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).

Project Objectives

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.

Project Originality

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.

Project Relevance

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.

Project Set-up

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.

Latest News

Stay up-to-date with our latest activities

Publication of a video clip documentation of the multi-disciplinary lecture “From consumers to prosumers: the transformative power of household renewable energy production – insights from the Build4People project”, AmCam Exchange, Phnom Penh, 06 December 2024

We are proud to announce the publication of the video clip documentation of the Build4People Lecture at AmCam Exchange, Phnom Penh. On 06 December 2024, Build4People team members provided multi-disciplinary insights into the potentials of using solar energy to support a sustainable urban transformation at the AmCam Exchange in Phnom Penh. The lecture with the comprehensive title “From consumers to prosumers: the transformative power of household renewable energy production – insights from the Build4People project” got prepared and moderated by Prof Dr Tep Makathy, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia.

During the first session Dr. Michael Waibel, leader of B4P Work Package “Sustainable Urban Transformation” gave an overall introduction about the rising global importance of renewable energies with a focus on Photovoltaic (PV) technologies. This was followed by discussing the potential of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), in general. During the concluding part of this session, a more detailed analysis was provided about so-called balcony power plants. Balcony power plants enable households to become active producers of renewable household energy and are currently booming in Germany. Finally, their application potential to Cambodia was discussed with the audience.

During the second session, Rolf Messerschmidt, CEO of the Urban Design and Architecture Practice Eble Messerschmidt Partner and leader of B4P Work Package “Sustainable Neigbhourhoods” explored the potential of urban neighbourhood solarisation to support sustainable development in Cambodia, guided by the Build4People Guideline for Sustainable Neighbourhood Development: Climate Protection and Energy Flows as part of the so-called Phnom Penh Capital Hall Transformation Toolbox currently under development. He highlighted practical strategies for integrating PV systems into urban areas to create energy-efficient communities. The session also explained how planning neighbourhoods with smart energy grids can enhance energy supply efficiency and increase the synergistic effect with other sustainable development aspects. Drawing on examples from Germany and Asia, he showed how PV systems can be attractively incorporated into building façades and rooftops, offering practical and visually appealing solutions for sustainable energy use in different settings. This input was jointly prepared by Rolf Messerschmidt and Nuria Roig, Urban Planner at the Urban Design and Architecture Practice Eble Messerschmidt Partner, Research Associate of the B4P WP “Sustainable Neigbhourhoods.

During the third session Andy Deuss, Junior Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Psychology of Magdeburg University and Research Associate of Build4People Work Package “Behaviour Change” presented about how to activate households as implementors of solarisation in Cambodia. He explained that by adopting residential photovoltaics (RPV), households can play an active role in Cambodia’s energy transition but showed that currently only a limited number of households have realized this potential yet. This is raising the question of what needs to be done for other households to follow their lead. Consequently, he provided insights into the factors that motivate households to consider adopting RPV, based on the results of a recent Build4People study conducted in Phnom Penh. The aspects presented were then used to provide an outlook on how households can be supported in the future regarding RPV adoption, enabling them to become active stakeholders in Cambodia’s renewable energy pathway. This input was jointly prepared by Andy Deuss and Dr Anke Blöbaum, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Psychology of Magdeburg University, Leader of B4P WP “Behaviour Change”.

The three sessions were followed by a vivid discussion on how to strengthen the potential of solar energy in urban Cambodia, in general, and how to convince households to adopt residential photovoltaics.

#Build4People #BMBF_SUREregions #solarization #renewableenergies #empowerment #balconypowerplants #neighbourhoodsolarisation” #transformationtoolbox #behaviourchange

Successful Launch of SURE Solutions!

On 28 January 2025, we had the pleasure of unveiling the first edition of our new science magazine: “SURE Solutions – Transdisciplinary Challenges in the Sustainable Development of Urban Regions”.

This inaugural volume explores the fundamentals and project concepts behind multinational partnerships, addressing key challenges in sustainable urban development while outlining expected results and impacts. Accompanying editorials provide a broader perspective, identifying overarching themes and highlighting synergy and synthesis activities within the BMBF’s (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) SURE funding program.

The launch event kicked off with a warm introduction by our editors, Prof. Dr-Ing. Jörg Rainer NOENNIG (HCU-Hamburg), Dr. Katharina M. Borgmann also from HafenCity Universität Hamburg (HCU) and Prof. Frank Schwartze (Technische Hochschule Lübeck). Attendees engaged in insightful discussions about the present and future of this publication format.

With SURE Solutions available in both digital and print, we embraced a hybrid launch party, ensuring participation from authors and readers across Asia and European time zones. The event provided a fantastic platform to connect with emerging voices and future contributors to upcoming editions.

Do you want to contribute to one of the next editions? Get in touch with us via sure@hcu-hamburg.de !

📖 Want to read the magazine? You can access it online, or if you’re interested in one of the limited print copies, feel free to reach out!

Read the magazine here: https://www.sustainable-urban-regions.org/solution/suresolutions1/

#SURESolutions #UrbanSustainability #GlobalCollaboration #BMBF_SUREregions #FONA #digitalcityscience #Build4People

Publication of video clip documentation: “B4P Meeting with Phnom Penh Capital Hall about Transformation Toolbox, 05 Dec 2024”

We are proud to announce the publication of a video clip documentation of a very important strategic Technical Meeting with the Phnom Penh Capital Hall (PPCH), the most important implementation partner of the Build4People project, on 05 December 2024.

In this regard, Build4People supports PPCH to tackle the so-called Twin Transformation of digitalization and sustainability. Thereby, we aim to use the potential of digitalization to promote participatory, inclusive and sustainable urban transformation by supporting PPCH to connect its existing green and smart city strategies. 

The key objective of this Technical Meeting was to provide an update in regard of the PPCH Transformation Toolbox which we envisage as a comprehensive digital planning instrument and as inter-active online information-, public participation-, technology-, and learning platform that enables evidence-based data driven decisions towards sustainability and enhanced quality of life.

#Build4People #BMBF_SUREregions #PPCH #smartcity #greencity #sustainableurbantransformation #Cambodia #twintransformation #PPCH_Transformation_Toolbox

Wishing You a Happy Lunar New Year from the Build4People Project

As we usher in the festivities of the Lunar New Year, it is a special occasion for us to share our joy with friends and partners around the region.

The Build4People Project would like to extend our warmest wishes to you and your team for a Joyful Lunar New Year!

May the Year of the Snake bring you prosperity, good health, and success in all your endeavors.

We hope this new lunar cycle brings you and your team an abundance of opportunities, positive experiences, and continued achievements.

Thank you for being a part of our extended community. We look forward to continued collaboration and mutual success in the coming year.

Once again, wishing you and your team a Happy Lunar New Year filled with joy, prosperity, and lots of harmony!

With our most sincere regards,

Michael Waibel, on behalf of the whole Build4People project team

Many thanks for the great design provided by our esteemed colleague from Royal University of Phnom Penh, Dr. Nyda Chhinh.