Interrogating urban experiments. Issue 9 (21st October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caprotti, Federico; Cowley, Robert
• Is Part Of: Urban geography. Volume 38:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 1441
• Page End: 1450
• Publication Date: 2017-10-21
• Subjects: Urban Experiments -- urban futures -- sustainable cities -- future cities; Urban geography -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1080/02723638.2016.1265870
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-3638

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The notion of the "urban experiment" has become increasingly prevalent and popular as a guiding concept and trope used by both scholars and policymakers, as well as by corporate actors with a stake in the future of the city. In this paper, we critically engage with this emerging focus on "urban experiments", and with its articulation through the associated concepts of "living labs", "future labs", "urban labs" and the like. A critical engagement with the notion of urban experimentation is now not only useful, but a necessity: we introduce seven specific areas that need critical attention when considering urban experiments: these are focused on normativity, crisis discourses, the definition of "experimental subjects", boundaries and boundedness, historical precedents, "dark" experiments and non-human experimental agency.