Participatory Urban Innovation: Bridging Communities Through Asset-Based Planning

Last week marked a significant milestone in our journey of participatory urban development as I joined the distinguished panel at the 23rd OIDP - International Observatory on Participatory Democracy Conference in Valongo, Portugal. This remarkable gathering, part of the Participation4All Local4Action Hub Valongo initiative, brought together minds dedicated to reshaping urban spaces through community engagement.

As a co-founder of Mammute Urban Innovation Studio, I had the honor of presenting our transformative work in Iran, particularly focusing on our "MardumShahr" project – a name that aptly translates to "People's City" in Persian. Over the past five years, we've been pioneering new approaches to participatory urban planning, and our presentation highlighted how we've successfully integrated community voices into urban development processes.

The heart of our presentation centered on our innovative work around the historic Portuguese castle in Qeshm City, where we've developed a unique methodology that weaves together storytelling sessions, community dialogues, and interactive workshops. This approach has enabled us to not just identify community assets and challenges but to create solutions that truly resonate with local needs. Our method has led to the development of a comprehensive framework that promotes 24-hour street activation, integrated pedestrian networks, efficient transport systems, and the strategic connection of seven public spaces into a vibrant social network.

What made this conference particularly enriching was its role as a platform for international knowledge exchange. The initiative, promoted by Município de Valongo and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) , with the valuable support of Universidade de Aveiro , created an environment ripe for sharing insights and best practices in participatory democracy and urban development.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Professor José Carlos Mota for the invitation to participate in this enlightening conference. The experience has not only validated our approach at Mammute Urban Innovation Studio (MUIS) but has also provided fresh perspectives that will undoubtedly enhance our future projects in participatory urban planning across Iran.

As we continue our work in transforming urban spaces through community engagement, the insights and connections made at the OIDP conference will serve as valuable guideposts. They remind us that successful urban development is not just about building structures, but about creating spaces that truly reflect and serve their communities.

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