Community engagement is often cited as essential to urban development — but how often does it go beyond the superficial? In design processes around the world, engagement is frequently performative, short-term, or extractive, offering communities a voice without power. The Architecture and Design Commission (ADC) of Saudi Arabia invites a critical conversation on how we can move past tokenistic outreach to foster more participatory, inclusive, and impactful approaches to shaping our cities.
Moderated by Faris Alqathiebi (Partnerships Director, ADC), the session explores models of genuine co-creation, questions current urban planning norms, and considers how rethinking community roles can lead to more just and resilient urban futures.
Examples include Designathon, which empowers local talent to address community needs through design, and the Urban Transformation Initiative, where the Architecture and Design Commission (ADC) collaborates with development authorities and municipalities to embed meaningful public input into city planning.
Guest speakers:
- Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick (Chief Executive, RIBA)
- Nick McKeogh (CEO, NLA - London's Built Environment Community)
- Prof. Christoph Lindner (President, Royal College of Art)
- Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman (CEO, Architecture and Design Commission)
