CULTURAL MAPPING – has become a popular tool for identifying a community’s strengths, resources, common identity and shared values. In many cities around the world it has become a defining feature of a municipal planning process, used to further develop and leverage cultural assets for economic and social benefits. Now, it is even recognised by UNESCO as a useful technique in preserving the world’s intangible and tangible cultural heritage and ‘making the invisible visible’. Why is cultural mapping important 

PARTICIPATORY APPROACH – Yet, in many of Asia’s fast-growing cities, cultural strategies, maps or plans are seldom a part of the planning process. Quite simply because local governments do not always have budget, capacity or urgency to commission them. We believe that the solution is bottom-up. So, we designed a nice and easy 6-step methodology that allows an urban community to map cultural assets in their neighbourhood and use the intuitive App&Map platform to share them with planners, property developers or policymakers. The output of this creative cultural mapping process can then be used in a planning process or as a basis for place making and place branding. Find out how the methodology works.

WHERE HERITAGE IS MOST AT RISK – Tailored for fast gentrifying neighbourhoods where heritage is at risk, this methodology has been tried and tested in over 50 historic districts across South East Asia and has demonstrated effectiveness in making locals proud, increase awareness, amplify local voices and keep the soul of city alive. Learn about our impact