OpenIDEO - How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline? - Inspiration

The Challenge

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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline?

Inspiration 894 inspirations

Concepting 329 concepts

Applause 329 final concepts

Refinement 20 final concepts

Evaluation 20 final concepts

Winning Concepts Announced!

Realisation Ongoing

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Mission #1

Explore Vibrancy

Share your definition of what vibrancy looks like where you live. Find out more...

Mission #2

Share Stories

Tell us about the cities and communities you know are currently struggling or in the process of revitalising.

Mission #3

Get Active

Take some time to get active and explore your own community – then report back what you learned. Find out more...

Mission #4

Collect Insights

Interview someone living in a struggling city or region to learn more. Find out more...

Mission #5

Surprise Us

Got an Inspiration that doesn't fit the other Missions? Find out more...

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Mission #2 Share Stories

Find the Cultural roots of the place

When a place is gradually loosing its vitality, they should try to find it's own cultural roots and try to manifest its unique values.

Take the old veteran district in Taiwan for example, most of the younger generation moved out, and with the new development in urban planning, most of these districts are being removed and demolished. Some district were preserved and given a new cultural meaning, and became an art district. Enabling the public to relive the old days, to remember the era, and to embrace the future.

Mission #2 Share Stories

Comments

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Szu-Yin Lin

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December 04, 2011, 12:47PM

Thank you everyone for the comments :)
I visited the place I mentioned in the post last weekend, and really met some people living in the area. They are really building the community and getting involved, also I think only when the residence are willing to take initiative, they will be more open and welcoming to visitors - that's how vibrancy comes back

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Paul Reader

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December 04, 2011, 10:49AM

I agree that this is very important. It must be done with the present culture in mind too - mobility is a regular feature of modern cities. The most important people to consult in the process are those currently inhabiting the area. Giving them the opportunity to express its uniqueness and building on that will produce the most harmonious results.

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michelle jackson

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December 03, 2011, 11:27PM

I agree in taking a historical look at place to reveal culture, uniqueness as well as to understand what parts of the community's system already work/worked and incorporating that into its revitalization design.

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Alicia Riley

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December 03, 2011, 11:08PM

I love this idea! I think that some great answers to the question of which direction to take in revitalization can be found by looking to a city's cultural histories and neighborhood folklore. One of the main challenges I see in effort to revitalize cities is how to move toward positive change without painting over the local culture and history.

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John Reuter

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November 29, 2011, 07:02PM

I like the emphasis on finding the uniqueness of a place. Ties in nicely with some of the inspirations swirling around focused on historic preservation and reuse.

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