Chongqing University served as the epicenter of innovative urban planning discourse from December 12-15, 2025, hosting the groundbreaking X-SCAPE 2025 International Symposium on Multisensory Urban Experience and Inclusive Design. The four-day gathering united approximately 30 distinguished scholars and practitioners from prestigious institutions worldwide, including the University of Cambridge, University College London, and multiple Chinese academic centers.
The symposium marked a significant departure from traditional visually-dominated urban planning approaches, instead focusing on how auditory, olfactory, tactile, and perceptual elements fundamentally shape human urban experiences. Experts presented research demonstrating how soundscapes, scent environments, tactile surfaces, and spatial perceptions contribute to urban livability, particularly for vulnerable populations including visually impaired citizens, elderly residents, and neurodiverse communities.
Participants explored evidence-based methodologies for creating urban environments that engage all human senses, moving beyond mere visual aesthetics to develop spaces that promote psychological well-being, social inclusion, and physical accessibility. The discussions emphasized practical applications of multisensory design principles, highlighting how cities can become more resilient, health-promoting, and accommodating to diverse human needs through intentional incorporation of sensory elements in public spaces, transportation systems, and residential areas.
The symposium outcomes included developing frameworks for integrating multisensory considerations into urban policy, with particular attention to creating standards that address the often-overlooked dimensions of urban experience. This pioneering approach represents a paradigm shift in urban design philosophy, potentially transforming how cities worldwide plan for human-centered environments that cater to the full spectrum of human sensory capabilities.