that spending time with the children, to push them and make the kids want to try and not to get bored or disappointed, will provide enjoyable experiences for both parents and kids. Furthermore, the family biking will make the kids to appreciate the city’s surrounding beautiful nature and landscape.
Over and above, it has to mentioned that Saroth’s cycling approach has also positive effects to reduce mental stress and to improve physical health.💡💪🏼 🚲💚 🚴🏽♀️🇰🇭
