Faced with the growing desire of some citizens to take part in the processes transforming the city, the Catalan Association of Architects, through the Plan Impulsa “Programme for Improving Competitiveness”, hosted a conference on the active role of architects in participatory processes and the tools needed to make real participation possible, suitable and useful.

The seminars are aimed at both architects and citizens who are part of specific participatory processes or who, given their professional role in government, need to integrate participation processes into their work serving residents. They provide training with tools and methodologies for citizen participation; define appropriate conditions for carrying out citizen participation processes; promote a useful role for architects in citizen participation projects and processes; and share knowledge and coordinate initiatives.

The conference was based on three starting points. Firstly, recognising and providing context for an emerging social reality: the demand and growing desire citizens have to be part of the processes of transforming the city. The normal forms of urban and architectural design are based on a framework of interests that excludes most of the stakeholders involved and/or affected by the transformation, mainly residents and those who use the spaces. The goal of participatory processes is to include these agents in the process of urban planning and architectural design for the space.