Co-Creation and the City: Arts-Based Methods and Participatory Approaches in Urban Planning

The impact of urban experimentation on urban planning approaches is so far insufficiently assessed and discussed. This thematic issue sets out to investigate the possibilities and limitations of ‘urban planning by experiment,’ defined as an approach that uses experimentation to innovate and improve urban planning instruments, approaches, and outcomes. It brings together eight contributions presenting original research on urban experimentation and its relation to urban planning. All contributions are empirically grounded in (illustrative) case studies, mostly from European cities. Here, we summarize and discuss the major findings across the eight contributions with respect to three key themes: the practices of urban experimentation, its outcomes, and its impacts on urban planning. We conclude that the practices of urban experimentation described in the contributions generated a wide variety of substantive and learning outcomes, which, according to the authors, represent worthwhile additions or alternatives to the current repertoire of approaches and instruments of urban planning. However, except for a single case, large-scale integration of experimentation in established approaches to urban planning was not observed, let alone a complete transformation of urban planning practices. An area for further research concerns the relation between the way urban experiments are organized and conducted, and their impact on urban planning.

Health disparities are linked to social inequalities, necessitating health researchers to address the health gaps that exist between different social groups, particularly in the realm of health interventions. This workshop delves into the significance of co-creation processes and participatory approaches in complex health interventions to reduce social inequities in health outcomes. Through empirical cases illustrating co-creation processes in intervention research, the workshop aims to enlighten the audience on the continuum of participatory approaches. The MRC/NIH framework of complex interventions highlights the importance of engagement with relevant stakeholders throughout the research phases to enhance the likelihood of developing or identifying interventions that can positively impact health outcomes. However, the extent and nature of stakeholder involvement may vary depending on the specific context and stage of the research. While stakeholder involvement has been a longstanding focus, the concept of co-creation, where stakeholders actively participate in the entire process of intervention development, implementation, and evaluation, has emerged more recently. This shift from creating interventions for the target population to collaborating with them in the intervention’s creation has led to the emergence of more inclusive health interventions that are contextually relevant and tailored to the local settings where they are intended to create change. Yet, introducing participatory approaches in intervention research may raise new questions about decision-making and power dynamics. While interventions led solely by experts and researchers may overlook the empowerment and capacity-building potential among stakeholders and intervention sites, co-creation processes have the capacity to empower stakeholders and address health inequities effectively. However, challenges persist in ensuring equal collaboration between researchers and participants, especially in disadvantaged groups. This workshop aims to prompt reflection on ethical issues arising from traditional health intervention approaches and approaches to ensure participants’ ownership of interventions when they are adapted in new contexts. Moreover, this workshop will discuss the design of participatory interventions: What methods can we use to co-create? What stakeholders to involve? At what stages of the intervention should co-creation occur? The workshop program begins with an introductory presentation of participatory approaches and co-creation in health intervention research, with examples from a school-based intervention. Next, three empirical cases of co-creation processes introduced in interventions in different contexts are presented. Finally, the audience is invited to a take part in a discussion focusing on how participatory approaches among disadvantaged populations can potentially contribute to reduced social inequity in health. Key messages • The involvement of stakeholders in the development, implementation and evaluation of health interventions can take many forms, and what is meaningful for the specific context needs to be considered. • Co-creation approaches in health interventions empower participants and address unequal power dynamics between those who deliver and those who receive health interventions.

Research of urgent problems and new aspects of contemporary tendencies in architect education of the preservation of cultural heritage in Lithuania has been carried out by the team of Department of Architectural Fundamentals, Theory and Arts, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Within the framework of the Sustainable Rehabilitation of the Historic Towns in Europe” (SURE), project funded by EU with the collaboration among the Polish, Italian, Spanish and Lithuanian counterparts, Vilnius team has performed the research on the problems in emerging tendencies in the highest education on the preservation of the cultural heritage in Lithuania. The questionnaires for the opinion pooling were sent to the selected threefold type of the recipients: educational-scientific, public-state, and private-professional (Best Practices Handbook 2017). The research of enquire reflected devastating effect of recent processes of urban planning in Lithuania in the immovable cultural heritage area: neglect of cultural landscape value in urban planning of cities, concern of identity loss and negative impact of globalization, lack of proper maintenance and use of historic buildings. Contrary to these revealed problems plea of recent international strategic documents emphasize variety of ways of contribution of historic areas in bettering of urban life. Lack of ecological approach in urban heritage planning, tension between contents of academic programs and official aims of strategic documents ratified by the State, difference in expectations of theoreticians and practicing urban planners were revealed by the results of completed research. The differences in attitudes of academicians and professionals, i.e. inadequate reflection of urban heritage in urban planning processes, shortcomings in integrating of local communities into preservation processes and academic education of architects were clearly stated. Variety of important issues in relation with protection of cultural heritage and sustainability was unveiled in academic education of architects in Lithuania. Provided questionnaires and collected results of the answers, after the completed analysis of the education programs and expert survey disclosed the shortage of ecological knowledge in the field of cultural heritage protection. Considering revealed problems and needs integration of sustainability and urban heritage preservation should be proposed as one of major target for the improvement of existing educational system of architects in Lithuania. Primarily targets to be hit by the alteration of the situation would be the reduction of the lack of ecological approach in urban heritage planning, diminished tension between contents of academic programs and official aims of strategic documents ratified by State and lowered difference in expectations among the theoreticians and practicing urban planners. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.21.4.19178

