IHRB and Dark Matter Labs to map land ownership patterns in four European cities
21 July 2023
As part of our work to advance a just transition in the built environment, IHRB has partnered with Dark Matter Labs to map the largest public and private owners of land in four European cities: Copenhagen, Lisbon, Prague and Athens.
Land owners of land in urban areas have a significant influence over what gets built and maintained, and how that happens, which has implications for climate action, the right to housing, workers’ rights and other human rights.
Increasing transparency of land ownership patterns is an important step in advocating for a human rights based approach in decision-making in the built environment.
Mapping land ownership can help address issues such as affordable housing, as well as help to create more sustainable and inclusive development in cities and towns. This mapping exercise will be invaluable for businesses, policymakers, civil society, workers and tenants who are trying to achieve a just transition in the built environment.
Giulio Ferrini
Head of Built Environment, IHRB
The project will also generate lessons on ownership mapping itself, including challenges to mapping, and methods to overcome those challenges. This project draws inspiration from ownership mapping initiatives in other cities such as Cairo and New York.
