CIVIC DISCOURSE AND SPACE ACTIVATION AS A COLLABORATIVE CITY-BUILDING PROCESS

Abstract

With tactical urbanism, we utilize a method that involves citizens by taking a hands-on approach to the city-building process. The undertaken, short-term transformation through co-created projects builds on existing individual and collective identities. Applying tactical urbanism to the public realm will shift current perceptions of a space from a service to a collaborative venture that enables engagement for all persons. Together, a NEXT Calgary is created. The outreach for this project focuses on the public and civic discourse, specifically addressing the conversations about the built environmental in Calgary, AB. This paper will provide examples on how tactical urbanism was implemented across Calgary whether through little surprises woven into the urban fabric or how the project allowed Calgarians to (re)connect with the everyday. There are two angles to this approach. One is the public perspective and how the public related to the work, and the other angle is the official perspective of how bodies and the city have grudgingly come along the journey.