Linking Participation and Built Environment Education in Urban Planning Processes

Abstract

The article reflects in theory and practice on links between built environment education (BEE) and youth participation in urban planning processes. Taking into account tempirical knowledge on linkages between participation and educational processes, the findings show that BEE is an important way to qualify current practices of participation. The theoretical discussion is reflected on the EU-project “Fantasy Design—Children in Community” and the national German youth workshop “Young Cities Now! Youth. City. Laboratory”. The authors conclude that a debate on the inclusion of BEE in participation processes is necessary to support young people to participate in urban planning processes. But further investigation is needed to provide empirical evidence on impacts and outcomes and to discuss contradictions.