Search

This study seeks to understand the working dynamics through which Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) responds to the challenges of protracted displacement in the city, focusing particularly on the concept of "tactical urbanism" (TU) as a tool and framework. This could be broadly useful to key actors in reconsidering response strategies, strengthening the role of local administrations. The research adopted a qualitative data collection and analysis framework via participatory forums and key informant interviews, steered by guiding research questions. Findings reveal the presence of interconnected multi-scale limitations, opportunities and roles that determine GAM's response towards displacement and constrain its ability to act within a comprehensive planning rationale. Instead, GAM is driven towards TU as an alternative approach that mitigates these determinants and offers a means for more responsive, constructive action. It is argued that TU affords a more agile response towards displacement, enhancing community engagement, innovation, resilience and identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street experiments have become a popular tool in urban and mobility planning and are increasingly studied in academia. Yet, systematic analysis is limited. This paper presents an assessment framework to collect information on street experiment goals, characteristics, impacts, and learnings in a systematic way. The framework is less focused, but more comprehensive than other approaches. From a scientific point of view, the systematic data collection serves as a basis to apply theoretical or analytical frameworks. From a practical point of view, the information can be used by street experiment organizers both ex-ante and ex-post, for planning, implementation, and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barcelona is an interesting living laboratory for studying the role of the local scale in urban planning. Since the early stages of what is known as the Barcelona Model (1979–1994), analysis of Barcelona's urban planning based on the creation of public spaces at a local scale has become a priority. More recently, micro‐scale urban planning has become dominant in addressing global challenges such as climate change within the framework of the New Urban Age paradigm. In this article we analyse the paradoxes between the ideology (local‐centrism) and practices (tactical urbanism) of this paradigm, based on an original perspective of the Superblock Barcelona project, contrary to the criticisms levelled against this project so far, which emanate mainly from economic lobbies in Barcelona. While cities seek to tackle global‐scale climate change, urban planning is being increasingly restricted to acting at local or micro scales. These paradoxes lead to sociospatial fragmentation and denial of other urban‐phenomenon scales, such as the metropolitan/regional one. We frame this article within the critical urban studies perspective, following the planetary urbanization hypothesis. The analysis of the Superblock Barcelona project is based on the logic of ‘making cities by making less city’ and focuses on how the local scale, the districts and neighbourhoods ‘burst against the city’, questioning the very right to the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 2010–12 earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the subsequent demolition of multiple buildings within the central business district, a host of creative projects emerged intermittently as vacant spaces appeared in the betweenness of demolition and rebuild. This widespread do-it-yourself (DIY) urbanism brought back life and energy to the city. These expressions demonstrated how citizens can be involved in the (re-)making of a city through projects that experiment with ideas about what it means to be urban and what is possible in urban space. These projects inhabit an alter-temporality that treats the future as open-ended and time as an active force in the becoming of things. Understanding the temporality of such urban engagement in Christchurch holds significance for understanding the value of open experimentation in cities in general and the importance of process to urban learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen engagement in urban planning is essential to designing urban spaces that are just and responsive to societal challenges. Consequently, local stakeholders are invited into urban co-creation processes. Digital tools are often used in this process to shape urban futures together. This paper explores what role digital technologies play in urban co-creation through five case studies from European cities that were presented at a workshop during the 11th Communities and Technologies conference. The Co-Design Framework is used to analyse the cases and understand how digital tools support collaboration on different levels throughout the design cycle. The findings help to design more effective digital tools for urban co-creation and provide an analysis methodology to compare and contrast urban co-creation practices across cases varying in scale, time, and utilised tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dearq is the property of Universidad de los Andes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explains and discusses the experience and process of a workshop held in Pristina, Kosovo, with the theme of Queer Urbanism. Six participants from different backgrounds were tasked to explain their personal stories relating to their city. Comparing historical antecedents from art and architecture while discussing various lines of queer theory, this workshop constituted a laboratory of methods and practices that weave through the possibilities that Queer Urbanism can generate.

Abstract This paper explores the multifaceted impact of Covid-19 on Sesto San Giovanni, in the Milan metropolitan area. It analyzes the challenges faced by local businesses and how the city responded with extraordinary measures for public spaces, revitalizing commercial sectors, and adopting new coping mechanisms. The pandemic underscored the strategic importance of public spaces and commercial activities as vital infrastructures for societal well-being and resilience. Integrating outdoor amenities like dehors and parklets into urban redevelopment plans has boosted economic vitality and social cohesion, creating a vibrant and interconnected urban environment.

