The institutionalisation of Tactical Urbanism: insights from Genova Street Lab project

Co-creation is increasingly emerging as a strategic and interdisciplinary approach to urban regeneration, particularly in contexts characterized by social complexity and spatial fragmentation. This paper explores the potential of tactical urbanism, a more and more consolidated approach, as a tool for transforming public space through participatory processes. The paper presents the experience of Genova Street Lab, a pilot project launched in 2024 in the Sampierdarena district of Genoa, aimed at improving the quality and safety of public spaces, with a particular focus on home-to-school routes. Promoted by the Urban Planning and Smart Mobility Departments of the Municipality of Genoa, in collaboration with District II Centro-Ovest, the project was supported technically and scientifically by the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies and in collaboration with the Department Design of Politecnico di Milano. The study investigates how municipal authorities, academic institutions, and local communities can work together to co-produce spatial interventions that are both contextually grounded and strategically scalable. A critical reflection on the opportunities and limitations of the tools adopted during this pilot initiative is offered, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between designer and urban planners and the role of academia as a mediator between administrations and communities. The findings suggest directions for future applications and underline the relevance of tactical urbanism as a vehicle for adaptive, accessible, and learning-based urban transformation.