The undeniable advantages include the formation of a consolidated and effective community. Local residents may not have the professional skills of architects and urban planners, but they have a completely unique competence - they have information about the real needs and hidden potential of the territory.
Urban planning processes can be transparent and have room for private and public initiatives
Crowdsourcing is also a relatively new term, first introduced by writer Jeff Howe in 2006. The technology assumes that the work is performed by volunteer activists either for a nominal fee or free of charge. Interested residents are willing to spend their own time and resources, including on improving their neighborhoods. The professional level of the performers plays a minor role in this - the larger the group of people working on the project, the higher the probability that among them there will be those who have the necessary experience and skills. Crowdsourcing is actively used in marketing research, advertising campaigns, and design development. This tool is suitable for implementing a variety of urban projects, starting with collecting ideas, for example, how to make a city, district, or street more comfortable and cleaner. By supporting grassroots initiatives, the authorities not only share responsibility with the townspeople, but also save resources and the budget, because the funds are directed to reforms that people really need.
To maximize the value of public participation, people need to be informed and educated. Ordinary citizens need to be convinced that urban planning processes can be transparent and that there is room for private and public initiatives. For example, it is possible to legally oblige residents to sort their waste. But as soon as control weakens, they may not want to bother themselves with unnecessary things. At the same time, if people understand the meaning of such daily actions, they will carry them out consciously and get pleasure from realizing the reduction of the burden on the environment.
The boulevard along the Viaduc des Arts in Paris is becoming an increasingly attractive route every year thanks to the participation of citizens in projects to improve it. Photo: Bruno De Hogues/Getty Images. Photo source: gaurani.almightywind.info
Civic Tech and their limitless possibilities
Since 2013, the term "civic tech" has been used in the United States, and then around the world — this is now the name given to mobile applications, public budget platforms, or sites for creating online petitions or registering ideas from residents.
By supporting grassroots initiatives, the government shares responsibility with citizens and also saves resources and the budget.
Online platforms are also useful because they give scientists and urban planners access to large amounts of data. Each of us can find out what projects are being promoted by city residents in different countries and how successfully. For example, right now Parisians are collecting votes to allocate budget funds for the creation of an art route along the old Viaduc des Arts viaduct on Avenue Daumesnil. The viaduct was restored in the late 90s according to the design of the architect Patrick Berger, and the former warehouses under the arches were repurposed as art shops and workshops. Now the shop owners themselves — designers and artisans — have joined forces to make the street greener, add “resting spots” with street furniture, and decorate the arches with light installations.
Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona. Photo: Zambrano González, Vicente
Festes de Gràcia. Festivals and unique architecture attract millions of tourists to the Gràcia district of Barcelona. But the residents themselves are not too happy about the influx of visitors. Image source: europea-travel.com
And in Barcelona, they are actively collecting information and ideas for the rehabilitation of the historical heritage in the Gracia district, the famous Park Güell, which was created by Antonio Gaudi. But in addition to the park-monument in Gracia, there are many old houses, some of which are not included in the protection lists, which causes anxiety among local residents. The municipality is concerned: "There is a gradual disappearance of the traditional fabric and a significant change in the image of the original garden city." And in addition, the historical structure of Gracia may suffer due to speculation by developers.
Barcelona authorities ask citizens to participate in drawing up an identity map for the Gracia district to develop and protect it
Residents are asked to join in drawing up a roadmap for the development and protection of the district and to send descriptions of notable "atmospheric" locations and spatial landmarks to the website. These can be small internal gardens, old trees, historical interiors, unusually decorated facades, craft workshops, non-standard advertising signs - everything that has a unique aura. The project's task is to create a map of the district's identity from these small details, which are usually overlooked by tourists and official city planners. In two months, residents have left more than 100 notes - they draw attention to local traditions and peculiarities of everyday life, ask to take long-lived trees under protection, restore gardens on terraces between streets, restore stucco on facades, etc.
