This research explores “emotional infrastructure” in cities—small, often overlooked traces like graffiti and stickers that foster connection and belonging. It argues that urban experience is shaped not just by physical structures but by shared emotional signals, urging people to break out of digital isolation and engage with the lived environment around them.

A cross-cultural study of urban beauty shows that perceptions vary widely across individuals. Using Google Street View images and participant rankings from 20 countries, the research found no shared standards of beauty and no demographic explanations. While individuals were internally consistent, beauty judgments were deeply subjective, challenging data-driven approaches to urban design.