Build4People

On 10 March 2026, the Build4People Transformation Workshop took place at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Centre (CKCC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). This event was jointly organised and hosted by the Build4People team and the Royal University of Phnom Penh and brought together Cambodian and international experts.

The primary objective of this workshop was to discuss further steps for the continued development of digital applications to support scientific research and teaching at RUPP.

Particular focus was placed on the newly developed RUPP-B4P Thermal Comfort App. Results from recent field testing were presented, and students developed ideas on how to visualize the current survey results. In addition, participants discussed potential future applications of the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App as both a teaching and research tool.

The RUPP-B4P Thermal Comfort App facilitates the collection of subjective thermal comfort data linked to participants locations and the parallel measurement of objective data like air temperature and humidity. This allows for the analysis of relationships between different datasets.

In general, the implementation of citizen science approaches enables citizens of Phnom Penh to actively participate in urban planning and transformation processes, while also providing researchers with a robust analytical tool with which to explore subjective perceptions.

Following opening remarks from Dr Michael Waibel (Build4People Consortium Representative), the workshop began with a presentation by Dr Anke Blöbaum on the potential of the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App as a tool for science and participation.

Afterwards, Var Sovanndara (RUPP-IT) presented the current status of the app development and demonstrated the already operational data dashboard. Dr Michael Waibel then introduced the concept of the B4P Transition Manufactories as a collaborative format for integrated urban planning during the Implementation Phase of the B4P project. During the subsequent discussion session, participants reflected on the potential role of the RUPP team in supporting the upcoming Transition Manufactories and explored opportunities for further collaboration. The discussion was facilitated by Assistant Prof Dr Bunleng Se.

After a short break, Bunleng Se shared results from recent field testing in the Borey Peng Huoth residential area located in Chbar Ambov district. The empirical study combines objective measurements of local climate conditions with subjective assessments of thermal comfort and highlights the potential of nature-based solutions to improve the local microclimate and urban livability.

Following this presentation, students worked on developing ideas for possible output products to visualize survey results on urban climate in preparation for the B4P Transition Manufactory 2026. After presenting their ideas, a discussion took place on further applications of the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App for both teaching and research, facilitated by Dr Anke Blöbaum.

Dr Michael Waibel’s forward-looking closing remarks brought the workshop to a close. The event concluded with a joint vegetarian lunch at CKCC, providing a great opportunity for participants to continue their discussions and to exchange perspectives.

Our heartfelt thank-you goes to all speakers and participants, and particularly to the hosts at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Centre and the Royal University of Phnom Penh for making this collaborative event possible 😍.

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It has been a great honour for the whole Build4People team to get invited for a lunch meeting at the residence of the German Ambassador, H.E. Stefan Messerer, in Phnom Penh, on 9 March 2026.

The main purpose of this was to provide the Build4People project with the opportunity to meet H.E. Say Samal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Cambodian Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) and his delegation, among them several state secretaries.

During the exchange we explained about our B4P Transformation Toolbox evaluation criteria for sustainable neighbourhood development and its related comprehensive planning & design guidelines. Our B4P Evaluation Criteria are for developing sustainability qualities on the neighbourhood level with a focus on new urban areas, addressing Phnom Penh, but also other cities in Cambodia, integrating developer companies, ministries and local city administrations for achieving future proof projects.

Thereby the key procedure would be the evaluation by means of sustainability indicators with minimum requirements that every project should meet to target values defining a pathway to the future, as well as step by step advancements in-between. Our idea is that a basic digital tool for this will be provided by Build4People, but a more comprehensive administration tool for digital submission, commenting and approval of results must be developed with additional funding support, e.g. from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The ultimate goal would be the development of a mandatory reviewing process for defining, negotiating and fixing sustainability qualities for neighbourhood developments in urban Cambodia.

Our innovative ideas meet considerable interest and consequently we got invited to a technical meeting to explain more about our approaches at the seat of the MLMUPC in Phnom Penh.

Finally, we would like to express our deep gratitude to H.E. Stefan Messerer and his whole team for making this meaningful pitching event possible.

On 09 March 2026, there was the kick-off event of the so-called B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 #1 (B4P TM), the most significant transformative format of Build4People at the Phnom Penh Smart City Hub, located at historic heart of Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom. 🚀🚀🚀

The B4P TM is the follow-up format of B4P Ecocity Transition Lab series undertaken in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 with the city government of Phnom Penh together with major local property developer companies like OCIC, various universities and CIUS Cambodian Institute for Urban Studies as local facilitator.

