Place-dissonance: Addressing contemporary urban design practices in small medium-sized cities

Abstract

A relevant set of contemporary urban design practices, such as placemaking, temporary urbanism or participatory practices, present novel perspectives on how public spaces are conceived, managed and experienced. These approaches, which include tactic, low-cost, small-scale actions, bottom-up initiatives and different types of community participation, respond to claims for more flexible, open and inclusive ways of making and designing spaces in contrast to the rigidity of formal planning schemes and developments. They also present potential for questioning established practices, experimenting and innovating, or addressing transition or emergencies. (Andres & Zhang, 2020; Madanipour, 2017). Many of the experiences have initially been developed by the initiative of artists, architects, urban designers or local associations and collectives, but the adoption of these practices has spread among city agents, such as municipalities and planning authorities, or even private actors, that recognise its relevance and usefulness. Accordingly, projects with these approaches can be found across all territorial contexts, from large to small cities or even rural areas, with various scales and lengths.