Transformative thinking and urban living labs in planning practice

A critical review and ongoing case studies in Europe

Bibliographic Data

ID21601413
AuthorsAgatino Rizzo (0000-0001-6831-8857, Architecture Research Group, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden, corresponding author), Abdolrasoul Habibipour (0000-0001-5637-9572, Information Systems Research Group, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden), Anna Ståhlbröst (0000-0001-9468-6821, Information Systems Research Group, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden)
Year2021
Volume29
Issue10
Pages1739-1757
Publication date2021-10-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Planning Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0965-4313 • E-ISSN: 1469-5944
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09654313.2021.1911955
OpenAlexW3154216538
LanguageEN
Citations received26
References cited49

The aim of this article is to critically situate co-production methods such as that of the urban living lab within contemporary planning theory and in particular to the ideas of ‘agonistic planning’ and the ‘trading zone’. By critically review relevant literature and discussing the results of an ongoing interdisciplinary project, we will show a number of potentials and issues when translating the urban living lab idea to planning contexts. Potentially our urban living labs have opened up opportunities for local planners to discuss controversial issues by using the idea of nature based solution as a boundary-object/trading-zone. On the other hand, planners’ positivistic and incremental understanding of city making hinders a transformative understanding of the urban living lab and nature based solution in favour of more fashionable technological fixes

Critical thinking · Economic growth · Economics · Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Pedagogy · Sociology · Transformative learning · Engineering · Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development · Philosophy · Smart Cities and Technologies · Technology Use by Older Adults · Urban Studies