Community-based participatory research for urban regeneration: Bridging the dichotomies through the exp-EIA method

Urban environment design profoundly influences citizens'health and well-being. Despite the aim of urban regenera-tion initiatives to enhance community well-being and socialconnections, they often struggle to ensure a balance ofpower among stakeholders, effectively involve citizens, andaccurately assess subjective urban experiences. New meth-odological approaches in community-based participatoryresearch (CBPR) are advocated to facilitate interactionsamong social actors and overcome the digital versus realdichotomy. This article introduces the Experiential Environ-mental Impact Assessment (exp-EIA) method as a novelresearch and intervention tool to address these challenges.Grounded in psychology, exp-EIA aims to integrate emo-tional, cognitive, and community identity dimensions to cap-ture the nuanced experiences of urban environments.Through digital data collection and visualization tools, exp-EIA could facilitate participatory decision-making processesacross various stages of urban regeneration projects. Fur-thermore, its adaptability enables significant integrationwith existing participatory methods, fostering inclusiveengagement and innovative design solutions. The theoretical framework of exp-EIA, its application in CBPR, and its potential to bridge the gap between technological innovation and citizen engagement in urban regenerationprocesses are discussed. A blended case study conducted inthe metropolitan area of Milan (Italy) is presented, highlighting a promising pathway towards more inclusive and effective approaches to community revitalization.