Reykjavik residents want the city's streets to be places for recreation and socializing, rather than transit zones for transportation. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The Reykjavik authorities, on the other hand, approach the involvement of residents in urban processes in an exemplary and structured way. From February to March 2018, a collection of ideas was held there - in total, more than a thousand proposals for the improvement of the city and its surroundings were accumulated. After evaluating the ideas and consulting with experts, the projects were put to a vote - so-called neighborhood elections were held. The winning projects were approved, the municipality signed contracts with contractors and began implementation in May 2019. All documents are published on the municipality's website reykjavik.is. Among the ideas are the creation of sports areas, the construction of bicycle paths, the repair of sidewalks, the installation of garbage cans, landscaping, painting buildings with graffiti, planting orchards, creating a dog kennel, building a sauna, etc. Nothing supernatural or high-budget — just simple little things that are so important for people to feel comfortable.
Most public projects are inexpensive, simple improvements that are so important to the comfort of city residents.
Streetart is one of many community initiatives supported by the Reykjavík city government. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Kyiv was not left out either. The Kyiv City State Administration first introduced the practice of participation and invited Kyiv residents to participate in the distribution of local budget funds in 2016, launching the online platform “Public Budget”. Initially, UAH 50 million was allocated for the implementation of projects, and for the “Public Budget-2020” it was planned to allocate three times more. The money will go to the implementation of 554 projects that received the greatest support from the community. The system determined the winners in June. The vast majority of projects are about the arrangement of children's and sports grounds, the purchase of equipment for schools and kindergartens. Funding for several festivals has also been approved - SolomaFest 2020, Snіgfest, the Povymlo art festival, Kyiv Extreme Fest 2020. It is planned to equip several areas for walking animals, bicycle and pedestrian crossings, green paths, lighting along park paths, landscaping several sections of the Dnieper embankment, creating public spaces, installing defibrillators at metro stations as part of the ReaniMetro project, and even launching hydrobiont plants into Lake Telbin that purify water and prevent its flowering.
The creative space in the KARZ-12 industrial zone in Kyiv is developing as an urban incubator, where urban planners hold project discussions and meetings with local residents. Image source: karz-12.com.ua
Oleksandr Rak, an urban planner and transport expert, submitted two projects to the "Public Budget-2020", and both were approved: UAH 156 thousand will be allocated for the construction of an elevated pedestrian crossing and UAH 365 thousand for landscaping and improvement of public space at the site of spontaneous parking near the light rail station at KPI. According to Oleksandr, the allocated funds are enough to fully implement the plan, even taking into account possible inflation: "The contractor for the work will be selected by the balance sheet holder (KP SHEU of Solomyansky district) through ProZorro. I have included a 20% reserve in the project budget, so there should be enough money. There is a remark about the platform itself: in order to vote for a project that you like, you need to do too many actions, too many clicks. I also encountered the possibility of organizational problems with implementation, for example, Kyivavtodor is currently planning a major overhaul of Borshchahivska Street, but they do not want to coordinate the work with my project. Now I am trying to fight this.”
The Heavenly Hundred Square in Kyiv was transformed into a public park with a playground by volunteers. The graffiti with a portrait of Serhiy Nigoyan on the wall of the old building was created by Portuguese artist Alexandre Fartu at the initiative of the public organization "City-Sad". Image source: wikipedia.org
The Council of Europe Office in Ukraine helped create and launch the online platform "Public Budget" in Kyiv. With its support, the "Academy of Public Participation" was opened in Kyiv, where officials and public activists will be introduced to the tools and methods of participation.
We call it Gamicipation!
