Abstract
This paper assesses the role of urban experiments for local planning processes through a case-based analysis of the city lab of Maastricht. In conjunction with this, the article offers three contributions, as additional elements. Firstly, the paper develops a set of defining characteristics of city labs as an analytical concept which is relevant for discussions about (collaborative) planning. Secondly, it refines the literature on collaborative planning by drawing attention to experimentation and innovation. Thirdly, the paper assesses the potential of city labs to contribute to the innovation of urban governance. The work draws from the literature on experimentation and learning as well as the literature on collaborative urban planning. In the conclusions, we discuss the potential of city labs as vehicles for learning about new urban planning approaches and their limitations as spaces for small-scale experimentation. The paper is based on research for the URB@Exp research project funded by JPI Urban Europe.
Highlights
IntroductionHigh hopes are projected on the role of cities in addressing pressing (sustainability) issues “because they are inclined naturally to collaboration and interdependence” (Barber, 2013; see Kenniscentrum Stedelijke Vernieuwing [KEI] & NICIS, 2012)
Cities face challenges of increasing urban complexity (European Union, 2011)
In the case of city labs, new forms of urban planning may even be actively investigated for strategic reasons, as happened in the case of Maastricht
Summary
High hopes are projected on the role of cities in addressing pressing (sustainability) issues “because they are inclined naturally to collaboration and interdependence” (Barber, 2013; see Kenniscentrum Stedelijke Vernieuwing [KEI] & NICIS, 2012). This has fostered a renewed interest in the city as a site of experimentation. Urban Planning, 2016, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages 89–102 vonen, & Raven, 2016; McGuirk, Dowling, Brennan, & Bulkeley, 2015). The role of experiments as a new approach to innovation in urban planning has not been sufficiently assessed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
