Peer-reviewed article

Urban95: a global initiative linking early childhood development and the urban field

Julien Vincelot · 16 Nov 2018

Abstract

Julien Vincelot*aa The Bernard van Leer Foundation, The Hague, The NetherlandsJulien Vincelot As Urban95 Coordinator, Julien contributes to the development of Urban95 strategy and manages the Urban95 Starter Kit, as well as global Urban95 partnerships and projects related to public space and mobility. Julien holds a dual MSc in Urban Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and SciencesPo Paris. He has academic and/or professional experience in India, China, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.CONTACT Julien Vincelot Julien.Vincelot@bvleerf.nl The Bernard van Leer Foundation, The Hague, The NetherlandsRESEARCH FOR CITY PRACTISEDecades of research make clear: children’s early experiences in life have lasting effects on their odds of good health and success in school, work and life. It is during early childhood that the foundational architecture of the brain is laid, and when one’s immediate surroundings can determine how the brain develops. The built environment impacts physical, cognitive, socio-emotional development, as well as family well-being, on which young children rely so much. This article highlights selected initiatives connecting urban planning and design to healthy child development that the Bernard van Leer Foundation has supported through its Urban95 initiative. This aims to demonstrate how there is no single guideline for a child-friendly city, but rather a set of principles and ideas, through the example of some partner cities such as Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Bhubaneswar and Bogotá.