Acting Together: Key Moments and Activities of Urban Living Labs
Paticipatory solutions emerge as essential processes in resolving urban challenges related to climate change and energy transition. Our experience has shown that innovative methods, when used to involve local actors and citizens, help ensure the longevity of energy projects.
Within the POSEIDON project -when discussing how to build participation and ensure local communities not only understood the process but were involved in it- we developed the Urban Living Labs (ULLs) concept.
The Labs function as collaborative spaces where residents, local authorities, researchers, and businesses work together on joint activities. They’re an essential part of the POSEIDON project, specifically within Work Package 4 (WP4), driving its core objectives. Furthermore, Work Package 6 (WP6) supports this work by focusing on the testing, adjustment, and validation in the six demosites across Portugal, France, Spain, Turkey, and Italy.
What is an Urban Living Lab?
The terms “co-creation” and “participation” emerge as key concepts in describing the ethos of Urban Living Labs. They’re a collective experimentation space that places residents and local stakeholders at the heart of urban design. They function as a place for exchange, learning, and social innovation, aiming to leverage local knowledge and involve everyone in co-creating projects that meet community needs.
The Factsheet Booklet: A Practical Guide
To support the implementation of these approaches, we’ve created a factsheet booklet. This handbook compiles typical activities and proven tools, facilitating the sharing of best practices and helping pilot cities choose activities.
On April 29 and 30, 2025, the City of Marseille hosted POSEIDON project partners for strategic exchanges. A highlight was the “blind date” workshop, which utilised this booklet. This session allowed participants to explore various activities and imagine their deployment during the information, activation, and implementation phases in pilot territories.
Key Urban Living Lab Activities
Some of the key activities we’ll be integrating into ULL activities include:
- Climate Fresk: A collaborative card game workshop to understand climate change causes and consequences based on IPCC reports. It builds awareness and encourages local action.
- Film Festival: A cultural initiative screening documentaries and films on ecological transition to raise awareness, spark reflection, and foster debate among a broad audience.
- Kick-off Mapping: An interactive workshop where participants collectively map actors, projects, needs, and expectations related to ecological transition in their area. It helps create a shared vision and co-construct action priorities.
- Urban Walk: A themed walk (foot or bike) through an urban neighborhood to observe and discuss social, economic, and environmental dynamics, promoting territorial ownership and citizen participation.
- Energy Lab: An experimentation space for co-creating innovative sustainable energy solutions. It includes workshops, demonstrations, and expert exchanges to accelerate local energy transition.
The priority to place actors, residents, associations, institutions, researchers, and companies at the core of the urban innovation lies at the heart of Urban Living Labs. The diverse activities and programming we’ve curated offer concrete ways to get involved, share knowledge, and co-create tailored solutions, ensuring projects are developed with citizens and local actors. We’re adamant the process will guarantee stronger local ownership and long-term sustainability.