Participatory utopian sketching: A methodological framework for collaborative citizen (re)imagination of urban spatial futures

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Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_78405CE33DDD
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Participatory utopian sketching: A methodological framework for collaborative citizen (re)imagination of urban spatial futures
Journal
Futures
Author(s)
Törnroth Suzanna, Day Jennie, Fürst Moritz F., Mander Sarah
ISSN
0016-3287
Publication state
Published
Issued date
05/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
139
Pages
102938
Language
english
Abstract
Explorations of emerging urban spatial futures increasingly depend on the empathetic interweaving of broad political ideals with grounded democratic involvement. The collaborative planning paradigm (CP) and participatory action research (PAR) have thus gained traction globally, since they centralise meaningful involvement of those with lived experiences of the local environment. Building upon this, we argue that ‘utopia’ can offer an alternative paradigm that enhances citizen engagement, by refocusing urban design and planning explorations away from a problem-based orientation to a values-based one. Through a four-stage collaborative framework: 1. Experiencing the Space, 2. Sketching of Utopias, 3. Sharing of Utopias, and 4. Collaborative Analysis, participatory utopian sketching offers the possibility for richer and wider citizen engagement in urban development processes. The novelty of the framework is its tenets of collaboration, citizen inclusivity, playful experimentation, and iterative reflective activity. Its flexibility also allows for multiple real-world applications in the making of urban spatial futures. We demonstrate the methodological framework of participatory utopian sketching using an empirical pilot study examining the spatial imagination of solar panel futures within a neighbourhood located in Luleå, the provincial capital of Northern Sweden. Thereafter, we provide elucidations on the framework’s opportunities and challenges in wider urban design and planning discourse.
Keywords
Imagined urban futures, Collaborative urban planning, Utopia, Citizen engagement, Participatory utopian sketching, Methods
Open Access
Yes
Create date
21/04/2022 10:03
Last modification date
23/04/2022 6:10
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