Research

Annelies Wisse

April 1, 2010

A study about the development of an entertaining online experience for an exhibition using a web-controlled video robot.

(download)

"The most interesting part of the Cybercity project was the visit to the city planning office. That was fun, because this time older people had to listen to us. They had a look at our ideas and plans of what we want to have in the city. (....) To me it was extraordinary that the head of the Planning Office listened to us. Normally, youngsters don’t have a say in the matter." (Gizem, 16 years)

For children and adolescents a city is what it is. Given. Invariant. Created by adults, by institutions that no one knows.

The youngsters do not know that the city is important for themselves and their personal development. Nor do they have any idea of how important it is for the city itself to take their needs and desires into account. Youth participation in institutional responsibilities is needed to create sustainable urban development. Our cities must be worth living for children and young people, otherwise we will eventually be living in cities without young people. Today's adolescents are also the ones who will have to live with the planning decisions of today. Nevertheless, the chances for them to formulate their demands and their ideas of a liveable environment and to actually change their city are very rare.

The above quote shows how important it is for young people to make their voice heard. Young people can help to make our cities sustainable. They are ready.

transfer_next_generation gives an overview of the projects that were conducted within the context of THIRD EYE Ruhrstadt 2010 and examines to what extent the art project "Cybercity - My City of the Future" can provide a framework for the participation of young people in planning processes.