Sociological Research — FOX URBAN GROUP

architecture

for

people

0

En —

Fox urban group -

Industries -

Sociological Research

En —

Sociology is only the starting point. We create platforms for collective action.

Sociological Research -

Restoring Agency to Communities

Aligning Territorial Resources

with Community Needs

An urban project can be economically sound, architecturally refined, and technically precise — and still fail. Because the most important question remains unanswered: do people truly live in this place, or merely exist within it? Do they feel it belongs to them, or do they experience it as something imposed from above? We restore agency — transforming passive "users" into active co-authors of their environment.

Integrate

Activate —

Engage —

Immerse —

Before entering into dialogue, we identify where meaning resides, who shapes local opinion, and what communities define the place. We go beyond formal analysis to uncover the cultural and historical DNA of the territory. We do not simply collect feedback — we build a foundation on which the project becomes a natural extension of urban life.

[1] Immersion

We do not conduct conventional "public surveys". Instead, we involve residents through workshops, participatory formats, and collaborative research. In many cities, where belief in change is low, the first step is to overcome skepticism — to create space for people to be heard and understood. In active communities, our role is to channel existing energy into meaningful contribution. We listen not only to those who speak the loudest, but also to those who are harder to reach — because both perspectives are essential.

[2] Engagement

We go beyond collecting input — we ask what can be done now to bring a place to life. We help shape ideas, provide resources, and entrust implementation to the community itself. This approach builds a strong sense of ownership and agency. We identify and support local drivers of change: engaged residents, students, professional groups, and grassroots initiatives, creating conditions where their ideas become part of the project.

[3] Activation

We work in continuous alignment with our multidisciplinary team of architects, economists, and engineers to ensure that every solution is grounded, context-responsive, and aligned with real patterns of use. Our goal is long-term impact: stronger civic engagement, new local initiatives, deeper community involvement, and a lasting sense of belonging.

[4] Integration

Driving urban

and territorial development

Tulun

We conducted focus group research and worked closely with cultural initiatives, which led to the "AT FULL SCALE" project for the city’s 100th anniversary. The project enhances the central square and tells the story of coal mining as a defining element of the region’s history.

Ust-Ilimsk

We organized a focus group with teenagers, held meetings with children, and engaged the cultural sector, bringing residents and cultural figures into the process — this helped shape the project’s concept. The result is a comfortable public space that highlights the value and resilience of nature in the city’s history.

We established collaboration with the museum and long-term residents and co-created an audio tour with school students. This became the foundation for the "From the First Track" project, which united the city’s cultural heritage and historical identity, turning the railway square into a symbol of its development.

Alzamay

Zabaykalsk

The team carried out two focus group studies and five in-depth interviews, along with an online survey of residents. This work culminated in a pilot activation of the site — the "Where the Cranes Meet" festival, hosted by local residents in the central square and established as an annual event.

All projects