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  3. Place Making for The Built Environment

Place Making for The Built Environment (ABPL90404)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2026

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Overview

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Placemaking is a worldwide movement focusing on the process, development and design of public or shared semi-private places through the active participation of the citizens. The aim of placemaking is to achieve place attachment which is linked to positive citizenship, health and safety. This subject outlines and critiques the placemaking process in relation to the long-term benefits of place. The subject is based on case-studies, and provides lectures and practical exercises on the critical steps of placemaking. Topics include: governance and community engagement strategies, negotiation processes, place evaluation, integrating nature into place and the economics of place. Different models for placemaking will be explored such as tactical urbanism, guerrilla urbanism, creative placemaking and regenerative placemaking. The subject has been written by the Place Agency Consortium, a group of five universities working towards enhancing place co-creation capacity in students and industry.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the subject, students should be able to:

  • Develop advanced understanding of the theoretical and practical foundations of place and placemaking.
  • Analyse placemaking case studies in a multimodal manner, and in relation to their contexts, considering factors within their urban, peri-urban and/or regional settings.
  • Apply an array of strategies in placemaking practice (i.e. participatory planning, interactive placemaking, digital placemaking), recognising their potentials and limitations, individually and as a group.
  • Demonstrate reflective and reflexive practice, particularly on the role of transdisciplinary and interdisciplinarity in placemaking.

Generic skills

  • Understanding different approaches to placemaking
  • Analysing social and cultural context
  • Case study analysis for place
  • Creative and critical thinking and analysis
  • Written and verbal presentation of ideas
  • Effective communication skills
  • Negotiation skills and stakeholder management
  • Building a business case for placemaking

Last updated: 6 November 2025