Citizenship in action: participatory urban visualization in contested urban space

This paper derives from the experience of a community-based university course that uses visualization and on-site methods to explore participatory imagination and imaging of urban spaces. Participatory urban visualization is a platform for discourse. It allows local residents to become involved in thinking the future of their locality, thereby activating their urban citizenship. The paper starts with a discussion of urban space and citizenship, and explores the potential of urban visualization and participation. The second part of the paper explains the context of Haifa, the ethno-nationally contested city in which the course is held, and presents two case studies. It identifies collaborative professional methodologies and techniques, and stresses participatory visualization as a vehicle for promoting communal sense of place and urban identity.