Temporary temporariness? The (mis)use of tactical urbanism from the ‘open city’ framework

Lina Naoroz Bråten

Urban Studies, 2025, vol. 62, issue 5, 809-827

Abstract: This paper discusses how Tactical Urbanism aligns with the principles of the ‘open city’ framework. The ‘open city’ is often theorised as the urban condition that best welcomes diverse and flexible use of a city’s public spaces. However, the nature of the planning system at its core is to control and predict urban development, thereby effectively reinforcing the principle of a ‘closed city’ with more fixed and rigid forms. One counter-reaction to the ‘closed city’ is the Tactical Urbanism movement, which applies principles of simple, low-cost, and often temporary public space interventions to achieve and accelerate change. Such interventions can create more ‘open’ and inclusive urban environments, enabling diversity and flexibility. However, Tactical Urbanism is applied in multiple forms by different actors with varying intentions and goals. In this paper, I question the role of Tactical Urbanism in congruence with the theoretical framework of the ‘open (and vibrant) city’, drawing attention to how tactical interventions are used to brand new development projects. Doing so, I ask if Tactical Urbanism can be (mis)used merely as ‘temporary temporariness’ to serve top-down planning strategies, resulting in the ‘closed city’.

Keywords: neoliberal development; open city; public space; tactical urbanism; urban design; æ–°è‡ªç”±ä¸»ä¹‰å ‘å±•; 开放城市; 公共空间; 战术城市化; 城市设计 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:62:y:2025:i:5:p:809-827

DOI: 10.1177/00420980241263436

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