Examining the inclusive potential of tactical urbanism projects: An analysis of two case studies from Germany and Greece

The chapter argues that tactical urbanism can be a tool for bridging the gap between bottom-up and top-down approaches in planning, leading to more inclusive urban development. To examine this hypothesis, two case studies of tactical urbanism projects from Germany and Greece are analysed using a qualitative content analysis. The project "Schützen Square - Neighbourhood Selfmade" in Stuttgart, Germany, was initiated by civil society activists who built a parklet on an intersection in a residential area. In Thessaloniki, Greece, the Alexandrou Svolou Neighbourhood Initiative transformed an urban void into a pocket park with the local community. The following questions guided the research: How can tactical urbanism projects connect bottom-up and top-down approaches in planning? How can tactical urbanism projects lead to more inclusive urban development processes? The analysis shows that both projects fill different gaps in state-led top-down planning and make the process more inclusive to an extent.