The lack of and inequitable access to recreational and green open space in Malta is clearly documented. In an attempt to address social inequalities, research on place-led experimentation as a co-creation and co-governance process is ongoing. A multiple case study and participant action research methodology through the application of placemaking and urban living lab concepts is adopted. Communities are engaged to rethink public spaces as greener places and foster a better relationship with nature while improving the urban environment through nature-based placemaking. The research strives to understand how residents of Maltese localities can be motivated to participate in bettering their urban environment and foster a sense of pride in their spaces. This paper presents the findings of the locality of Senglea case study. A placemaking toolkit, by Placemaking Europe is adapted, applied and analysed within the Maltese context, consisting of a series of workshops to build a relationship with local communities according to their specific needs and desires. This paper provides insight into some of the key learning outcomes emerging from this first case study. Moreover, it puts forth recommendations on how processes for co-creation and co-governance of public spaces in dense urban areas such as Malta may be developed.

Urban design and planning require collaborative processes that integrate diverse user perspectives. Tactical urbanism involves small, temporary interventions in public spaces to meet daily needs through the collaboration of various stakeholders. This paper aims to foster tactical urbanism in vacant lots, emphasising the significance of incorporating diverse perspectives. The study, based on participatory action research, discusses the individual viewpoints of young city planner candidates assuming diverse roles across three themes: belonging, aesthetics, and usefulness, and to evaluate the results of two-method exercises applied in the Karşıyaka case study in İzmir. Participants, consisting of students from various universities in Türkiye, expressed their individual opinions and collective viewpoints through the techniques of photovoice and six thinking hats, respectively. Comparing two methods for evaluating vacant lots within three themes of tactical urbanism demonstrated that the photovoice technique enabled students to search for meanings of spaces and express their thoughts through photos. Meanwhile, the six thinking hats technique facilitated empathy towards diverse perspectives. The findings underscore the essentiality of adopting a holistic approach to urban design that encompasses aesthetics, functionality, and inclusivity, integrating diverse opinions. Young planner candidates in this study acknowledged the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives in urban design and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canterbury Earthquake Sequence of 2010–2012 was devastating for Christchurch, New Zealand, a city built on a floodplain. The sequence resulted in widespread damage across the central business district (CBD) and residential areas. Alongside, and in contrast to, orthodox planning responses by the New Zealand Government, playful, creative, and temporary projects emerged in vacant spaces. These were designed to bring back life and energy to the city centre, and such types of activity are referred to by scholars as do‐it‐yourself (DIY) urbanism. A primary critique of DIY urbanism in the literature relates to how it has the potential to contribute to gentrification, despite its amateurish appearance and mildly subversive politics. In Christchurch, a venue built from pallets—known as the Pallet Pavilion—was constructed by an organisation known as "Gap Filler" with the help of volunteers. Gap Filler emerged after the first earthquake, inserting creative projects to bring back life and energy to the damaged CBD. By examining the Pallet Pavilion, we show that, despite its potentially gentrifying effects, DIY urbanism interventions may open up a more inclusive politics of the city. Also, and paradoxically, in the case of the Pallet Pavilion, the exercise of privilege made this inclusive politics possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing economic and social inequalities in urban settings, particularly those that affect marginalized groups, is becoming more challenging. In less privileged urban areas, women entrepreneurs face restricted opportunities, specifically in limited retail activities in urban spaces. This study examines the effects of implementing a tactical urbanism solution known as "Retailscape," as represented by Spacena, to address the existing socio-economic disparity. Spacena is an urban furniture piece designed to