The game "Monopoly", which became a hit during the Great Depression, was not the first economic game, as is commonly believed. Charles Darrow used as a prototype the board game "Landlord", created by Lizzie Phillips back in 1903. Despite the secondary nature of the idea and the "52 design flaws" that critics and experts noticed in the design of "Monopoly", Darrow's development became a true icon of game simulations. With its help, young Americans got acquainted with the basics of a market economy and the principles of the real estate market.
re:publica is a large-scale conference that brings together thousands of urbanists and creatives in Berlin every year. The event focuses on civic initiatives and life in the digital world. Image source: re-publica.com
Today, there are dozens of online games and open-source platforms that allow you to understand how urban planning works in an accessible way, and even test new models of architectural and urban solutions. An even more promising direction is the use of online tools and augmented reality in public space with a location-based approach.
In 2017, at the re:publica festival, digital designer Daniel Boy and professional urban planner Carsten Michel Drosel presented a game-based approach to engaging residents of German cities in development and improvement processes.
According to the authors of the Gamicipation concept, joint participation in urban games allows for a dialogue between officials, architects, urbanists, and ordinary residents: "Games give people the opportunity to interact. They open new doors, break down social barriers."
Mobile applications serve as tools for conducting urban games that allow you to study the city, develop it, and consolidate communities. Image source: re-publica.com
Urban games give people the opportunity to interact. They open new doors, remove social barriers
Back in 2008, Carsten Michel Drossel founded the Mobile University, which combines urban games with educational courses and public discussions, and in 2013, the company IMPULSBÜRO BERLIN, which develops educational games. Currently, Carsten Michel Drossel and Daniel Boy are conducting a series of NEU-Stadt games in Germany, which they describe as a “wild cocktail of city, game and performance.” In essence, each NEU-Stadt is a micro-festival, full of quests, quizzes on the best knowledge of local traditions, architectural context, cultural and entertainment events. It is held in atypical locations and allows citizens to simulate the implementation of creative approaches to the use of buildings, courtyards and streets. The scenario for each NEU-Stadt is developed individually, and already at this stage the organizers try to involve local activists.
Why has the game approach become a popular tool for public participation? Because it is effective: the game stimulates curiosity, creativity, and develops passion and motivation for action. People like to play.
The practical goal of the game is to establish a relationship of trust between formal urbanists and residents.
The main practical goal of the game is to establish trusting relationships between formal urban planners and residents. It is the lack of trust that most often becomes an obstacle to the implementation of even the most promising reforms. Residents of districts prefer to block any ideas if they do not trust those who put forward these ideas. The crisis of trust, as it turned out, is symptomatic not only for post-Soviet territories, but also for outwardly prosperous countries in Europe and America. But if in Europe officials, architects, developers, politicians and mayors are not shy about participating in a city quest or quiz on an equal basis with ordinary residents, in Ukraine they very rarely come down from their towers to the ground. The maximum participation is to go out on a subbotnik and bury a birch tree surrounded by journalists.
The re:publica 2018 conference in Berlin attracted around 9 participants. The main topics of discussion were media culture, network politics and technological trends in Europe, particularly in urban planning. Image source: re-publica.com
The Can Vies effect
The “Barcelona case” is often cited as an example of a successful creative and infrastructural transformation of a city. This happened largely thanks to former mayor Jordi Ereu, who is well known to Ukrainians, as he has repeatedly come to Kyiv to participate in economic forums, congresses and lectured on urban planning. During his term (2006–2011), Ereu focused on solving infrastructure problems. He modernized the water supply and electricity grid systems, lobbied for public investment in the construction of such resource-intensive facilities as air and port terminals, and railway stations. These transformations have made Barcelona an attractive tourist location - the city receives more than 7,5 million tourists per year. But despite the fact that Ereu often said that “when residents agree with a development project, transformations in a city are real,” his interaction with the citizens may not have been that close. In 2011, voters voted for Javier Trias. Like Ereu, he focused on developing the creative economy, but he distanced himself even more from the people of Barcelona, who rebelled in response and forced him to resign.
