Public spaces as evolving frameworks : applying principles of co-creation in urban planning

Abstract

There is a growing body of literature that recognises the advantages of collective human actions in various contexts. People can have more insights and social experiences when they collaborate in groups and can achieve better results than any single individual. In this paper, we argue that co-creation can be used in urban planning by treating citizens as active, creative, decision-making equals rather than passive recipients of top-down design. Rather than asking for citizen commentary on already set initiatives, collaborative techniques view city populations as agents of positive change, giving communities tools of direct involvement in outlining their needs and priorities, collaboratively finding solutions, influencing decisions and achieving better outcomes. The focus of this article is the creation of a typology of citizen engagement strategies in urban planning, which sheds light on broader issues around the relationship between technology, urban development and public participation. By exploring and critically assessing case studies of citizen co-creation in the city context, we attempt to show how citizen engagement can lead to construction and redefinition of public spaces.