What makes an inner city attractive today and in the future? -Analysis of emotional hotspots using the city of stuttgart as an example

Abstract

For a long time, city centres have been regarded as central places for trade, living, leisure and work. However, today’s economic and socio-economic changes require rethinking the original functions of city centres, which are now in danger of losing their attractiveness as a place for satisfying needs. As such, the current study examines which aspects constitute the attractiveness of an inner city. Furthermore, we identified so-called “emotional hot spots”, or factors that particularly catch the attention of passers-by during a visit to the city centre and determine their assessment of attractiveness. We used Stuttgart as an example and provided recommendations to increase its attractiveness. We applied a mixed-method approach of mobile surveys using the real-time research app “movisensXS” and qualitative personal interviews with 16 participants. In this context, we were particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of movisensXS in order to derive future applications in the context of the urban development of city centres. The results indicated that the attractiveness factors previously identified in earlier surveys-retail trade and urban landscape-remain relevant in this study. It became clear that an inner city can only be successful in the interaction of both aspects. The results further demonstrated that city centres can especially maintain their importance as a central place for satisfying needs through the development of an individual character. Due to our methodical approach, and particularly the use of movisensXS, we were able to generate deeper insights and developed concrete ideas for future applications.