The Can Vies building in Barcelona was occupied by squatters in 1997 and converted into an informal cultural center. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The catalyst for the mass protests, which even affected Valencia and Mallorca, was the attempt to demolish Can Vies in the center of Barcelona. The rather old building, which belonged to the municipal transport company, had been occupied by squatters since 1997, who had turned it into an informal social and cultural center. The city authorities planned to demolish Can Vies in order to create a recreational green pedestrian zone in its place, which corresponded to the previously approved master plan. Unexpectedly for the mayor, the city residents declared: the park was not needed, and the old building, painted with graffiti, should remain. Such logic did not fit into the idea of the mayor and his supporters about a comfortable city. Long negotiations began. The authorities suggested that the squatters move to the post-industrial zone of Can Batlló, where a similar informal cultural center had existed since 2011. But the defenders of Can Vies categorically refused. Then Trias ordered the eviction of the squatters and the demolition of the building. This led to a social explosion - thousands of protesters took to the streets, smashing everything around and setting fire to the machinery that was destroying Can Vies.
The Can Vies effect in the context of urban policy is one of the most discussed topics among sociologists and conflict researchers.
A frightened Trias overturned the demolition decision, but residents demanded his resignation, and Ada Colau was later installed as mayor of the Catalan capital. She started out as an activist for the municipal public platform Barcelona en Comú and a member of the Let's Win Barcelona movement. These organizations were the ones behind the campaign of public opposition to Trias' policies and were able to quickly raise funds to defend the activists in court using crowdfunding platforms.
Volunteers rebuild Can Vies after the end of mass protests. The burnt excavator became a symbol of the victory of the townspeople in their confrontation with the Barcelona City Hall. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
In June 2019, the city's residents supported Ada for the second time, which is now carrying out a radical urban revolution, dismantling the tourist model of development and trying to build a social city of equal opportunities. Such a policy is causing sadness among representatives of large-scale development and Barcelona's rentiers - the new authorities are ruthlessly fining them for trying to list apartment rental offers on platforms like Airbnb without a license. Motorists have also become victims of the new policy, who have been blocked from entering the city center (to the delight of pedestrians, cyclists and locals dissatisfied with the noise and air quality).
Colau allocated funds for the restoration of the famous Can Vies building, and in the spring of 2019, just before the elections, she transferred a 13 sq m area in the Can Batlló industrial zone to activist squatters for free use for 50 years.
The authorities present the defeat in conflicts with the townspeople as a victory and triumph of democracy.
Despite criticism, accusations of populism, utopianism, and an openly leftist vector, the secret of Ada Colau's popularity, according to political experts, lies in her openness and accessibility. She became the first of the leaders of Barcelona who is not afraid to hold long meetings with residents.
Barcelona is not the only city where the authorities prefer to lose face in the eyes of local elites but retain positions and influence.
Ada Colau won the mayoral elections of Barcelona in 2015 and 2019 thanks to an open dialogue with the citizens. Image source: eltemps.cat / efe
For example, Berliners blocked plans to redevelop Tempelhof Airport and demanded that the 300-hectare area in the city center not be used for commercial real estate and housing, but instead be allocated as a public park. In the spring of 2019, Berlin authorities approved the allocation of 100 million euros to transform Tempelhof, which has become a symbol of civil liberties in Germany’s recent history, into a new creative district.
Finding balance and constructive solutions requires moderators to be as professional as diplomats in a war zone.
Often, the authorities present defeat in conflicts with the townspeople as a victory and triumph of democracy. But part of the community also finds itself among the losers. For many Berliners, new affordable housing in the Tempelhof area is more necessary than an art quarter. And for many Barcelona residents, tourists are the main source of income.
The roof of the Tempelhof airport building will be transformed into an observation deck. Image source: Tempelhof Projekt GmbH
The area of the closed Tempelhof Airport in Berlin has been transformed into a public park, The Tempelhof Field, contrary to the original plans of the developers and the authorities. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Legalizing self-interest and abandoning long-term development plans is playing with fire, scaring asset owners, real estate owners and undermining the legislative foundation. But such things are happening more and more often. Therefore, it is quite logical that the Can Vies effect in the context of urban policy is one of the most discussed topics among sociologists and conflict analysts today. Finding a balance of priorities and constructive solutions in the face of an obvious conflict of interests requires moderators to be as professional as negotiators and diplomats in a war zone.
