Engaging beneficiaries of sustainable renovation - exploration of design-led participatory approaches

A major challenge for sustainable resource use lies in the renovation of existing buildings. Different methods are used to engage residents to increase their knowledge, affirm their intent to act, and eventually to make modifications to their homes. In an exploratory research project, design-led participatory approaches were used to gain insights into how these might help to engage the beneficiaries of sustainable renovation. The research project was undertaken by means of six “Labs”. These Labs were workshops with topics drawn from the general area of sustainable renovation and involved direct beneficiaries as participants. To assess the results, organising partners were interviewed and participants were asked to evaluate the activities in a short interview or with a questionnaire. The main conclusion of the research was that design-led, participatory approaches were seen to add value when they result in “emerging knowledge transfer”, i.e., knowledge that is created in the process through interactions between peers and experts. This research has therefore contributed insights into how such approaches can complement the transfer of known knowledge. An important point emerging from the discussion is that organisers need to consider whether the value of this type of knowledge transfer outweighs the extra effort that is required to undertake it. In follow-up research the effects of specific techniques on the intended, and actual, behaviour change and implementation phases might be assessed.