Students advance urban quality of life solutions in intensive design challenge

On 24 November, interdisciplinary student teams from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University took a major step forward in the UN-Habitat Quality of Life Hackathon organised by XTJLU Design School. They transitioned from ideation to full solution development - turning bold concepts into tangible visionary urban proposals.

Using a Quality-of-Life framework to understand how cities influence everyday human experiences, participants examined nine key domains shaping quality of life: housing, social cohesion, basic services and mobility, governance, education, economy, environment, culture and recreation, and health and well-being.

Drawing from these pillars, eight groups selected different cities around the world and spent three hours crafting innovative, human-centered proposals - each producing a presentation and recording a video submission.

The results showcased a diverse range of creative ideas (in the order of the judges’ final picks):

• “Memory Brick” - preserving collective memory and cultural identity through meaningful urban design.
• “Aqua Commons” - a visionary approach to sustainable and equitable water resource management.
• “Playmate” - fostering social cohesion and community wellness through interactive public spaces.
• “Culture-led Community Garden” - cultivating local engagement and well-being through culture-driven communal green spaces.
• “Shanghai Intelligent Affordable Housing Management” - leveraging smart technologies to improve housing accessibility and efficiency.
• “Eco-cultural Integration” - promoting low-impact tourism in Shanghai while meeting residents’ leisure needs.
• “Technological innovation in water resource management with a Tourism Development Fund and community benefit mechanisms”

The proposals were reviewed and judged by all participants and a judging panel including Dr Juhyun Lee and Dr Daniel Yonto from XJTLU’s Department of Urban Planning and Design, Jose Remon and Gianmarco Longo from XJTLU’s Department of Architecture, along with Grayson Bass and Linh Van Khuong from UN-Habitat.

“Quality of Life helps us refocus on why sustainability truly matters in people’s everyday lives,” says Dr Juhyun Lee.

Throughout the process, students demonstrated a strong understanding of how urban environments shape people's lives - balancing sustainability, social inclusion, cultural identity, and environmental stewardship.

Apart from the awards, all participants receive an official United Nations Certificate of Participation, recognizing their contribution to advancing ideas that align with global sustainable development goals and the future of livable cities.

As development continues, teams aim to further refine their concepts into actionable urban visions - sparking conversations on how cities can be reimagined for everyone’s quality of life.

By Yi Qian

Photos by Yi Qian