The art of dialogue, or "Who is older?"
Attempts at practical participation in Ukraine very often take the following form: after a two-hour presentation of projects by urban planners and architects, one of the local residents asks: "Is there anyone older here?.." Residents of Kyiv's Podil and Vozdvizhenka reacted in a similar way to the concept of the development of Vali, presented in mid-July in the creative space KARZ-12. Students of the Urban Design course at the Projector design school, curated by the "Agents of Change" team, proposed revitalizing the area between the slopes of Shchekavitsa, Zamkova Gora and Podil, which was once called Kozhumyatskaya Square, implementing a new transport model and partially opening the channel of the Hlybochytsa River, which is enclosed in a collector under the boulevard between Verkhni and Nyzhni Val. Residents of Podil and Vozdvizhenka first of all wondered whether the students had approved the project with the Kyiv City State Administration, or were these just "cartoons" that had nothing to do with reality? "Agents of Change" are convinced that this is a normal and completely typical reaction to a first meeting, and are collecting residents' opinions to adjust the project.
Almost every development project provokes a barrage of criticism. Especially when it comes to green zones.
Distrust of young urbanists does not mean that Kyiv residents welcome projects from official urban planners more favorably. Almost every one of them causes a flurry of criticism. Especially when it comes to interference in green areas. The proposal for the development of part of the territory of the capital's Hydropark (Venetian and Dolobets islands) from the Kyiv City Development Enterprise was immediately dubbed an "asphalt park."
The concept for the development of the historical area of Kitayev, developed by SAGA Development and Perfect Group together with the architectural bureaus Architectural Prescription and ZOTOV&CO, was highly appreciated and supported in the architectural environment. The author of the concept for creating an ideal happy settlement, architect Grisha Zotov, considers the project innovative not only for Ukraine: “It can boldly compete with European or world analogues.” PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA spoke in detail about new scenarios for Kitayev in previous volumes of the magazine. The developers were based on data obtained as a result of spatial research, and it seemed that they had foreseen everything so that the project would sound like a response to public demand. But despite the breakthrough design, the humanistic core of the concept and compliance with the requirements of the UN’s “New Urban Agenda”, residents of the surrounding areas met it with bayonets.
The concept for the development of the historical area of Kitayiv provides for the preservation of plots for "urban gardening". Photo: Andriy Vetoshkin
Our goal is to leverage the actions of each stakeholder to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
Photo: Andriy Vetoshkin
The task of moderating the “conflict zone” is assigned to the “Agents of Change” team. They have to show “aerobatics” — to destroy the wall of mistrust between the parties and establish a productive dialogue. Yuriy Granovsky, UX designer of the “Agents of Change” team, told us about how the participatory process is progressing.
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: We noticed that one detail is really hindering the dialogue with residents. People are afraid that the results of meetings and negotiations with architects and developers will be presented as the result of some kind of “public discussions.” Does your task at this stage (by the way, what can you call it?) involve drawing up and signing any documents? And why are residents so afraid of this?
Yuriy Granovsky: This is an environment where everyone is afraid of everything because, firstly, the price of a mistake is too high, and secondly, the development business has compromised itself for too long. Therefore, local residents, taking any action, by default think that this action will turn against them. It is difficult to believe this, but our goal is the opposite: to use the actions of each of the stakeholders (locals, administration, developer) to achieve a mutually beneficial result.
