Participatory planning as a factor in the development of urban space

Abstract

The article examines the theoretical underpinnings of collaborative design and its application in Russian urban contexts. It seeks to analyze the methodology of participatory design, evaluate the experience of its implementation, identify advantages and challenges, and identify potential stakeholders involved in the process. These stakeholders include residents, entrepreneurs, businesses, experts, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations, government bodies, budgetary institutions, and cultural organizations. The article explains why traditional face-to-face approaches to collaborative design are becoming less effective and why a more inclusive, hybrid approach is necessary to engage and involve diverse groups of stakeholders. A case study methodology was employed to conduct the empirical research. Cases from three cities in Russia — Tyumen, Buinsk, and Tchaikovsky — were selected and analyzed to illustrate the application of participatory design. Using the example of the Orenburg case, the stages and processes of participatory design have been examined, including a survey of residents and experts in the museum sector to assess the potential for the development of cultural spaces in the city. Participatory design has been presented as a methodology, social process, and practical activity. Key demands from various interest groups have been identified, and the benefits and limitations of collaborative design have been outlined based on the findings of the study.