City Lab

Understanding the soul of cities and the lived experience of place. Supporting towns and cities to grow as healthy ecosystems - where cultural identity, ecological wellbeing, inclusive economies, and human development are aligned rather than fragmented.

About this Lab:

The City Lab applies the ESF Framework to the lived experience of place. It supports towns and cities to grow as healthy ecosystems—where cultural identity, ecological wellbeing, inclusive economies, and human development are aligned rather than fragmented.

A key dimension of this Lab is the emerging understanding of the Soul of the City: the distinctive character, memory, and relational life that shape how people feel, act, and belong within their urban environments. The City Lab works with local partners to strengthen this civic wellbeing, fostering safe and meaningful public spaces, community cohesion, nature connected design, and opportunities for voice and contribution. Its aim is to help places become environments where people of all ages can flourish.

Entry Questions:

What makes a city feel alive, healthy, and connected?
How can place-based design restore belonging and ecological balance?
How are we promoting participative engagement?

Frame ESF as a way to measure and design “whole-city wellbeing” through its four lenses—Natural Environment, Circular & Regenerative Economy, Cultural Values & Identity, and Human Capacities & Potential.

‍[CTA Notes:] leading to community-scale evaluation templates.

leading to Innovation Lab Expressions of Interest

Resources

Open Resources for Change

Powerpoint

Seven Levels of Everything

The document outlines the Flourish Project's 'Seven Levels of Everything' model, a holistic framework for wellbeing applicable to individuals, communities, schools, and care settings. The seven levels—Growth, Contribution, Fulfilment, Engagement, Independence, Relationship, and Security—are each explored through reflective questions and linked to practical needs and resources for different groups. The model emphasizes human rights, personal and community development, emotional and physical health, and environmental sustainability. It connects to international wellbeing measures, educational competencies, and care frameworks, highlighting values such as empathy, resilience, creativity, inclusiveness, and safety. The document also provides examples of community resources, wellbeing apps, and care approaches (including Montessori and dementia care) that align with the seven levels, aiming to support holistic flourishing across all life stages and societal levels.

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Word Document

Digital Wellbeing Platform - Survey Library

The document is a survey library for schools aimed at assessing and promoting wellbeing among students, staff, parents/carers/guardians, and leadership. It is organized around seven key themes: Security, Relationship, Independence, Engagement, Fulfilment, Contribution, and Growth. Each theme includes targeted questions for different stakeholders to evaluate experiences and perceptions related to safety, mental health, relationships, self-worth, engagement, fulfilment, participation, and sense of purpose. The purpose is to help schools identify strengths and areas for improvement in wellbeing, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for the entire school community.

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Word Document

The ESF Wellbeing Evaluation Grades

The document describes the Eco-Systemic Flourishing (ESF) Grading System, which assesses wellbeing frameworks based on two main criteria: the depth of human motivation (across seven levels) and the breadth of ecosystemic integration (across four domains: Human Capacities & Potential, Cultural Values & Identity, Natural Environment, and Circular & Regenerative Economics). Frameworks are evaluated on five dimensions—Motivational Depth, Domain Breadth, Relational Integration, Ecological Consciousness, and Transformative Potential—each scored from 0 to 5, for a maximum of 25 points. Grades range from A (fully integrated, eco-systemic) to E (minimal integration). The system is applied to various frameworks, noting that Nova Scotia Community Wellbeing scores highly for participatory and ecological integration, while British Columbia Health Indicators is strong in basic needs but lacks growth and ecological focus. The document emphasizes the value of participatory, adaptive, and ecological approaches for higher ESF grades and suggests Nova Scotia could serve as a global model with further improvements.

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Word Document

ESF Community Evaluation Guide

The ESF Community Evaluation Guide outlines a framework for assessing community initiatives through four key lenses: Natural Environment (focus on nature protection, ecosystem awareness, and nature-based solutions), Circular & Regenerative Economics (emphasizing wellbeing economies, waste reduction, and support for local skills and economies), Cultural Values & Identity (highlighting heritage, social trust, and inclusion of local voices), and Human Capacities & Potential (covering physical health, emotional safety, agency, meaningful activities, self-expression, participation, and intergenerational learning). The guide recommends rating each area from 1 to 5 to evaluate the initiative's overall impact on holistic community wellbeing.

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