Yuriy Granovsky, UX designer of the "Agents of Change" team
The current stage can be called getting to know each other. We get to know local activists, opinion leaders, and ordinary residents. We get to know their needs, fears, and pains through presentations, personal meetings, and analysis of Facebook discussions. We get to know the place: its history, significance for the city and the locals, its layout, potential, and problems through the analysis of a large number of documents and communication with specialized experts.
We, the "Agents of Change", do not have the task of signing anything with anyone. We set ourselves the task of better understanding how life is organized here. To determine what problems and requests the development concept can answer. And ultimately, to establish a constructive dialogue between stakeholders to develop joint decisions on the further development of this territory.
The area along the Chinese ponds should remain closed to motor vehicles, according to Architectural Prescription. Image source: Architectural Prescription
PM: Which of the pressing problems worries residents of the areas adjacent to the Kitayiv area the most? And is its solution included in the development project?
Y. G.: We learned about a large number of problems - from half-live transport connections to the lack of a normal grocery store. Our value in all this is to learn about these problems and influence the concept accordingly.
The developer's initiative could be a response to a consolidated community request
PM: Perhaps you have a certain scenario that could contribute to the consolidation of the parties - do you envisage holding some joint events (cleaning the area around the ponds or something else)?
Y. G.: The scenario is there, but it is constantly changing. With each stage, we learn better who and what we are dealing with. This new data, of course, affects the further plan. In any case, whatever we do, our efforts will be aimed at strengthening the territorial community in one way or another. Now it is consolidated around the task of repelling all development initiatives at all costs. It would be great if the community moved into a more creative mode in the future. For local residents to develop alternative points of view on issues important to them, identify and prioritize problems, and look for opportunities to solve them. Then the developer's initiative (like any other initiative from the outside) could become a response (one of) to the consolidated request of the community. We think this would be a more constructive and productive environment.
The cycling and hiking routes of Kitayev and Holosiivskyi Forest are planned to be combined into a common network. Photo: Andriy Vetoshkin
PM: How often should meetings with residents be held? Should they be completely open — with the possible presence of journalists or activists from other areas? Does media participation help or hinder?
Y. G.: To create a constructive atmosphere, first of all, meetings should not be held with residents, but meetings of residents. In what format and with the involvement of which parties depends on the purpose of each specific meeting. I think they should take place regularly and regardless of external initiatives.
The project by architectural offices Architectural Prescription and ZOTOV&CO involves the improvement of a recreational area. Image source: Architectural Prescription
PM: When can we say that the process of participation and moderation of the dialogue between the parties is successful? What percentage of local residents should be involved?
Y. G.: I think that here we need to measure not by numbers, but by the productivity of the dialogue. If we can record systematic progress, participation is successful. When the parties are ready to listen to each other, then to hear, then to listen and draw conclusions, and even better - to co-create. When, as a result, the community gains more and more influence on making decisions about the territory.
Expert opinion
Romea Murin: Who are we designing this for?
Romea Murin is an architect and urban planner from Poland. After studying in Poland and Denmark, she worked for 8 years in leading offices in Copenhagen, New York and Rotterdam. Romea also successfully completed the postgraduate program "Hybrid Urbanism" at the Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design and worked as a leading architect at Strelka KB in Moscow. In addition, she was a visiting professor within the INDA International Program in Design and Architecture at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Currently, Romea is a mentor of the educational program "Integrated Spatial Planning for United Territorial Communities" and the program director of CANactions School. PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA turned to Romea as an expert in the theory and practice of participation to learn how to more effectively use the tools of a participatory culture and involve residents of Ukrainian cities in the process of joint planning.
Romeo Murin
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: What does the activity of CANactions School show: what are the best methods for involving the community and not only local activists, but also representatives of public organizations?
Romeo Murin: The project itself must arise and develop from mutual understanding and cooperation between all parties — communities, urban planners and the city administration. In order to create a relevant and adequate strategy, it is necessary to interact with the people who often use these spaces throughout the entire urban strategy process and in the decisive decision-making. The starting point in conceptualizing any public space agenda must be to identify the talents and resources within the community—the people who can provide historical perspective, understand how the area functions, and determine what really matters to local people. Using this information early in the process will help create a sense of community ownership and ownership of the project and ensure its long-term success.