While climate change urges cities to define appropriate strategies for climate adaptation, urban planning practices are still unable to encompass a broader understanding of hydraulic hazards and to exploit the mitigation potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) for stormwater management. This inability is particularly deep in the Italian context, where the integration of climate adaptation strategies within urban planning is very limited; thus, one of the planner’s overriding needs is to determine where NBS can be most effective. The objective of this paper is to identify key drivers and tools for the introduction of hydrological resilience assessments and sustainable storm water management in urban planning practices, as a contribution to climate adaptation strategies. Through a case study in the city of Bari, the paper proposes a method for identifying the most suitable urban areas for implementing NBS, i.e., areas where NBS are able to intercept runoff. On the other hand, the same approach allows one to evaluate in advance the impact of urban planning choices, or rather of the planned land use change. Finally, the planning tools that may favor the adoption of a NBS approach in urban planning are analyzed, with particular reference to the territorial landscape plan of the Apulia region and urban regeneration plans.

This paper assesses participatory urban planning in Lisbon, based on the ongoing urban development plan. The results of the qualitative analysis on the urban governance and participatory process covering a two-year period (2010–2012), in which the urban development plan was discussed, suggest a highly participatory urban planning process, involving not only individual citizens but also schools, NGOs, business, academia, surrounding municipalities and several other types of stakeholders. How far the common citizen influenced the development of the final version of the urban plan is, however, open for debate. On a positive note, there is clear evidence of institutional learning and democratic openness from the presented case, which can serve as a good example for other capital cities on how to organize urban planning participatory processes.

With the development of user friendly software, using procedural shape grammars has become productive for urban planning projects. Little about the experience of their use by architects and urban planning agencies has been reported yet. This paper will thus discuss experience gained with the use of shape grammars in the projects of KCAP. We will show how the different scales of urban planning and urban design can be handled and how design concepts can be integrated into the procedural pipeline using the software “CityEngine”. We will also present an approach of typological testing that allows to test various design concepts for their possible developments. This work is the base for current research at ETH, integrating geometric aspects into behavioural simulation processes of urban simulation.

With the development of user friendly software, using procedural shape grammars has become productive for urban planning projects. Little about the experience of their use by architects and urban planning agencies has been reported yet. This paper will thus discuss the experience gained with the use of shape grammars in the projects of KCAP. We will show how the different scales of urban planning and urban design can be handled and how design concepts can be integrated into the procedural “pipeline” using the software “CityEngine”. We will also present an approach of “typological testing” that allows to test various design concepts for their possible developments. This work is the base for current research at ETH, integrating geometric aspects into behavioural simulation processes of urban simulation.

Nowadays, climatic changes are coming to the forefront of the global agenda due to their significant impact. Effects can be seen on rainfall and the hydraulic cycle, the number of disasters such as landslides, floods, and flash floods, which are especially increasing in cities. In recent times, flood and flash flood events have adversely affected many settlement areas in Istanbul. Istanbul, which is the main agglomeration of the country, has expanded spatially towards the urban peripheries due to population growth. The study focuses on the innovative basic principles of water-sensitive planning and design approaches for flood risk reduction, which have gained importance in light of international debates. In this context, the study examines the conditions for developing water-sensitive planning and design approaches in Istanbul and makes recommendations. For this purpose, a comprehensive and detailed literature review was conducted and scientific documents such as articles, international-national conventions, institutional research reports and national legislation were utilized. The study aims to determine the current situation in the areas where flood disasters occur in Istanbul, to identify the causes of the disasters, to question whether the land use decisions and urban planning approaches in the existing legal-administrative structure consider the risk factors for reducing flood disasters. Çatalca district, which is located on the urban periphery of the European side of the city, is very rich in water resources and is where the highest loss of life and material damage occurred in the flood disaster of 2009, was selected as the sample area in the study. Beykoz district, which is located on the periphery of the Anatolian side of Istanbul and very rich in water resources, was selected as another sample area. Within the scope of the study, data were obtained through interviews with relevant local institutions and organizations. Previous studies and existing data on the sample areas have been compiled and evaluated. When the practices of the institutions in the sample locations are examined, it is understood that the method of protection distances determined by legislation for the prevention of flood risk in stream beds is insufficient. In areas where flood risk is experienced, it is tried to be prevented by rehabilitation of streams. There is no holistic approach with planning decisions at the basin scale. As the population, settlement area and impervious surfaces increase in the basins where stream rehabilitation is carried out at high costs, these projects will be insufficient to prevent flood risk. Water-sensitive urban planning and design approaches with participatory and collaborative processes in basin scale should be start for resilience to flood disaster risk in Istanbul.

