Abstract

In the dynamic evolution of urban development, nomadic communities, through temporary adaptive reuse, emerge as a transformative force, reshaping abandoned spaces into vibrant and meaningful places. The HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01 NOMAD research project, "Nomad Management of Urban Development - The Complex Value of Temporary Communities," explores the impacts of temporary uses and the pivotal role of urban nomads in urban regeneration processes.
In particular, the Nomad research focuses on different cases of experimental temporality (Madanipour, 2017). Experimental temporary uses can generate changes in urban services and atmosphere, encompassing social, cultural, and economic factors. But while temporary communities often develop sustainable practices, generate urban values, and serve as subjects of experimentation and research, the values they co-create and co-produce are often not considered in real estate valuation practices and are overlooked in the context of urban regeneration. The Nomad research is investigating the complex social values (Fusco Girard and Nijkamp, 1997; Cerreta, 2010) that are co-produced by urban nomads through temporary uses, in a perspective where well-being and quality of life are achieved temporarily and without the goal of economic growth.
In this context, this study poses the question: How can we assess the complex social values generated by experimental temporary uses?
Developing temporary adaptive uses, urban nomads constitute communities of practices that play a crucial role in resignifying abandoned spaces by infusing them with social values like mutualism, a sense of belonging, social cohesion, and resource-sharing. According to the duration of temporary occupation and the kind of uses, places produce multiple values, that are social, cultural, economic and environmental, not only for the temporary community and the buildings but also for the surrounding area. The research methodological approach is applied by examining some temporary use experiences, at different scales developed in different time spans. The case comparison draws insights from the comparison of temporary use characteristics, urban services and atmosphere change from significant experiences in Paris, Brussels, and Rotterdam. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis of temporary use processes use information collected directly from involved actors and open-source data. A Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation (Munda, 2004) of similar practices is applied for an ex-post impact assessment that includes multi-criteria and multi-group analysis.
Thus, the investigation aims to unravel the multidimensional values generated by the temporary adaptive reuse by urban communities composed of various actors with different resources. The community use process involves diverse groups of actors, from local communities and public institutions to property owners of unused spaces, urban activists, and citizens. Their collaboration facilitated through agreements and negotiations, impacts the management, use, and life of buildings and surrounding neighbourhoods. Striking a balance between public and private interests, these interactions contribute to creating a more vibrant and inclusive urban environment, albeit with several challenges and issues. 
The findings show how experimental temporality holds both potential and paradoxes for a post-growth city and aim to identify useful insights for practitioners and policy-makers.

References

Madanipour, A. (2017). Cities in Time: Temporary Urbanism and the Future of the City. New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

Fusco Girard, L & Nijkamp, P. (1997). Le valutazioni per lo sviluppo sostenibile della città e del territorio. Franco Angeli, Milano.

Cerreta, M. (2010) 'Thinking through Complex Values', in M. Cerreta, G., Concilio, V., Monno, (eds.) Making Strategies in Spatial Planning, Knowledge and Values, vol. 9, Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 381–404.

Munda, G. (2004). Social multi-criteria evaluation: Methodological foundations and operational consequences. European journal of operational research, 158(3), 662-677.

Abstract

Temporary placemaking through adaptive reuse is an evolving urban practice, originally stemming from informal occupations and progressively becoming more integrated into the planning and management of temporary unused properties. It arises through the organization of communities, more or less spontaneously, coming together to transform abandoned spaces into active and meaningful places. While these communities contribute to placemaking, they generate urban values that we can refer to as "nomadic values." This article, as part of the research project HORIZONMSCA- 2022-PF-01 NOMAD - Nomad Management of Urban Development - The complex value of temporary communities, explores how these communities play a part in redefining the urban environment within a specific timeframe of use and management of buildings and spaces in transition. This paper aims to answer the following research question: How do temporary communities engaged in temporary adaptive reuse contribute to the redefinition of urban environments by generating nomadic values? Within this analysis, various forms of resources and urban capital are examined, including social, cultural, and economic capital, all of which contribute to resignifying abandoned spaces and transforming them into places where new values are brought forth. Social capital emerges through a sense of belonging, social cohesion, and resource-sharing, while cultural capital is manifested through the enhancement of knowledge, art, traditions, and culture.Economic capital can be generated through the attraction of small or large investments, the establishment of small businesses, or the increase in the real estate value of the site and its surrounding area. The process of reactivation and placemaking involves a multitude of actors, including local communities, public institutions, property owners of unused spaces, urban activists, and citizens. These actors collaborate, often through agreements and negotiations that impact the management, use, and life of buildings and spaces. This interaction can lead to a balance between public and private interests, contributing to the creation of more vibrant and inclusive places, although challenges and issues are not uncommon. Through the comparison and analysis of active and past cases in Rotterdam and Brussels, this contribution aims to explore how temporary communities can generate a complex network of urban values involving various actors and resources and where these values manifest. This comparison is carried out through data analysis and maps of temporary placemaking processes, using both data collected from actors directly involved in temporary uses, as well as open-source information. By highlighting the nomadic values this research aims to better understand the impacts of temporary adaptive reuse through commons, facilitating dialogue among actors in decision-making processes, and promoting the availability of unused spaces as temporary places open to new possibilities while highlighting the challenges at hand.