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: What are the main problems that arise on the way to project implementation?
R. M.: There are a number of challenges that cities may face when implementing their strategies.
- Ensuring a comprehensive approach in the implementation of the strategy and related actions or projects.
- Involvement of local stakeholders and organization of decision-making for their implementation.
- Creation of effective indicators and monitoring systems for measuring performance.
- Transition from integrated urban strategy to operational action plans.
- Establishment of public-private partnership.
- Strengthening the financing of urban policy by studying financial innovations (urban development funds, crowdfunding, etc.).
This list of challenges certainly does not cover all the problems that cities face during the implementation phase of the strategy. It is important to ensure the exchange and transfer of knowledge between cities and regions - sharing the experiences and results of these stages can improve the effectiveness of the strategy and help avoid difficulties faced by all parties involved.
Participatory models are rarely used in Ukraine or residents are involved in the planning process
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: What are the ways to overcome mutual mistrust and misunderstanding between agents of influence and the population? We often witness how people refuse to take urban planners seriously and are often convinced that architects and designers representing a new development concept are engaged ("Who pays you?").
R. M.: Distrust has good reasons. First, participation models are rarely used in Ukraine or residents are involved in the planning process. The first real public hearings were organized within the ISPAH program (Integrated Spatial Planning for Amalgamated Hromadas program — "Integrated Spatial Planning for Amalgamated Territorial Communities" CANactions School). As a senior mentor of this program, I see it as a successful example of implementing a city strategy. Second, it is important for urban planners to recognize the fact that there are agencies that know their areas quite well, simply by using them every day. They are the most authoritative source of information. If they are involved in the process or the urban development process is transparent enough in terms of communication, mistrust will not arise. After all, we work for the users, and if they don't see the utility, then who are we designing for anyway?
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: Are there cases when the good intentions of urban planners really turn into problems for local residents? What if developers intercept a good idea, distort it and turn the negative against activists?
R. M.: As I mentioned, if the implementation process prioritizes public involvement and transparency of the process, any "translations" and modifications by developers will be immediately exposed.
Among the cases that I can mention is one of the projects in which I participated in Poland. The concept was developed in a participatory manner, and all key strategic actions were discussed and approved by the city's residents. Changes by designers and contractors that were proposed and announced quickly became controversial, and the project was halted within weeks. It was a decisive moment in the history of the project, the residents reacted more effectively and decisively than the urban planners and architects who participated in its development.
ISPAH Senior Program Mentor Romea Murin at CANactions School. Photo: Margo Didichenko
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: Crowdfunding, grants or public budgets — which method of financing projects is most often chosen by the initiators of ideas today? If we are talking about a social project in which there is no commercial component, is it doomed?
R. M.: In recent years, the position of crowdfunding has gradually shifted from simply an alternative option to a transition to a well-established and mature funding mechanism. Starting with a limited circle of innovators, crowdfunding steadily expanded its scope both from the point of view of investors / supporters, and from the point of view of territories for which projects and campaigns were developed. This enables funding to be requested and provided at the expense of the community, and ensures honest processes of shared decision-making, co-creation, engagement and ownership that occur among all stakeholders. The further evolution of such a mechanism is represented by the so-called citizen crowdfunding, thanks to which citizens often cooperate with the government.
The peculiarity of civic crowdfunding is that it can contribute to the emergence of a sense of belonging and belonging among those involved by contributing to the creation of social value in their territories. This can attract the attention of a wide range of public and private stakeholders, such as local and regional authorities, development agencies, banks and private foundations. Crowdfunding offers a new process in which governments can implement solutions to certain social problems with the help of non-profit organizations (NGOs) and more efficiently collect contributions from a large number of donors. It also allows for a new form of joint management.
