Local Investigators is a participatory project exploring how people of all ages connect with the built environment through personal landmarks and memories. Participants are invited to share their stories using simple sketches and spoken accounts, revealing how they perceive their surroundings. Landmarks might include a bench shared with a grandparent or the tree of a first kiss - everyday places tied to meaningful moments.

By bringing together generations, the project highlights how shared and individual experiences shape our emotional connection to place. These memories foster a sense of belonging and emotional resonance, enriching our understanding of the built environment through lived experience. Whether young or old, each participant contributes a unique perspective, helping to build a collective portrait of the spaces that matter most

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 6 - 15 November 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.