RP3017: Adelaide Living Laboratory Hub

_{Peer Reviewed Research Publications}

RP3017: Conference Paper: Understanding the value generated by a cocreation approach to the built environment

Cities are increasingly being looked to for strategies to address climate change through fostering low-carbon living. This requires not only technological innovation, but also a program of behaviour change. A recent report by the World Economic Forum suggests that architects and other practitioners in the built environment are uniquely placed to facilitate collaborative co-creation approaches.

While most architects work with end-users to some degree, a co-creation approach requires architects learn new skills to shift their treatment of users from subjects that are designed for, to partners that are designed with. This paper explores this challenge through the lens of practice theory, and highlights some of the tensions between co-creation and consultation, particularly with relation to application and practice.

The preliminary results of a Value Network Analysis are presented as a part of a case study where co-creation was used as a framework to inform the briefing process, generate ideas, and provide feedback on plans during design development phases. The case included a series of co-creation workshops that were a collaboration between the author, Match Studio, and the not-for-profit community services organisation undertaking the construction project, as well as other collaborative methods.

This paper focusses on the transfer of value described by the organisation’s staf (the future end-users of the project) and the architects and other professional consultants. It finds a disparity between the reported value on the two sides of the spectrum, suggesting there may be some unrecognised value exchanges taking place of both positive and negative value. The exploration of these unrecognised value points is then explored through the case study interviews. This approach highlights where architects as co-creation facilitators may be able to better communicate anticipated value during project planning stages to help the program of co-creation activities achieve its intended outcomes. Finally, opportunities for further research are identified, including the use of virtual three-dimensional models in co-creation processes that engage end-users.

Conference Paper: Understanding the value generated by a cocreation approach to the built environment (882896 PDF)

RP3017: Conference paper: From rationalism to critical pragmatism: revisiting Arnstein’s ladder of public participation in co-creation and consultation

Governments and cities around Australia and indeed the world have recognised the need to shift toward more inclusive decision making processes, particularly when dealing with issues of the public realm. Despite some significant efforts in this space, including in the creation of urban living laboratories, there is a continued scepticism of consultative processes, and little accountability as to whether the stated goal was achieved.

The International Association for Public Participation’s (IAP2) public participation spectrum (Inform, consult, involve, collaborate, and empower) is currently the primary way of describing the level of involvement (or not) of citizens in decision making processes. Many elements of this spectrum can be traced back to Arnstein’s 1967 Ladder of Public Participation, however, there is one significant difference. The IAP2 approach is largely based on rationalism (planning and strategy), while Arnstein’s Ladder supports a critically pragmatic approach based on reflection and assessment of actual outcomes.

This paper uses Forester’s theory of critical pragmatism to contrast the IAP2 spectrum with Arnstein’s Ladder as ways of evaluating public consultation. With support from Sennett’s (2012) notions of dialogic and dialectic cooperation, the paper highlights the mismatch between assessing planned and actual outcomes, and suggests how the adoption of Arnstein’s Ladder alongside the IAP2 spectrum might help governments and cities to engage more meaningfully with their citizens.

Read the paper

_{CRCLCL Project Reports}

RP3017: Adelaide Living Laboratory - Value Proposition: Low Carbon Housing Policy

This report systematically presents a framework for which benefits and costs of a low carbon housing policy are perceived by the State Government investor. The research findings extend global knowledge of the value of low carbon living to the Government investor, particularly by incorporating industry learning factors, applying actual energy use evidence inclusive of rebound impacts, and including peak demand network benefits.

The report finds clear evidence there are multiple benefits associated with a low carbon living housing policy of mandating net zero energy homes. The Government investor would expect to achieve multiple policy outcomes across areas as diverse as health and wellbeing, productivity, energy, as well as the public budget. From a macro-economic perspective, although many impacts were not able to be monetised with sufficient confidence, the Government investor will experience a net increase in local employment, downward pressure on energy prices, and increased economic activity within a more efficient economy better able to respond to world energy price increases.

The empirical evidence demonstrates that low carbon living will provide many benefits including improved energy efficiency, energy network infrastructure savings, improved human health and wellbeing, carbon emission reductions, and benefits from increased social capital. The benefits far outweigh the costs associated with creating low carbon housing.

Read a media release about this report.

RP3017: Adelaide Living Laboratory - Value Proposition: Low Carbon Housing Policy (839872 PDF)

RP3017: Adelaide Living Laboratory - Value Proposition: Householder Experience

This report explores and quantifies the value proposition from the perspective of the owner occupier of a low carbon impact residential building. The experience of low carbon living applied in this report draws heavily on the experiences of households at Lochiel Park in South Australia, but also on the published literature examined in the initial project report ‘Value Proposition: Literature Review’.

The experience of the householder investor documented in this report demonstrates that low carbon living provides many benefits including lower energy bills, increased levels of thermal comfort, improved health and wellbeing, intrinsic positive feelings associated with climate change action, and benefits from increased social capital. Where those experiences can be monetised with reasonable confidence, the net private impact is overwhelmingly positive to householder investors.

Read a media release about this report.

RP3017: Adelaide Living Laboratory - Value Proposition: Householder Experience (753529 PDF)