Research & Art

Key Research Area: Human-centred living environments

We are developing interdisciplinary research to enhance the planning, design, and testing of better living environments.
Kokoon modular living system is made of wood. Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo
The Kokoon modular living system is made of wood. Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

The goal of human-centered living environments is to better understand how individuals experience their physical environment and how art, spaces, buildings, and communities can enhance this experience.

The challenges of urbanization, efficient use of resources, changes in population structure, as well as the opportunities offered by digitalisation, business services and the experience of nature, are all included in this multi-dimensional research.

The results of this research provide useful knowledge for societal development.

The Aalto Networking Platform brings together our researchers and external parties for multidisciplinary collaboration in the area of human-centered living environments. With our recently opened Living+ Hub, we offer these actors a place to meet, exchange ideas and collaborate. In addition to events focusing on networking and collaboration, we organize educational lectures and seminars for students, Aalto staff and the public, and thus increase awareness of the topics, research and current challenges related to human-centered living environments.

Aalto Living+ Forum

The annual Living+ Forum is a public multi-disciplinary lecture series on themes related to human-centered living environments.

Read more
Visiting lecturer Akira Minagawa

Upcoming events

Aalto University
Lectures and seminars

What's modelling got to do with planning?

Practice and research seminar on (urban-transport) planning and modelling - Volume 2

Latest news in this area

Nomaji landscap architects Kaapelipuisto park view. Photo Tommy Kankkonen
Awards and Recognition Published:

2023 State Prize for Architecture awarded to Nomaji Landscape Architects

Aalto University researcher and long-time lecturer Mari Ariluoma is a partner in Nomaji, and researcher Caroline Moinel a Nomaji designer.
Aerial shot of the Korkeakoulunaukio square. There are solar panels on the Väre roof and trees on the square.
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

Sustainable land-use and mobility policies in urban regions enhanced with Unite! seed funding

The project seeks to identify innovative approaches for bringing decision-making closer together in land-use and mobility policy and practice.
Sohjoa-robottibussi
Research & Art Published:

Coming never to a road near you: Five myths about autonomous vehicles

Whether you call them autonomous, self-driving or robot cars, there is a lot of discussion about when, where and how these vehicles will take to the roads.
Kari Tammi, photo by Kalle Kataila.
University Published:

Kari Tammi: When we are lean enough, we have time to think without rushing

'Aalto is a pretty calm and safe environment to work in. The management and evaluation system is relatively kind, and the rules are just right for an odd and absent-minded person like me.'

Flagships and Centres of Excellence

Finest Bay Area Tunnel Project, by Fira

FinEst Twins – Smart City Centre of Excellence (external link)

Focusing on sustainable smart city development, FinEst Twins is coordinated by TalTech, Aalto University, Forum Virium and Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

Kaupunkiakatemia - Urban Academy

Urban Academy (external link)

Urban Academy (Kaupunkiakatemia) is a platform and network that brings together multidisciplinary research, teaching and societal impact in the field of urban studies. It is a partnership of five organizations: University of Helsinki, Aalto University, City of Helsinki, City of Espoo and City of Vantaa.

Infrastructure

Annamari Tolonen, Aalto yliopisto, 2018.

Aalto Living+ Hub

The Living+ Hub is an experimental space for research, development and innovations activities connecting researchers, students, companies and cities.

Locations

Aalto Built Environment Laboratory

Aalto Built Envinronment Laboratory (ABE) is a new collaborative research and learning initiative of Aalto University, School of Engineering.

MAGICS-infrastruktuuri mahdollistaa virtuaalitodellisuuden hyödyntämisen muun muassa taiteellisissa esityksissä. Kuva: Aalto Studios.

MAGICS – Media – Arts – Games – Interaction – Computing – Science (external link)

MAGICS is an infrastructure network to support research into motion recording, and virtual environments. It is a joint effort of Aalto University, Tampere University and the University of the Arts Helsinki.

Featured research bodies

group x logo

Group X (external link)

A focus group at the department of architecture at Aalto University

Helsinki city, location project

Smartland consortium (external link)

The consortium helps to identify and develop effective and sustainable land-use policies. The consortium is led by Aalto, Universities of Helsinki and Turku and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Key research area contact

 Dr. Aija Staffans

Dr. Aija Staffans

Manager, Human-centred living environments, Key Research Area, Aalto Networking Platform
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