respect and accommodate PWD, serving as a platform for showcasing locally made products. Employing qualitative methods, including focus groups, interviews, and observations, the research assesses Spacena's economic and social impact. Key themes identified through coding reveal a strong desire for inclusive spaces, economic empowerment, and enhanced social integration. Findings indicate that Spacena is perceived as an opportunity for economic advancement, income generation, and social interaction among residents. However, concerns about project sustainability and regulatory challenges persist. This study demonstrates that tactical urbanism can effectively address economic disparities and foster social cohesion in marginalized communities, suggesting that similar small-scale interventions could have broad, positive implications for sustainable urban design. The findings highlight how Spacena's low-cost, scalable design and its positive impact on community inclusivity can serve as a model for replicating similar urban interventions in areas with comparable economic and social challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several spaces in cities that are never used, although citizens are allowed to be in them. It seems that these spaces are invisible and do not exist. The existence of these spaces can be caused by various factors, such as weakness in planning and design, or functional and physical limitations. By ignoring them, social and safety issues will arise over time and also they can turn into a weakness for the city. This is despite the fact that many of these spaces have the potential to turn into quality places. This article which is a type of field research, describes the experience of Hamsaakht Urban Activists Society-NGO in revitalizing an urban void adjacent to Sobhani Square in Shiraz, Iran to find how activists and non-governmental organizations can be effective in revitalizing urban voids, with the participation of users, and what challenges do they face in this way? And what effects will the revitalization of this urban void have on other similar spaces in the neighborhood? The current research methodology involves field research using the observation technique of sample members. Activists encourage residents to participate and develop a sensitivity towards the space, to improve their sense of belonging. The aim is to determine whether meaningful physical changes will occur in this place compared to other similar spaces in the Maba'as residential complex and what effects these changes will have on other spaces. The research results indicate that despite the success of tactical urbanism methods, users were hesitant to actively participate in costs and social capital was inadequate due to a lack of trust in city authorities and a generalization to other urban activists. Additionally, a weak sense of belonging was observed due to rental and instable accommodation. However, the project had a positive impact on the municipality and board members of the Maba'as residential complex, and steps have been taken to revitalize similar urban voids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing economic and social inequalities in urban settings, particularly those that affect marginalized groups, is becoming more challenging. In less privileged urban areas, women entrepreneurs face restricted opportunities, specifically in limited retail activities in urban spaces. This study examines the effects of implementing a tactical urbanism solution known as "Retailscape," as represented by Spacena, to address the existing socio-economic disparity. Spacena is an urban furniture piece designed to respect and accommodate PWD, serving as a platform for showcasing locally made products. Employing qualitative methods, including focus groups, interviews, and observations, the research assesses Spacena's economic and social impact. Key themes identified through coding reveal a strong desire for inclusive spaces, economic empowerment, and enhanced social integration. Findings indicate that Spacena is perceived as an opportunity for economic advancement, income generation, and social interaction among residents. However, concerns about project sustainability and regulatory challenges persist. This study demonstrates that tactical urbanism can effectively address economic disparities and foster social cohesion in marginalized communities, suggesting that similar small-scale interventions could have broad, positive implications for sustainable urban design. The findings highlight how Spacena’s low-cost, scalable design and its positive impact on community inclusivity can serve as a model for replicating similar urban interventions in areas with comparable economic and social challenges.

