Past Present and Future of Public Space 2024

During 25-27th of June 2024, Matteo Cappello attended the international conference “Past Present and Future of Public Space 2024” promoted by City Space Architecture, in Bologna, to present the article “Towards Creative Urban Spaces: Empowering Citizens through Self-Production in Urban Public Spaces. The WIP Community Lab Experience”, in co-authorship with Serena De Dominicis, Alessia Allegri and Rita Ochoa. The presentation focused on the third phase of Intermittent City project, deepening into one of the activities that have been designed and implemented for this phase of the research.

More information at City Space Architecture website

Abstract:
This paper is about the “Intermittent City” project, which explores the transformative potential of temporary and shared uses in Lisbon’s public spaces. It presents the project’s three-phases approach: recognition and mapping of Intermittent Practices (IPs), analysis and discussion, and development of tools for urban transformation.The research highlights the importance of collaborative and multidisciplinary methods and stakeholder engagement, involving citizens, universities and municipalities to ensure effective urban interventions. The project outputs offer valuable insights and replicable models for adapting the city to the intermittent rhythm that citizens’ lives are assuming. Key features are interdisciplinarity and collaborative design which are practices that can lead to unexpected and creative projectual solutions, capable of generating dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments. The project includes a series of practical actions in the fields addressed by the research, which reimagine urban policies through temporary transformations of urban spaces.
Central to this paper is the conception of Community Labs, consisting in the temporary occupation of a public space with a mobile station for self-production, through participatory design methods. Drawing from the ideas of conviviality and degrowth, the project aims to foster non-commercial relationships and enhance social and environmental sustainability in urban spaces. The integration of digital tools supports community engagement and the long-term relevance of these interventions. This last initiative addresses urgent urban challenges while contributing to broader goals of social equity and environmental stewardship. The aim is to open a path for navigating the complexities of urban transformation in the 21st century, fostering social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and community resilience. Through these efforts, the project sets a precedent for how urban spaces can adapt to the evolving needs of society.

The paper has been written in collaboration with Serena De Dominicis (Centro Studi Mafai Raphaël, Rome), Alessia Allegri (CIAUD-FA-ULisboa) and Rita Ochoa (CIAUD.UBI).

Full paper is available here