This review examines the emergence of trauma-aware approaches in urban planning. In doing so, it traces the theoretical evolution of trauma-aware planning, explores the nature and definition of trauma in a planning context, and categorises interventions into three typologies—awareness-building, response-oriented, and transformative approaches. Findings reveal theoretical and practical gaps, including a lack of empirical research on the effectiveness of trauma-aware practices and their integration into broader planning processes beyond engagement. This study underscores the need for further investigation into whether and how trauma-aware approaches can facilitate positive planning outcomes and contribute to systemic change in diverse planning contexts.

Emotional boundaries of public involvement in city improvement

The dawn of urban energy planning – Synergies between energy and urban planning for São Paulo (Brazil) megacity

Urban greenspaces are crucial for sustainable urban development, yet engaging communities effectively with decision-making in these spaces remains a challenge. This paper introduces a Creative Engagement Framework (CEF), developed to enhance participation in urban greenspace governance through a co-production approach. Community engagement, therefore, serves both as an instrumental approach to achieving deeper collaborative governance outcomes and as an intrinsic goal in building stronger community connections. The research utilised qualitative methods, including interviews and case studies, to identify and integrate the key drivers of engagement, summarised by the acronym MASCO: Motivation, Access, Support, Communication and Openness. The framework was tested across diverse organisational contexts within Manchester, revealing that tailored engagement strategies, when aligned with the MASCO drivers, can significantly improve the quality and sustainability of public engagement. Results indicate that while traditional methods often fall short, the CEF offers a practical, adaptable approach to fostering meaningful and informed community involvement. This study not only highlights the gaps in current engagement practices but also demonstrates the potential of creative, co-produced engagement strategies to enhance decision-making and governance in urban greenspaces. The implications of these findings suggest a paradigm shift towards more dynamic, participatory approaches in urban planning and policy-making.

Green infrastructure (GI) is known to reduce road air pollution exposure, but their implementation in schools and associated benefits remain under-researched. In this study, two GI solutions, green screen and green gate, were co-designed and installed at a primary school in Guildford using collaborative and participatory methods. By assessing changes in air pollution levels, noise, and public perception before and after GI installation, we aimed to understand their impact on reducing children's exposure and evaluate other co-benefits. Without considering wind direction's effect, a maximum reduction of up to 32%, 10% and 12% in the average daily concentration of PM10 (green gate), PM2.5 (green screen) and PM1 (green gate), respectively, when compared with in-front concentration. The decay in concentration decreases with distance from the GI, and different wind directions result in varying percentage reductions in PM concentration. For the green screen, 'parallel to the screen' and for the green gate, 'away from the gate' wind directions provided the highest PM reduction. The horizontal abatement efficiency of GI varied with PM size, with the highest being PM10. Continuous monitoring behind the green screen revealed a decrease in PM concentration after installation, and this relative concentration varied from 0.29 to 0.90 compared to before installation. The green gate effectively lowered noise by 5dB(A), and the green screen did not report a noticeable impact on noise levels. Most parents perceived the installation of GI in school as significantly decreasing air pollution exposure and slightly reducing noise levels, resembling the changes in their levels observed in monitoring. The successful co-creation and co-implementation of GI interventions and resulting co-benefits underscore the importance of community engagement and participatory approaches in urban planning and environmental management. This study paves the way for the wider-scale application of innovative strategies involving local communities, stakeholders, and policymakers in implementing GI projects to ensure their sustainability and effectiveness.

In recent years, the pressing environmental, social, and economic problems affecting cities have resulted in the integration of the disciplines of landscape architecture and urban forestry via a transdisciplinary approach to urban planning and design. Now, new urban forestry approaches and concepts have emerged for more sustainable city planning. The discipline is using different methods and approaches to address many pressing issues such as human well-being and also food security. But, research on these topics is still limited and not available for many cities in the world. To fill this gap, we present this thematic issue “From Smart Urban Forests to Edible Cities: New Approaches in Urban Planning and Design.” The findings from this thematic issue offer new insight to policymakers and practitioners, as well as contribute to the emerging literature on edible and forest cities. Furthermore, the findings spanning different cities from different geographies can be used towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals of making cities and human settlements more resilient, inclusive, safe, and sustainable, as well as ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition. However, further studies are still needed, especially in developing countries and the Global South.

I begin my exploration of the connection between arts and place with the concept of cultural planning that positions the connection between arts and place in the policy discourse. Cultural planning has been defined in different ways, but the literature in the United States promotes the idea that is a process involving the community in matters of the arts. In this chapter, I examine how cultural planning can be better understood in the larger context of urban planning and comprehensive planning. Then, I provide a brief history and I analyze key themes in the international literature that show how cultural planning has been referring to a new approach of urban planning, how it has been contested when focusing solely on the arts, and how it has highlighted community engagement. I sketch an overview of cultural planning in the United States considering the grey literature that has emerged around it and its various relationship with urban planning and comprehensive plans around the country. I then focus on American cities and look at the planning documents of eighteen cities that are members of the United States Urban Arts Federation (USUAF). I conclude with a case study that focuses on issues of participation in cultural planning in Madison, Wisconsin.