How to make the mapping of social value work

This study by Eli Hatleskog and Flora Samuel, winner of the RIBA President’s Awards for Research – cities and community, investigates how collaborative mapping of social value can help create cohesive, happy communities

Following the UK government’s Social Value Act, ‘Mapping Eco Social Assets’ explores how practitioners working in the urban environment can, co-design of maps with communities to capture and share attributes of a place which typically remain undervalued or hidden.

The research aimed to support negotiations across different points of view and contested interests. While it is generally agreed that broader involvement in planning and design processes can benefit society, specific approaches and methods often remain vague and do not link with the needs of local authorities. The research created and tested methods for inclusive architectural research which included not only local voices and interpretations, but also evolved in response to some of the real challenges and barriers faced by a local authority.