Tactical Urbanism and Placemaking: Community-Led Urban Installation Methodologies
Stella Schroeder, PhD in Architecture and Urbanism
Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chile

This presentation contributes to WG3's objective of mapping creative, collective urban interventions by focusing on placemaking and tactical urbanism methodologies developed in primarily in South America. It highlights temporary, low-cost, and community-driven installations aimed at revitalizing underused urban spaces, promoting social inclusion, and
offering alternative forms of governance through citizen participation.

The central aim is to explore a variety of tools used in these urban interventions, while also addressing the core principles that underpin them. The methodology is framed as a process—place-led and community-based—that emphasizes local engagement and context-specific solutions.

Drawing from field experiences with tactical and semi-permanent interventions in Chile and Peru, as well as community-led events such as the Play Ames Festival in the United States, the presentation examines how ephemeral actions can generate both immediate functional benefits and long-term transformations in how communities occupy and co-manage public space.
Across these contexts, several key challenges have emerged, including the fragile nature of temporary installations, limited institutional backing, and resistance from formal planning systems. In response, initiatives have employed cross-sector collaborations, participatory design-build workshops, and the strategic use of recycled or low-impact materials to foster circularity and resilience.

This presentation offers a critical reflection on how these interventions address spatial and social inequities, strengthen grassroots governance, and generate lasting cultural value—despite their temporary character. It will also propose actionable insights and tools to support the integration of such approaches into broader urban policy frameworks, aligning with WG3’s mission to connect artistic practice, social innovation, and urban governance.