Retrofitting Postwar Suburbs: A Collaborative Design Process

Abstract

This chapter reports on the transdisciplinary process initiated, structured and orchestrated by the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Suburbs (GIRBa) between September 2002 and November 2003 with the goal of redefining the future of postwar neighbourhoods in the City of Québec.

The developed methodology combined scientific analysis, action research and participatory design in an effort to identify which urban design and planning solutions could have a positive impact on the vitality of aging suburbs. Its successive phases involved a diagnosis of the demographic, physical and social characteristics of postwar suburbs, the definition of general orientations and objectives for retrofitting these suburbs, and the elaboration of a strategic revitalisation plan along with an implementation strategy.

The first part of the chapter explains the context and motivations behind this transdisciplinary approach and briefly discusses the theoretical underpinnings that guided our work, namely Jürgen Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action. The next section describes the structure and execution of the 15-month collaborative process. The last part reports on the results of an Internet based survey that sought to evaluate participants’ perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the collaborative exercise.

Preliminary findings indicate that the process led participants to reach and share a better understanding of postwar suburbs, as well as to increase their capacity for action as professionals. Numerous aspects of the reflection on the future of postwar suburbs were also integrated into government planning policies, from the municipal to the provincial levels.