A participatory approach to measuring perceived urban liveability in Malta

This exploratory study investigates public perceptions of urban liveability in Malta through a collaborative methodology that bridges a theoretical framework with lived citizen experiences. Using the “soul and body” framework of urban attractiveness aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, we conducted an interactive survey with 120 participants during Malta’s Science in the City festival. The research employed a novel visual installation where participants used colour-coded yarn to indicate their perceived satisfaction across seven outcome targets: housing satisfaction, mobility, participatory governance, cultural identity, safety, cleanliness, and access to green spaces. Results reveal significant regional disparities, with Malta’s densely populated Central region showing notably lower satisfaction in walkability, cleanliness, and green space access compared to other regions. A striking finding emerged regarding generational differences: children consistently rated their urban environment more critically than adults, particularly concerning walkability and safety. Additionally, participants across all demographics expressed minimal involvement in local decision-making processes, highlighting a disconnect between formal governance structures and genuine public participation. The study, though exploratory, demonstrates that perceived liveability extends beyond technical urban indicators to encompass emotional connections to place and meaningful community engagement. Our findings suggest three key intervention areas: enhancing pedestrian infrastructure and green connectivity in dense urban areas, developing child-centric urban design approaches, and establishing more authentic participatory governance mechanisms. This citizen-centred methodology offers a replicable model for other high-density urban contexts seeking to align urban development with resident needs and experiences. In doing so, this study makes an original contribution by operationalising the Soul and Body framework within an SDG 11 context through a participatory instrument — an approach that remains largely absent from perceived liveability research in Mediterranean small-island settings.