This paper aims to explore the impact of using tactical urbanism for reviving the urban public space as a place making method in the city of Sulaimani.as part of thesis about tactical urbanism, public areas in Sulaimani have degraded due to rapid urbanization and population increase. Due to these obstacles, tactical urbanism, a grassroots approach to urban design and planning, has grown in popularity to swiftly modify and enhance urban areas. Place-making initiatives in urban development are less feasible in developing cities like Sulaimani since most urban design projects are top-down, expensive, and long-term, requiring years to accomplish. Despite being implemented over time, these initiatives seldom match urban space users' needs. Recent proposals include tactical urbanism to promote “right to the city” and place-making in cities. This study focuses on the impact of using temporary projects on urban areas and users through the de-flopping of the framework for the following criteria:(Functional, Environmental, Experimental, Economic, Social Governance and Monitoring, Tool, Time) The results were obtained through questionnaires to determine the impact on individual users and graphical analysis to determine the impact of existing projects in the area on individuals, communities, and Sulaimani public spaces. The proposed framework exhibits the capacity to provide guidance for the implementation of Tactical Urbanism strategies in developing nations, specifically focusing on small-scale and informal place-making initiatives that cater to the demands of local inhabitants.

With rapid urbanization, public spaces face many problems, such as privatization, conversion into car parking areas due to traffic pressure, turning into abandoned and unsafe areas, or aging due to neglect. However, public spaces that provide freedom of expression to society play significant roles in meeting people's needs, including socializing, resting, engaging in sports, playing games, and interacting with nature. Instead of a top-down hierarchy in the design/ transformation of public spaces, adopting participatory approaches can lead to more efficient solutions to these problems. In this regard, this article focuses on the potential of tactical urbanism, which offers low-cost temporary solutions and innovative approaches, to transform public spaces. This study, a result of the workshop "Transforming Unused Public Spaces for Healthy Cities with Participatory Approaches" conducted in collaboration with Bursa Uludağ University and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, aims to transform a street in the city centre of Bursa based on the interventions of tactical urbanism. After conducting literature review, physical analysis, observation, and interview techniques, practical recommendations for tactical urbanism were developed for the case study area, considering the local identity of the area. As a result, it is seen that liveable public spaces can be created with recommendations focused on play, art, and urban agriculture themes in Bursa, and the role of innovative approaches such as tactical urbanism in transforming public spaces is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of and inequitable access to recreational and green open space in Malta is clearly documented. In an attempt to address social inequalities, research on place-led experimentation as a co-creation and cogovernance process is ongoing. A multiple case study and participant action research methodology through the application of placemaking and urban living lab concepts is adopted. Communities are engaged to rethink public spaces as greener places and foster a better relationship with nature while improving the urban environment through nature-based placemaking. The research strives to understand how residents of Maltese localities can be motivated to participate in bettering their urban environment and foster a sense of pride in their spaces. This paper presents the findings of the locality of Senglea case study. A placemaking toolkit, by Placemaking Europe is adapted, applied and analysed within the Maltese context, consisting of a series of workshops to build a relationship with local communities according to their specific needs and desires. This paper provides insight into some of the key learning outcomes emerging from this first case study. Moreover, it puts forth recommendations on how processes for co-creation and co-governance of public spaces in dense urban areas such as Malta may be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the effect of a bicycle lane on traffic speeds. Computer vision techniques are used to detect and classify the speed and trajectory of over 9,000 motor-vehicles at an intersection that was part of a pilot demonstration in which a bicycle lane was temporarily implemented. After controlling for direction, hourly traffic flow, and the behavior of the vehicle (i.e., free-flowing or stopped at a red light), we found that the effect of the delineator-protected bicycle lane (marked with traffic cones and plastic delineators) was associated with a 28 % reduction in average maximum speeds and a 21 % decrease in average speeds for vehicles turning right. For those going straight, a smaller reduction of up to 8 % was observed. Traffic moving perpendicular to the bicycle lane experienced no decrease in speeds. Painted-only bike lanes were also associated with a small speed reduction of 11–15 %, but solely for vehicles turning right. These findings suggest an important secondary benefit of bicycle lanes: by having a traffic calming effect, delineated bicycle lanes may decrease the risk and severity of crashes for pedestrians and other road users.

This paper examines historical urban fabrics' challenges regarding quality of life and visual disturbances despite their cultural and identity value. Regeneration and social-oriented approaches considering social, economic, and cultural dimensions preserve and enhance these valuable materials. Tactical urbanism, with its people-oriented approach, can address these issues. This study focused on Sarpol in Khomeinishahr County, Isfahan Province of Iran. The city's urban structure divides into two parts: despite its active social structure and valuable spaces, Sarpol is a historic neighborhood with significant deterioration. We followed Corbin and Strauss's version of Grounded Theory in the qualitative research methodology. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were employed to select 21 participants from the Sarpol neighborhood for semi-structured interviews. The analysis involved three stages of coding: open, axial, and selective. The themes included religious participation, identity, sustainable social bonds, indigenous dependence, and low environmental quality. The central issue identified was the crucial role of religious and cultural values as a driving force for tactical urbanism, which emerged as the most critical semantic domain related to the research problem.

