Producing collaborative public space

Abstract

This chapter discusses the role of collaborative practices for the production of public spaces. The growing complexity of urban contexts, due to changes in the production model and in urban activities is a challenge for scholars, technicians and residents. In this context collaborative practices have been a common approach in urban interventions in the last decades. The text presents eight editions of the project Laboratory of Intervention in Architecture in situ/, from 2012 to 2018. It is a project of intervention in local public spaces with the partnerships of the Municipality of Almada and numerous local institutions, using collaborative practices as methodological approach. In situ/ is also a learning process, as it is coordinated by a research centre, and has a strong concern with the educational aspects of these living labs and with urban research. Different research themes have been addressed – such as informal neighbourhoods, old industrial areas or coastal environmental protection – but they all have a common ground: how can communities (be they academic, local or institutional) contribute to solve territorial problems in transitional urban contexts using public space as a mediation and negotiation tool? In situ/ projects aim to promote innovative teaching and learning experiences outside the academic context, in multidisciplinary and diverse social and cultural contexts, but also to investigate issues of the city in transition and intervene in real contexts of action, promoting diversified partnerships with local entities, designing and building solutions to the challenges of contemporary metropolitan contexts, thus contributing to improve the quality of life of the populations. Along the same lines, this chapter aims to present the laboratories’ methodological approach, focusing on the organizational aspects, the importance of all the actors involved and of the learning experience.