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Urban Planning by Experiment: Practices, Outcomes, and Impacts

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Scholl

    (Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University, The Netherlands)

  • Joop de Kraker

    (Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University, The Netherlands / Department of Environmental Sciences, Open Universiteit, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The impact of urban experimentation on urban planning approaches is so far insufficiently assessed and discussed. This thematic issue sets out to investigate the possibilities and limitations of ‘urban planning by experiment,’ defined as an approach that uses experimentation to innovate and improve urban planning instruments, approaches, and outcomes. It brings together eight contributions presenting original research on urban experimentation and its relation to urban planning. All contributions are empirically grounded in (illustrative) case studies, mostly from European cities. Here, we summarize and discuss the major findings across the eight contributions with respect to three key themes: the practices of urban experimentation, its outcomes, and its impacts on urban planning. We conclude that the practices of urban experimentation described in the contributions generated a wide variety of substantive and learning outcomes, which, according to the authors, represent worthwhile additions or alternatives to the current repertoire of approaches and instruments of urban planning. However, except for a single case, large-scale integration of experimentation in established approaches to urban planning was not observed, let alone a complete transformation of urban planning practices. An area for further research concerns the relation between the way urban experiments are organized and conducted, and their impact on urban planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Scholl & Joop de Kraker, 2021. "Urban Planning by Experiment: Practices, Outcomes, and Impacts," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 156-160.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v6:y:2021:i:1:p:156-160
    DOI: 10.17645/up.v6i1.4248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthias Wanner & Boris Bachmann & Timo von Wirth, 2021. "Contextualising Urban Experimentation: Analysing the Utopiastadt Campus Case with the Theory of Strategic Action Fields," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 235-248.
    2. Christian Scholl & René Kemp, 2016. "City Labs as Vehicles for Innovation in Urban Planning Processes," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 1(4), pages 89-102.
    3. Darren Sharp & Rob Raven, 2021. "Urban Planning by Experiment at Precinct Scale: Embracing Complexity, Ambiguity, and Multiplicity," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 195-207.
    4. James Evans & Tomáš Vácha & Henk Kok & Kelly Watson, 2021. "How Cities Learn: From Experimentation to Transformation," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 171-182.
    5. Peter Pelzer & Roger Hildingsson & Alice Herrström & Johannes Stripple, 2021. "Planning for 1000 Years: The Råängen Experiment," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 249-262.
    6. Lina Berglund-Snodgrass & Dalia Mukhtar-Landgren, 2020. "Conceptualizing Testbed Planning: Urban Planning in the Intersection between Experimental and Public Sector Logics," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(1), pages 96-106.
    7. Peter Pelzer & Roger Hildingsson & Alice Herrström & Johannes Stripple, 2021. "Planning for 1000 Years: The Råängen Experiment," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 249-262.
    8. Ramon Marrades & Philippa Collin & Michelle Catanzaro & Eveline Mussi, 2021. "Planning from Failure: Transforming a Waterfront through Experimentation in a Placemaking Living Lab," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 221-234.
    9. Christian Scholl & René Kemp, 2016. "City Labs as Vehicles for Innovation in Urban Planning Processes," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 1(4), pages 89-102.
    10. Christian Scholl & Joop de Kraker, 2021. "The Practice of Urban Experimentation in Dutch City Labs," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 161-170.
    11. Erica Eneqvist & Andrew Karvonen, 2021. "Experimental Governance and Urban Planning Futures: Five Strategic Functions for Municipalities in Local Innovation," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 183-194.
    12. Lina Berglund-Snodgrass & Dalia Mukhtar-Landgren, 2020. "Conceptualizing Testbed Planning: Urban Planning in the Intersection between Experimental and Public Sector Logics," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(1), pages 96-106.
    13. Matthias Wanner & Boris Bachmann & Timo von Wirth, 2021. "Contextualising Urban Experimentation: Analysing the Utopiastadt Campus Case with the Theory of Strategic Action Fields," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 235-248.
    14. Darren Sharp & Rob Raven, 2021. "Urban Planning by Experiment at Precinct Scale: Embracing Complexity, Ambiguity, and Multiplicity," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 195-207.
    15. Christian Scholl & Joop de Kraker, 2021. "The Practice of Urban Experimentation in Dutch City Labs," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 161-170.
    16. James Evans & Tomáš Vácha & Henk Kok & Kelly Watson, 2021. "How Cities Learn: From Experimentation to Transformation," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 171-182.
    17. Erica Eneqvist & Andrew Karvonen, 2021. "Experimental Governance and Urban Planning Futures: Five Strategic Functions for Municipalities in Local Innovation," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 183-194.
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