Throughout life, individuals are in a constant state of flux. During this process, certain personality traits are inherited, while others are shaped through interactions with the surrounding environment and people. Infancy is navigated with the support of caregivers, and the necessary groundwork for engaging with larger communities is laid through education within the family or immediate surroundings. Childhood and adolescence represent a critical period for the development of mental health and well-being – a foundation upon which young individuals subsequently cultivate their skills, social interactions, and learning capacities. The stage of childhood is a time for sowing the seeds of imagination in children to nurture their minds.

Drawing upon established theories in developmental psychology, the period between 6 and 12 years marks the onset of the constructive stage and the beginning of concrete operational thought. During this phase, coherent and structured thinking takes form, and children become capable of rapid learning and logical reasoning. Therefore, considering that children from the age of six can participate in urban park play spaces relatively independently and are most receptive to environmental stimuli during these years, it seems crucial to prepare the city for children's presence by incorporating spatial and physical characteristics such as variety, vibrancy, and flexibility. The aim is to positively influence and enhance the creativity of children aged 6 to 12.

In today's world, urban open spaces can serve as a restorative element, promoting mental well-being within their confines. Understanding how humans respond to built environments, for instance, how they navigate through them, is a key aspect of adopting a user-centered perspective. Psychology and cognitive sciences can offer a novel approach to architectural thinking by providing evidence-based guidelines and strategies.

The inaugural meeting on this subject will be held in May 2025, examining the theoretical and methodological achievements of cognitive disciplines within the realm of architectural design. It will foster dialogue between researchers from design research and educational fields, as well as professional students who have undertaken an interdisciplinary urban design project focusing on children and the elderly. The discussion will delve into the mental well-being and needs of children and the elderly in neighborhood centers in the near future. Key topics highlighted at this meeting include:

Natural and Current Cognitive Systems of Users and User Needs: Exploring unbounded geometry in bounded nature and contemporary issues in spatial cognition, advocating a cognitive approach in user-centered design to generate interactive spaces.

Artificial Intelligence: Examining the advanced state of spatial computation for design, with a focus on the role of specialized spatial agency and reasoning in design, as well as the representation of knowledge, reasoning, and artificial intelligence information in general.

Workshop and 1-Hour Exhibition: Presenting a model explaining and designed within a childhood space, incorporating childhood memorabilia.