This study initiates a strategic collaboration between University College London (UCL) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) to advance the design of accessible environments for people with dementia and their companions. The initiative will explore how quality of life can be improved through interdisciplinary innovation in architecture, planning, transport, and care—guided by the neurobiological concept of Active Inference.

A series of co-creative workshops will be held at UCL PEARL and NUS, bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and people with lived experience. These workshops will follow a structured “co-cultivation” process and be guided by the “5Cs” of Sociality—Curiosity, Collaboration, Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity. Activities will include knowledge-sharing sessions, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative proposal development for future large-scale research funding. By reshaping how environments are designed and experienced, this project aims to create a global paradigm shift in dementia care—placing dignity, agency, and accessibility at the centre of everyday life.