Abstract

The TREAT workshop aims at providing a platform for participants to critically assess the impacts of temporary use and adaptive reuse within urban environments, considering the temporal dimension and different scales. Understanding how urban spaces evolve over time can open new perspectives for more sustainable and adaptive urban transformations. Being one specific type of adaptive reuse, short-term interventions can have long-lasting urban effects and impacts.
The workshop aims to explore decision-making processes for temporary use strategies, the effects and impacts of temporary management, and how monitoring and evaluation tools can facilitate stakeholders involved in a temporary use process development and implementation to foster creativity and collaboration, and make the values produced evident.
Thus, the primary goal of this workshop is to foster a comprehensive understanding of how to deal with the challenges and opportunities inherent to the temporary use and adaptive reuse of public or private real estate at different scales, in urban (re)development and regeneration. For this purpose, TREAT workshop aims to explore new approaches, methodologies, methods, and tools for evaluating the impacts of uses and adaptive reuse processes within urban spaces, considering their effects over time.

The proposed studies, cases and experiences should consider:

• Innovative methodologies to delve into the collection, analysis, and/or visualization of data related to temporary uses and adaptive reuse.
• Exploring the role of urban actors and local communities, and their involvement in the planning of temporary uses and adaptive reuse. Emphasizing the importance of participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement in urban development and real estate management, ensuring to integrate community perspectives in decision-making.
• Sustainability and circularity, considering how temporary uses and adaptive reuse can contribute to the sustainability and circularity of urban areas
• Data integration to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating various data sources, such as geospatial data, social data, and economic data, to provide a holistic view of the impacts of temporary uses and adaptive reuses.
Starting from these research themes, the TREAT workshop aims to be a place of knowledge, confrontation and plural discussion among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Keywords

Real estate management, temporary use, adaptive reuse, urban analysis, impact assessment, multidimensional evaluation, community, new urban actors.

Organizers

Chiara Mazzarella TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Department of Management in the Built Environment (Netherlands).
Hilde Remoy TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Department of Management in the Built Environment (Netherlands).
Maria Cerreta University of Naples Federico II, Polytechnic School of Basic Sciences, Department of Architecture (Italy).

Abstract

This study delves into the significance of temporary uses initiated by non-profit entities in vacant real estate assets, with a particular focus on the diverse benefits arising from community management. Certain non-profit entities serve as intermediaries between urban communities and property owners, facilitating the temporary utilization of real estate. Through these initiatives, a variety of activities are activated, thereby enhancing community engagement, social cohesion, and local initiatives. However, traditional valuation methods often fail to fully capture the values derived from such endeavors, which encompass social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. To address this gap, the research employs a methodology that blends qualitative assessments with quantitative analyses to comprehensively evaluate the value of experimental temporary uses. By integrating qualitative assessments such as community impact evaluations and stakeholder engagement with quantitative metrics like economic impact analysis, a more holistic understanding of the multidimensional value of these temporary uses is attained. The beneficiaries of these values are diverse, spanning various sectors including the local community, residents, businesses, and policymakers. Community-driven initiatives significantly contribute to social cohesion, cultural enrichment, and environmental sustainability, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life in the neighborhood. Businesses may experience benefits such as increased foot traffic and heightened consumer engagement resulting from community activities. Policymakers and urban planners can leverage insights from this study to inform decision-making processes, urban development strategies, and policies that acknowledge the pivotal role of temporary communities in creating value from vacant spaces and revitalizing neighborhoods. Through the integration of diverse perspectives and valuation techniques, this study aims to explore the multiple outcomes of community-managed temporary uses in vacant real estate. Understanding and quantifying the multidimensional values generated by non-profit-led initiatives can inform policy decisions, urban planning strategies, and real estate development practices to recognize the agency of temporary communities in creating value from vacancies and enhancing the neighborhood.