Have you ever heard about tactical urbanism? Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, cities are facing enormous challenges that had to be answered with quick planning solutions. Nevertheless, this also entails new opportunities for a different perception of public urban space. The pandemic highlights the importance of accessible green space in our dense city structures and tactical urbanism can be a creative tool to revitalize public spaces.

Due to the number of people working from home, the use of public transport and traffic volume decreased – yet therefore creating possibilities to test new models. For example, many cities set up temporary low-budget solutions such as pop-up bike lanes, turned pavement into plazas and used better block initiatives to adapt urban space to the new requirements. These practices of minimal cost and time are referred to as tactical urbanism. Other commonly used terms are guerrilla urbanism, pop-up urbanism, do-it-yourself urbanism– all of them having in common that they are short-term actions for long-term change.

“Tactical Urbanism is used by a range of actors, including governments, business and non-profits, citizen groups, and individuals. It makes use of open and iterative development processes, the efficient use of resources, and the creative potential unleashed by social interaction. It is what Professor Nabeel Hamdi calls making plans without the usual preponderance of planning.”

― Mike Lydon, co-author of the book Tactical Urbanism

Objectives

The aim of this insight session is to raise awareness and exchange on the potential of tactical urbanism as an experimental low-budget approach. It will present insights and lessons learnt from municipal good practices that will serve as inspiration. Furthermore, we will discuss how you as urban practitioners can embrace the concept of tactical urbanism as a possibility to extend your urban planning practices.

Participation and contact

The Insight Session will take place on Wednesday, 16^th February 2022, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET. The event is addressed to urban practitioners from local government as well as from academia, the private sector and civil society.

For further information and registration, please visit our Connective Cities Community: Insight Session: Planning by doing - Tactical Urbanism during the COVID-19 pandemic | Connective Cities Network (connective-cities.net).

If you have any further questions about the programme or your participation, please do not hesitate to contact us: julius.sax(at)giz.de  /  lina.kratz(at)giz.de

Videoconference-Software: Big Blue Button

Conference language: English