Interactive Knowledge Generation in Urban Green Building Transitions

Figures & data

Figure 1 Imperatives and objectives in participative research and interactive transition research.

Table 1 Composition and themes of research project's World Café workshops

Workshop	Number of participants (+ researchers)	Sectors represented/affiliations	Key topics/focuses
Vancouver8 November 2013	14 (+5)	Architects, engineer and design firms, developers, think tanks, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations, municipality, energy provider	• History of environmental activism and advocacy (e.g., Greenpeace, David Suzuki) resulting in an environmentally aware public • Strong influence through individual leaders particularly linked to the University of British Columbia • Vancouver-specific urban design and planning • Recent political leadership with strong environmental agenda
Luxembourg 29 January 2014	27 (+7)	Architects, engineer and design firms, private and public developers, interest and professional associations, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations, ministries (sustainability, economy, housing), national energy consultancy	• Key role of legislation on energy efficiency (especially European Union directives) • Strong technological and innovation focus • Need for increased streamlining and coordination among (public) actors and procedures • Numerous private and corporate initiatives • Call for better advertisement of achievements (building projects) • Overall top-down, policy-led approach
Freiburg 12 February 2014	10 (+7)	Architects, engineer and design firms, public developers, research institutes, municipality, energy provider	• Key role of environmentally sensitive and engaged population • Good connections and exchange platforms between a wide range of actors (public, nongovernmental organizations, research centers) • Early (1990s) energy efficiency legislation and consequent application in two public developments (Vauban & Rieselfeld) as key motors • Call for thematic renewal and enlargement of green building understanding and especially a more visionary approach from the policy side
Brisbane 27 March 2014	10 (+5)	Architects, engineering and design firms, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations, municipality, state ministry, regional administration	• Policy discontinuity on different policy levels (policy changes after government changes) • Short-term “thinking” of different industry actors (builders, developers, investors) • Market-based changes toward “greener” office buildings in and around the central business district