Publication: Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook: Translating a Community-Led Vision into Practice
Date
2022-03-10
ISSN
Published
2022-03-10
Author(s)
Miki-Imoto, Haruka
Shkabatur, Jennifer
Noda, Tsuneo
Abstract
Pioneered in Yokohama City, Japan,
the Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook (YUDS) is a citizen
engagement and co-creation methodology for urban design at
the neighborhood level. It leverages cross-sectional
sketches and drawings to translate citizens' visions
and ideas of urban areas into concrete proposals of urban
design. YUDS also develops interest among the community on
urban areas and it enhances community engagement in broader
urban planning and municipal processes. Based on the
experience of Yokohama City, the YUDS methodology has been
successfully piloted and tested in two distinct urban
contexts: in Panama City, Panama, in April 2019, and in
Barranquilla, Colombia, in February 2020. The YUDS
methodology consists of structured participatory workshops,
in which participants collaboratively produce sketches that
reflect their urban vision. The uniqueness of the
methodology derives from the use of cross-sectional
sketches, a simple yet powerful tool that overcomes barriers
of communication and encourages consensus among participants
regard-less of their language, generation, or social
position. The most significant feature of YUDS is the use of
schematic representations by the use of cross-sectional
sketches. This approach is different from traditional urban
design methodologies, which typically rely on photography,
maps, and bird's-eye view illustrations.The
implementation of the YUDS methodology requires careful
planning and dedication of time and resources. Workshops
require the preparation of urban design materials and their
simplification for nonprofessional participants. The
methodology also works best when a municipal champion is
committed to the process, and when university researchers
and students are closely engaged in the preparation and
implementation of each workshop.
Citation
“Miki-Imoto, Haruka; Shkabatur, Jennifer; Noda, Tsuneo. 2022. Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook: Translating a Community-Led Vision into Practice. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/37135 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”