THE INTENT OF OPEN URBANISM
Integrating civil society into reflections and decisions for more inclusive and sustainable territories.
Our civilization faces unprecedented human and environmental challenges. Our way of living in the world, from villages to metropolises, must evolve. Urban planning must also evolve to fully integrate civil society into reflections and decisions to preserve a habitable world. The best way to transform our territories is to do so progressively and collectively, by multiplying inspiring projects. It's the demonstrative power of open urbanism projects, with their ability to mobilize and empower citizens, that will assist political authorities and professionals in changing urban planning.
Open urbanism proposes new paths: its principles lead to approaches that respect humanity and nature, starting at the local level. Because its subjects are defined with a wide diversity of participants and across all generations, open urbanism activates collective intelligence and involvement. It reveals qualitative and exciting opportunities, where conventional urbanism often shows blockages and a dilution of responsibilities.
Far from suggesting insularity and being limited to local scales, open urbanism approaches propose a paradigm shift inspiring at a global scale, with a worldwide connection of human creativity around unique, infinitely scalable, and adaptable solutions, because they are produced from local and sustainable resources.
Introduction
In the evolving landscape of urban development, the principles of open urbanism offer a holistic framework aimed at creating inclusive, sustainable, and adaptive territories and cities. Through fostering collaboration among all stakeholders, these principles ensure that urban planning and development are participatory, equitable, and innovative. The essence of open urbanism lies in its commitment to open innovation, distributed intelligence, and the empowerment of communities.
Principles
1. Participation: Engaging All Voices
Building trust and fostering dialogue between political authorities, experts, and civil society, emphasizing the importance of listening, respect, and progressive community engagement.
2. Inclusion: Bridging Gaps
Ensuring urbanism is inclusive by actively seeking participation from diverse community segments, emphasizing outreach and engagement in community spaces.
3. Engagement: Uniting Interests
Creating a platform where individual interests align with the public good, enhancing civic engagement through open dialogue on common concerns and aspirations.
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4. Empowerment: Unlocking Potential
Encouraging creativity and enabling all community members to contribute, by providing tools and opportunities for expression and innovation.
5. Experimentation: Prototyping Futures
Testing and implementing new ideas through small-scale experiments to address urban challenges, fostering adaptability and resilience.
6. Social Dynamics: Cultivating Community Leaders
Identifying and supporting enthusiastic individuals committed to long-term goals, harnessing their passion and knowledge for community benefit.
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7. Resilience: Building Adaptive Systems
Designing modular and evolutionary urban projects that respond to changing needs and contexts, emphasizing sustainability and flexibility.
8. Common Informational Heritage: Sharing Knowledge
Creating accessible spaces for the exchange and documentation of knowledge, promoting a shared informational heritage that inspires and informs.
9. Local + Global: Connecting Scales
Linking local initiatives to global challenges, leveraging open innovation to enhance the impact of urban interventions.
Implementing open urbanism
The principles of open urbanism present a dynamic and integrative approach to urban development, inviting a broad spectrum of stakeholders to contribute to the shaping of our cities. By embracing these principles, we can collectively navigate the complexities of modern urban living and create spaces that are resilient, inclusive, and reflective of our shared human experience. What if we engaged in a dialogue around these principles to co-imagine and co-design the sustainable territories of tomorrow?