Socially driven urban transformations

This article investigates transformation as a sequence of activities that has the power to change certain urban situations, their physical constituents, existing social relations, and engagement. The analysis of selected grassroots initiatives is framed by the concept of hetorotopia, participatory design, and co-evolutionary planning and it centres around community-driven trans-formation processes. Sometimes social actors initiate a bigger urban change (e.g. Powerhouse Banglatown in Detroit, Michigan) or revitalize dysfunc-tional urban space (e.g. Rundhøj Turning Point in Aarhus, Denmark). At other times transformation connects seemingly separate actors in a strong community, which, by reusing abandoned buildings, redefines the citizen engagement and urban development strategies (e.g. Haus der Statistik in Berlin, Germany). These transformation processes are analysed as dynamic situations in an urban structure that is in a perpetual state of becoming, shaped by new encounters of social actors. The investigation of mentioned transformation processes discusses the role of the community and its ability to foster the change. Moreover, it explores a variety of user-centred design strategies and commoning methods necessary to develop critical elements of sustainable architecture: a sense of ownership, social engagement, and, finally, participation in altered public space.