This article explores the application of innovation–diffusion theory to tactical urbanism projects. The objective of the study is to comprehend how innovation–diffusion theory can be utilized to analyze and evaluate these projects and identify the factors contributing to their success. The research was conducted through a collaborative design studio experience, using qualitative methods that largely depended on participatory observations and interviews with key participants. The findings indicate that the Innovation–Diffusion theory can serve as a comprehensive theoretical framework for the analysis and evaluation of tactical urbanism projects. The study also identified factors that contribute to the success of these projects, such as the involvement of opinion leaders, the use of low-cost and temporary interventions, and the flexibility to adapt to on-site variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geopolitica(s): Revista de Estudios Sobre Espacio y Poder is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal Public Administration & Social Management / Administração Pública e Gestão Social is the property of Administracao Publica e Gestao Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines historical urban fabrics' challenges regarding quality of life and visual disturbances despite their cultural and identity value. Regeneration and social-oriented approaches considering social, economic, and cultural dimensions preserve and enhance these valuable materials. Tactical urbanism, with its people-oriented approach, can address these issues. This study focused on Sarpol in Khomeinishahr County, Isfahan Province of Iran. The city's urban structure divides into two parts: despite its active social structure and valuable spaces, Sarpol is a historic neighborhood with significant deterioration. We followed Corbin and Strauss's version of Grounded Theory in the qualitative research methodology. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were employed to select 21 participants from the Sarpol neighborhood for semi-structured interviews. The analysis involved three stages of coding: open, axial, and selective. The themes included religious participation, identity, sustainable social bonds, indigenous dependence, and low environmental quality. The central issue identified was the crucial role of religious and cultural values as a driving force for tactical urbanism, which emerged as the most critical semantic domain related to the research problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cairo's overcrowded streets highlight the decline of Egypt's street life, with informal activities resulting from uncontrolled commercial and mixed-use developments. Tactical Urbanism can help fulfill basic human needs in public spaces by converting informal activities to formal ones that meet user needs. This study aims to investigate informal activities in Downtown Cairo's main streets and measure their impact on public space users using a Likert-scale questionnaire. Then, the research proposes suitable tactics and tools based on tactical urbanism principles that were validated through conducting a second Likert-scale questionnaire. Both questionnaires were analyzed and compared via Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) through descriptive and inferential methods. The findings indicate that well-organizing informal activities following the tactical urbanism principles with low cost and in a short period of time, fulfill people's aspirations and requirements and positively affect the quality attributes of the public spaces in Downtown, Cairo.

Power Up Schools (Power Up) was a temporary intervention involving a range of activities aimed at increasing children's active school travel (AST) with a focus on physical and social aspects of schools and their surrounding environs. We evaluated the impact of Power Up on children's AST and how multiple stakeholders (children, school representatives, parents, residents) perceived the overall intervention and its components. This was a multiple methods evaluation study with four primary (elementary) schools in Auckland and their wider communities. The study involved longitudinal data collection (daily travel modes reported by children), repeat cross-sectional surveys with parents, single time-point cross-sectional surveys with residents, post intervention focus groups with children and parents, and post intervention interviews with school representatives. Findings showed evidence for increased AST; general support for Power Up by children, parents, and school representatives; mixed support by residents for some components; the importance of considering diverse needs and preferences in future interventions; the need for more comprehensive communication across stakeholders; and the value of streamlining processes for schools and parents. Comprehensive approaches that are embedded within, and accepted by, the wider school community are recommended for sustainable and effective AST interventions.

This article examines the trajectories of two places, from the temporary to the permanent, from the interstitial to the emblem of an institutionalised urban cultural policy in Lisbon: the Fabrica do Braço de Prata in the Marvila district and Lx Factory in the Alcântara district. What is the role of the transitory dimension in the implementation and development of these projects? Based on a field survey (observations and interviews) as well as the reading of press articles and grey literature, we will first show how these temporary projects were born from private initiatives in strategic districts of the city, before analysing their characteristics, with in particular the emphasis on the temporary in words and images. Finally, we will try to read their integration in the official discourses of the city and their inscription in the construction of the figure of Lisbon as a creative metropolis

Initiated by the Agence Française de Développement since 2018 in Ouagadouogou, Dakar, Abidjan and Tunisia, the "urban incubators" project is inspired by tactical urbanism, promoting transitional and collaborative developments, with rapid and low-cost interventions that complement AFD's usual projects. This article proposes to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of these projects and to analyze the socio-spatial transformations and possible changes in the forms of public action. The article highlights the success of certain initiatives, the involvement of various actors, and the partial improvement of living conditions in certain neighborhoods. But it also looks at the limits of this type of urban planning in the Global South, where micro-projects are considered too short-lived.