Demolition as Default: How Cities Destroy Their Past
Buildings rarely disappear with drama. They fade quietly through postponed maintenance, temporary repairs, and technical reports until renovation is declared “uneconomical” and demolition becomes inevitable. Across Finland and much of the developed world, structurally viable schools, municipal buildings, and housing blocks are routinely demolished, not because they have failed, but because renovation is administratively complex and economically uncertain.
Against Spectator Renovation: A Democratic Playbook for Participatory Renewal
Renovation is having its moment, but much of what is called “participation” today is merely a spectacle: decisions made elsewhere, with citizens invited to clap. This is spectator renovation—efficient on paper, brittle in practice. True participatory renovation goes beyond questionnaires and ribbon-cuttings; it impacts rights, budgets, and beneficiaries. Learn how we can make renovation a democratic process that empowers communities, fosters transparency, and gives those affected a voice in shaping their environments.