teens open space

Best Practice

Topics

• New forms of decision-making
• Governance capacity

Short description

The teens_open_space is a participatory open space planning regarding to teenage interests. Teenagers have the opportunity to take over space in their environment. They can express their criticism and ideas regarding their most used urban spaces in so-called 'city walks'. In planning workshops teenagers are encouraged to express their utopias and ideas by re-designing their chosen spaces.

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Project executive

The project is directed by Karin Standler, Landscape Planner. Partners are: Verein Rettet das Kind Vienna, Municipality of Graz, Municipality of Bruck/Mur, Municipality of Linz, Municipality of Steyr, Ringbrotwerke Linz, Sport Eybl Linz, Gardening School of Piestany, Gardening School of Malinovo, Verein ISI (Initiativen für soziale Integration, Streetwork), Kulturplattform Oberösterreich, Region Eferding, Communities Aschach, Buchkirchen, Eferding, Fraham, Haibach, Hartkirchen, Hinzenbach, Prabachkirchen, Pupping, Scharten

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Participants

teenagers from Linz, Vienna, Graz, Bruck/Mur, Steyr, Piestany and Malinovo at the age from 15-25

Objectives

The project aims at including teenagers in planning processes as actors and contributing to the future development of urban areas. The knowledge of teenagers as users of urban areas and free spaces is of high importance but mostly not used. Planning does often not include all interests. Special interest of teenagers, the users of these areas, are often neglected.

Activities

planning workshops, City_line youth conference, city walks to favourite locations and 'scary' locations, film art work, networking and education for streetworkers and planners

Process

Teens_open_space is a multi-level participation process. Within four teenager workshops requirements and ideas for free spaces in the cities are registered, ideas how to re-design these spaces are developed. Then political demands for implementation are formulated and in the end new areas and free spaces are built. At the same time participation is fixed in the administration offices, organisations, streetworking.

Results

The four workshops took place within 6 months: (1) city walks to favourite and 'scary' locations (teenagers show planners their favourite and hated places, analyse of sojourne quality and deficiency, documentation, ideas for amelioration), (2) Planning workshop (concepts for new spaces under instruction of a landscape planner, modelling), (3) city_line (The city_line youth conference gives teenagers the possibility to discuss with politicians and officials. The teenagers bring their arguments, ideas and projects.), (4) construction work shop (Selected elements of the planning workshop are finalised by landscape planners. Teenagers help implementing and realising their ideas and build their new free spaces. This work is documented in a film.) (5) Film (Film and Internet project by teenagers), (5) networking (having contacts between several official departments, co-operation), (6) education (Streetworkers and mobile youth workers are working in the free spaces. They are a organ for teenagers. Teens_open_space give them the possibility to stregthen their position of intervening.)

Evaluation

The project was not evaluated.

Difficulties

In some cities (f.e. Linz) the projects of the teenagers were not realised although a realisation was promised!

Budget

80.000 EUR (EU-funds only) (Euro)

Financial backer

EU Commission's Youth Programme, Municipalities of Vienna, Linz, Graz, Steyr, Bruck/Mur in Austria and Malinovo and Piestany in Slovakia

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.teensopenspace.at

Publication

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Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

The project teens_open_space deals with free spaces in urban areas. Children and teenagers living in bigger cities do often not have the possibility to play in the woods or to spend their spare time at natural sites. Planning their own free spaces gives them a new view to landscape and urban areas, shows the importance of movement and playing. In times of early health problems movement plays an important role for sustaining healthy living conditions.

Economic value added

Existing free spaces are re-designed, attractive communication areas are built, new outdoor furniture is selected, new areas for movement are installed.

Socio-cultural value added

Public spaces are used especially by teenagers and have an impact on their social career. Wishes of children and teenagers are often neglected, the project shows how important these wishes are and how less planners and officials know about planning measures for young people.

Innovative content

New forms of urban development should be established by indroducing teenagers in planning processes. The interdisciplinary formation of the team is new, synergetic effects can be gained.

Good governance

Hundreds of teenagers are involved in this project. They are present from the beginning on and have the possibility to postulate their interests and ideas at a conference with politicians and officials.

PR impact

film teens_open_space, internet, radio FRO

Multiplier effect / networking

The project aims at educating officials and other responsible persons. There was an exchange beween the participating cities.

Transferability

The project took place in Linz, Graz, Vienna, Steyr, Bruck/Mur, Malinovo and Piestany. The project can be applied to other urban areas or even smaller communities, political and official will presumed. The methods like city walks, workshops or city_line are independent and can be implemented in other areas.

Remarks

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