In the heart of Sheffield, UK, a unique experiment in urban planning is unfolding, one that could reshape how cities approach resilience and community engagement. At the center of this initiative is the concept of “urban rooms” (URs), a novel approach to fostering inclusive, participatory urban development. This research, led by Emre Akbil from the School of Architecture and Landscape at the University of Sheffield, offers a fresh perspective on how cities can tackle complex urban challenges.
Urban rooms are more than just physical spaces; they are dynamic, hybrid environments where diverse actors and citizens come together to co-create the future of their cities. As Akbil explains, “URs are place-based infrastructures and active sites of multiplicity, where diverse communities can transform the city, decentering experts in urban transformations.” This approach is not just about bringing people together; it’s about empowering them to drive change.
The study, published in the journal Buildings & Cities (translated as “Buildings & Cities”), compares the methods of urban rooms with those of urban living labs (ULLs), which also focus on urban co-production but often involve more formalized research processes. Akbil’s work reveals that while both approaches share similarities, urban rooms offer unique advantages in terms of inclusivity and community engagement.
One of the key findings of the research is the identification of new methods that make urban rooms effective. These include speculative openness, generative witnessing, and inhabiting detachments. Speculative openness encourages participants to think beyond conventional boundaries, while generative witnessing involves actively listening and learning from diverse perspectives. Inhabiting detachments, on the other hand, allows participants to step back and reflect on their roles and the broader context.
These methods are not just theoretical; they have practical implications for urban planning and governance. By engaging diverse communities in the co-production of urban knowledge, urban rooms can help address the critical challenge of inclusive community engagement. This is particularly relevant in the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
For the energy sector, the implications are significant. As cities strive to become more sustainable and resilient, the need for inclusive, community-driven approaches to energy planning and management will only grow. Urban rooms can provide a platform for engaging diverse stakeholders in the co-design of energy solutions, ensuring that these solutions are not only technically sound but also socially acceptable and equitable.
Moreover, the expanded ecology of urban rooms and urban living labs proposed by Akbil’s research could enrich the “dialogical spaces” within cities. This means creating more opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between different actors, including citizens, experts, and policymakers. Such an approach can foster a plurality of urban futures, where diverse voices and perspectives are valued and integrated into the planning process.
In the long run, this research could shape the future of urban governance and planning. By providing new tactics for engaging diverse actors and giving voice to marginalized people, urban rooms can help create more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. As Akbil puts it, “This long-term, situated, and additive practice can transform the diversity of engagement, foster a plurality of urban futures, and create novel forms of hybrid governance.”
In conclusion, the research on urban rooms offers a compelling vision for the future of urban development. By empowering communities to co-create their city futures, urban rooms can help address complex urban challenges and pave the way for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. For the energy sector, this means new opportunities for engaging communities in the co-design of energy solutions, ensuring that these solutions are not only technically sound but also socially acceptable and equitable. As cities around the world grapple with the challenges of urbanization and climate change, the insights from this research could not be more timely or relevant.