Urban territories as living laboratories: community cocreation for sustainable transformation of the Rio Tavares neighborhood

Abstract

Cities face increasingly complex challenges that demand innovative and collaborative solutions. Lack of participatory urban planning and the need for more humanized approaches have generated negative impacts on quality of life, including loss of cultural identity, inadequate urban mobility, and environmental damage. This article analyzes the application of Design Thinking, focusing on the immersion and analysis stages, within a participatory urban transformation process in the Rio Tavares neighborhood of Florianópolis, Brazil. This growing neighborhood faces challenges such as lack of urban infrastructure and the need for preserving cultural and environmental heri-tage. This study investigates how Design Thinking can engage the community in identifying and understanding these problems, promoting empathy, and gaining a clear understanding of local needs. The research employed an experience report methodology with data collection through a participatory mural at two cultural events held in the neighborhood. The results revealed the main challenges faced by the neighborhood and highlighted the importance of citizen participation in the urban transformation process.