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

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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

Understanding life cycles of vibrancy

Vibrant places pop up and disappear periodically in big cities, they have a life cycle. Can we learn from these periodical patterns and apply them on different scales, in different contexts?

In London, there is always a corner which buzzes, which radiates and attracts people. And it almost always was a deprived corner of the city before and becomes a middle class residential area afterwards (if you are lucky, if not, it becomes a tourist attraction). For example, London's East End used to be very poor, and in parts still is, but areas like Brick Lane made it big time. It first became a less well known hangout for creatives in need of cheap rent and (head) space. Then things started to "happen" there, businesses moved in and, for better of worse, it became a hip place. The artists moved on.

What is almost always true in these cycles, is that it is the creative potential in an area that triggers the change. So, is there a way we can apply this to bigger problems like Detroit? How could we attract creative minds into urban wastelands? Why would they want to go there? Offering them an empty canvas? How could we make it sustainable?

I was very much inspired by a TED talk that is highly relevant for this challange: Emily Pilloton: Teaching design for change (http://www.ted.com/talks/emily_pilloton_teaching_design_for_change.html)

Mission #2 Share Stories

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Meena Kadri

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November 09, 2011, 08:01PM

Nice one, Chris. Also brings to mind Richard Florida's writing on the Rise of the Creative Class.

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Ronan Harrington's reply to Meena Kadri's comment

Ronan Harrington

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November 30, 2011, 05:37PM

The ebb and flow of vibrancy. Like it.

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Braden Miskin

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November 09, 2011, 07:40PM

It's one thing to rebuild a community that has fallen apart, it's another thing to keep to vibrant. I agree that it's important to have the long-term in mind.

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Jenny Jin's reply to Meena Kadri's comment

Jenny Jin

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November 24, 2011, 03:58PM

Great research topic! But keeping in mind the different challenges between people's mobility between neighborhoods (which are more accessible and thus trend-receptive) vs. cities, it would be useful to collect case studies of cities - which have undergone renaissance, fallen, and risen again?

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Carly

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November 21, 2011, 02:30AM

Many creative types are already attracted to Detroit because of its cheap housing prices. Here is one story of many, but it is only the beginning... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102053853

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Michael Jones

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November 18, 2011, 07:08PM

It could be an exciting project to work with neighborhoods to research and document a timeline of vibrancy from the memories and photographs of community members. This may lead to some consensus of patterns and draw out deep values of the neighborhoods that can be applied to plans for each neighborhood.

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Paul Reader

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November 11, 2011, 12:14PM

Great questions to consider Chris!
Also need to ask who has a stake in the area now? Owner - local authorities - squatters - other communities nearby. Need contingency plans for supplanting current use, some of which may no be obvious at first glance.

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