PARTICIPATORY PLANNING AND DESIGN
At the core of our approach and vision is the promotion of Participatory Planning/Design. This concept includes methodologies, tools and practices that involve social groups and communities in the strategic and management processes of public space design. It is not just a matter of consultation on laws or studies but of a substantive, equal and inclusive process of participation and co-decision.
Although in Greece there is a strong participation of the different social groups in the political sphere, the introduction of methods and tools for participatory planning/design is still under development. However, commonspace has played a pioneering role in entering such practices through its rich experience and research interests. We provide innovative and specialized participative design services across all spatial scales regarding different themes.
Participatory Planning of Public Space
Users of public space must be actively involved during all phase of the design process. The public space is not a simple reception of our day-to-day activities, but “our place” – a place of community building and social life. Therefore, the needs and visions of citizens must be integral part of the design process.
Participatory Planning Platforms
The development of new technologies gives enormous potential for a broad implementation of participatory processes in the design of public space and the overall operation of the city. One of the most important and innovative projects we are involved in, is the "Integrated Spatial Decision Making and Participatory Planning System - ppCITY" funded by “GS Research and Technology” of the Greek State. The project aims at the development of an Integrated Spatial Decision Making & PP system for designing and monitoring projects and other actions at different scales (neighborhood-wide or/and city-wide), centered on citizenship, environment and quality of life.
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Participatory Design in Schools
Schools can play a vital role in participatory design process. By co-creating public space, users (including students, teachers and parents) engage more with an “intimate place”, a place that is theirs. In this sense, the school environment becomes friendlier and the learning process more familiar and involving.
Τhe participatory planning program in schools is one of the basic services provided for years by commonspace. For our work we have received a special endorsement by the Institute for Educational Policy - Ministry of Education.
Participatory Design Program - 1st Lyceum of Chania, Crete
Participatory Design Program - 1st Lyceum of Agios Dimitrios, Athens
The school yard of the 13th Kindergarten and the 7th Primary School of the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi is the first school yard in the country that has been built on the projects developed by the participatory design program that was implemented in the school year 2015-2016.
A special and completely successful experience was the participatory design program at the Second Chance School of the Trikala jail house with the active involvement and participation of the students/prisoners.
Participatory Planning and Sustainable Development
Participatory planning is a key framework and methodology for designing sustainable development plans and strategies at local, municipal and regional level. It includes consultation procedures as well as multiple methods of collective identification of the site, co-ordination of priorities and strategies among residents, specialists - scientists and institutional bodies.
Collaboration of commonspace and “Management Organisation Unit Of Development Programmes SA” for the creation of a development model for Gavdos island through participatory planning
Co-production of Public Policies - Conflict Resolution - Search for Synergies
Participatory planning methods can be applied across a wide range of subjects, depending on the target and the stakeholders involved. Commonspace has developed and implemented specialized methodologies for participation and consultation in a series of public policy-related projects, discussion and conflict resolution workshops (e.g. on environmental issues), collaborative workshops and more.
