Disruptive Innovation. A redesigned strategy for building and managing sustainable communities: the Walas approach

Abstract

The extreme complexity of urban contexts, the dilemma of the unpredictability of rapid change, and the increasing loss of self-orientation are just some of the challenges mankind faces in the Anthropocene era. To cope with it, no isolated action or usual strategy can help. Disruption is required. Social inequalities, degradation of urban areas, and poverty are just some of the aspects of urban fragmentation that, together with the ongoing exploitation of environmental resources, have led to an emergency that we cannot ignore any longer. To reconnect the threads and to guide cities towards a sustainable future we need to abandon traditional approaches and change our reference point. Method. This paper focuses on disruptive innovation as necessary to redesign a strategy that will help cities survive the Anthropocene era by providing an example of good practice in urban regeneration and community redevelopment: the Walas approach. By introducing disruptive, gradual, flexible business models, through the combination of social and technological innovation, the paper demonstrates that it is concretely possible to reconnect cities to citizens, to build inclusive, vibrant and safe communities in these uncertain times. Results. The implementation and application of a disruptive urban regeneration approach to projects have enabled World of Walas to achieve satisfactory results in Europe where degraded urban areas have been turned into vibrant, inclusive and safe communities. Conclusions. Sustainable communities can be achieved only through collaboration, dialogue, and the imperative combination of the private and the public sectors. Starting with the redefinition of priorities, using a gradual, disruptive and holistic approach, the regeneration of degraded urban areas can become the turning-point for the sustainable development of cities.