Dr Troy Innocent, Director, RMIT future play lab, presents at NDF23.

Abstract

Disruptions such as the pandemic demonstrate the need for cities to be responsive and resilient. Local green spaces, public spaces and neighbourhood streets provide support and engagement for people during periods of crisis and upheaval. Moving away from the ‘city as problem’, this talk investigates the ‘city as solution’ through creative placemaking based on urban play.

Place is resilient, diverse, and dynamic. COVID has reshaped cities, and this presents an immediate and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The pandemic has seen an unprecedented reclamation of urban space, with pedestrians taking precedence over cars. Old models of urban design and development no longer apply–temporary is the new permanent.

Play is a joyous, exciting, fun way to encourage urban inclusivity. Connection to place is now more fractured than ever due to the impact of the pandemic. Inspired by approaches such as tactical urbanism and urban play, the Future Play Lab staged over thirty public projects in post-lockdown Melbourne ranging from playful parklets to street arcades. This talk explores how these encouraged people back into public space post-pandemic and post-disaster; and how can these initiatives most effectively support economic growth and improve the social and cultural life of cities.