It also follows a living lab approach, involving multiple stakeholders to initiate a visioning process to create a clear, inspiring, and shared image of an alternative sustainable urban future.

By means of the first B4P TM 2026 we are furthermore bringing in the Twin Transformation strategy by combing digital and sustainability approaches. We do trainings in the use of digital urban planning tools and want to develop step by step a dynamic urban digital model following the principles of our B4P Transformation Toolbox sustainability neighbourhood evaluation criteria.

Adding to technical digital design solutions we use the opportunity of the B4P TM 2026 to develop visual utopias of inclusive urban transformation in partnership with WAE (women in architecture and engineering), and to explore potentials of AI to visualize urban dynamics in partnership with the Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), CityLAB Berlin and the GIZ founded Digital Transformation Center (DTC).

Actually, there was a huge interest of local students to join the B4P TM which we were not able to fully satisfy. However, we would like to take the opportunity to express our deep gratitude to all six participating universities, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Royal University of Agriculture, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Norton University, Royal University of Fine Arts, and Western University.

The urban site we work on during the B4P TM 2026 is Mekong Key Riverfront City, a 200-ha-development along Mekong River opposite Koh Norea developed by TP Moral Group. It is at an early planning stage which will hopefully allow for sustainability interventions from side of Build4People.

Build4People is particularly glad, that the renowned landscaper designer Steven Petit, Creative Director of the OMGEVING office in Ho Chi Minh City joined the B4P TM during the first days to bring in his great expertise in the field of sponge city development and the application of nature-based solutions.

The first results from the B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 will get presented in front of leading representatives from Phnom Penh Capital Hall and TP Moral Group at Phnom Penh City Hall on 13 March 2026.

End of November 2026, we envisage for a second B4P Transition Manufactory and the time in-between will be used to further optimize our digital urban model and to validate our sustainability criteria in cooperation with Phnom Phnom Penh Capital Hall and the Cambodian Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction.

Build4People is very happy to announce the publication of the Planning and Design Guideline “Sustainable Urban Mobility“, a key element of the B4P Transformation Toolbox. Co-publisher is the Cambodian Institute for Urban Studies which also accomplished all of valuable translation work.

The rationale behind the covering of this topic are rapid urbanization and urban sprawl in dynamic Southeast-Asian countries, such as Cambodia. This is highlighting the need to integrate land-use planning with transportation. This is why the Build4People project has included the topic of sustainable urban mobility into its B4P Transformation Toolbox. The planning and design guideline “Sustainable Urban Mobility” provides such a framework for sustainable mobility with a focus on transit-oriented development (TOD).

The guideline has been authored by representatives of the SMMR project, funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and implemented by GFA Consulting Group on behalf of GIZ Thailand. In the past years, SMMR project has frequently entered an innovative alliance with the Build4People project, mostly in the context of the Build4People Ecocity Transition Lab series.

The Planning and Design Guideline “Sustainable Urban Mobility“, promotes sustainable mobility strategies following the AVOID-SHIFT-IMPROVE (ASI) approach:

1. Avoid long distance trips with integrated planning and TOD strategies.
2. Shift to the most energy-efficient modes.
3. Improve the existing vehicle fleets with electrification.

This approach provides planners and policymakers with a holistic method to tackle the most pressing challenges of urban mobility.

The guideline is divided into two main sections:

• From vision to action plan
• Improving Accessibility and connectivity

Thereby, strategies focus on building an integrated transport network to improve connectivity and accessibility through a phased approach.

Target groups are intended for urban planners, policymakers, local government officials in ASEAN cities. Successful implementation is expected to result in more sustainable urbanisation that promotes highly accessible and liveable urban neighbourhoods.

Build4People would like to express its deep gratitude to the lead author of the planning and design guideline “Sustainable Urban Mobility”, Sovanarith Sieng (formerly SMMR project), now working at the UN-Habitat Bangkok Programme Office.

Download link of Khmer language version 🇰🇭 :

https://build4people.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/B4P_TTB_02-3_Design_Guideline_Khmer_SUM_2026_03_06.pdf_compressed.pdf

Download link of English language version 🇻🇬:

https://build4people.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/02-3_Toolbox_DesignGuidelines_SUM-1.pdf

Link to B4P Snapshot Interview featuring Conrad Richardson, a renowned expert in the field of sustainable urban mobility and consultant within the SMMR project “Sustainable Design of Urban mobility in Medium-Sized Metropolitan Regions”, about the approach of the Guideline “Sustainable Urban Mobility”: