Project Overview

Pop-up urban renewal projects are inspiring neighbours to get to know each other, and effect lasting change, thanks to the Rapid Urban Revitalisation toolkit. The toolkit contains over 100 fun and playful ways to transform your neighbourhood in a weekend.

Download the free toolkit here:
http://issuu.com/impactbydesign/docs/flashcards_final_review

Watch this 2 minute Documentary from Architel.tv:
http://architel.tv/episode-32-rapid-urban-revitalisation/

Organisation

CoDesign Studio

Team

Lucinda Hartley

Nathan Collins
Melanie Buettikofer
Cate Davey
Maggie Lokic
Kerli Valk

Project Brief

When it comes to neighbourhood improvement, the community should be involved. However sometimes its hard to know where to begin. In response to this, CoDesign Studio has created a simple toolkit to inspire ideas for local communities to give their street or local park a facelift. Rapid Urban Revitalisation projects are fast, fun and low-cost ways to create physical improvements for spaces, while also building much-needed community connection.

The self-initiated project came about as part of the Sustainable Living Festival, where CoDesign sought ways not just to run an event, but to leave the urban environment better than we found it. The toolkit contains fun suggestions for how to connect with your neighbours, organise change, understand physical spaces and make simple improvements.

Since this initial project, the toolkit has been used to transform streets and public spaces across Australia, and has catalysed a wider conversation about how pop-up renewal projects can change the way we create cities.

Project Innovation/Need

The Rapid Urban Revitalisation Toolkit provides over 100 innovative tools to engage local community members in the redefining of their spaces, including the use of ubiquitous and cheap everyday materials such as sticky notes, plastic bags, streamers and chalk. The toolkit suggests that every-day materials that you probably have lying around the house, could be the starting point for neighbourhood renewal.

Traditionally neighbourhood development is characterised by top-down processes, large budgets and long time frames. The Rapid Urban Revitalisation toolkit enables ways for citizens to be part of creating the city too, from the ground up.

Time-poor residents often realise something needs to be done about the ugly or underused spaces in their neighbourhood, but taking action can seem daunting. The Rapid Urban Revitalisation toolkit asks local communities to be their own architect, planner or designer.

Design Challenge

Rapid Urban Revitalisation projects are intended to be a stepping stone towards long-term change. They aim to build community momentum and support for bigger and better projects.
The challenge is making sure that these projects follow through.

Rapid Urban Revitalisation is not about having a street party, it's about community building. This takes time. In some instances there may need to be a series of projects, or more permanent changes.

Ensuring a long-term mindset is the key challenge. Yet in many communities already this has been successful. In Southbank in Melbourne, a local pilot street closure has led to support for a permanent park. In other places, a 'pop up' chalk pedestrian crossing has been permanently installed.

Short-term action can lead to long-term change.

Future Impact

The aim of the toolkit is to unravel complex planning processes, and make neighbourhood development fun and easy. It is a set of simple flashcards that contain:
- Methods for getting the community together
- Materials you might have to get started
- Activities to get the ball rolling

The toolkit has been downloaded in over 20 countries, and has been used to inspire pop up projects across Australia.

Rapid urban revitalisation projects have been used to demonstrate a range of changes in local communities such as improving walkability, creating edible landscapes, increasing green spaces and building social capital, without the need for heavy infrastructure and long term planning policies.

Media:
The Age, September 2013 - Community Leaps at the Chance
http://news.domain.com.au/domain/real-estate-news/community-leaps-at-the-chance-20130912-2tmvt.html