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- Written by: Phoebus Panigyrakis
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Introduction
In 2024, the OPUSH Delft team kicked off an exciting Citizen Science project called "Check je plek," bringing kids into the conversation about how urban spaces can better serve their needs. This project, led by TU Delft in partnership with the DOK/OPEN Delft Public Library, local co-design studio Blok 74, and in communication with researchers from Utrecht University, invited children to share their thoughts on Delft’s city spaces and even help redesign their library.
Background
Delft OPUSH partners TU Delft and DOK, the local public library, are both interested to establishing a long-term cooperation on citizen science experimentation. After initial discussions, both parties agreed on a shared pilot project: redesigning the library space based on the needs and preferences of its young users, specifically children aged 7 to 12.
Concept Development
The project’s concept came from a similar experiment at the University Museum Utrecht, where researchers Kathrine C.E. van den Bogert and Gijs van Campenhout wanted to see how kids viewed and valued urban spaces (see here). Initially, OPUSH Delft had a different idea — a nature-monitoring project where kids would track local wildlife. But after talking with potential partners and looking at the community’s needs, they pivoted to urban spaces. Kids, they realized, have a lot to say about the places they play, study, and hang out, and including them in the conversation could offer new insights. Plus, with a library renovation in the works, it was the perfect time to ask children to share their vision for this public space.
Research Design
The project combined data collection with hands-on, creative design activities. First, kids mapped their favorite places in Delft, explaining why they loved these spots. This mapping helped identify what kids value in public spaces. For the library redesign, the team used brainstorming, mapping, and sketching activities, giving the kids tools to express their ideas. This participatory approach not only gathered data but helped the children feel like co-creators in reimagining their environment. Throughout the project, the team learned that a balance of structured tasks and open-ended creativity allowed the children to really engage and express themselves.
Workshop Activities
The workshop involved a group of "DOK designers," kids aged 7-12 who meet regularly at the library. During the sessions, they pointed their favorite spots in the city and shared what makes these places special, whether this was a play area or a quiet park. This activity got the kids discussing about what they want from public spaces, opening up a discussion on urban design in a way they could relate to.
Next, their attention was turned to the library itself, specifically the floor area where they themselves meet regularly. Working in two groups, the kids mapped out ideas for how the library could be more welcoming, fun, and functional — a space that supports studying, playing, and hanging out. Under the guidance of Blok 74, they drew layouts and brainstormed features they thought would be useful, which TU Delft researchers later transformed into visual designs. A key lesson here was that kids had thoughtful, practical ideas, that should be recorded and taken into account by the professional designers.
Conclusions
"Check je plek" showed just how valuable it can be to include kids in urban planning. They gave fresh, honest insights on what they want from public spaces, and the library project helped them feel connected to their city in a new way. Going forward, DOK Delft has a new model for engaging the community in Citizen Science, and this project opened up possibilities for more kid-led initiatives.
The main takeaway? Kids aren’t passive users of public spaces — they’re creative, insightful contributors. "Check je plek" proved that giving young people a voice in city planning can lead to designs that are fun, functional, and full of heart. It’s a lesson worth keeping in mind as Delft and other cities think about how to make urban spaces that truly serve everyone.
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The last session of Heat Chronicles campaign was held on July, 12th in the Casal de Barri Congrés – Indians with the group of neighbors who went for a walk the week before. The data from their journey were analysed, together with the data from the other two participating groups. The experiences of the neighbors, some of whom have lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, helped contextualize the observations. During the summer campaign of 2024, 52 heat walks were held with 481 participants from 5 different neighborhoods.
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“Microscale urban heat mapping: building upon the neighbour’s experiences and perceptions” was the title of the oral presentation in European Citizen Science Association held in Vienna and which brought together more than 400 citizen science practitioners. The presentation is available at Zenodo and dealt with the local urban heat experimentation in Barcelona.
A poster entitled "Urban Heat Stories: a chatbot for micro-stories on urban heat in Vienna" was also presented, exemplifying the participative research done in Vienna.
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During October 2024, the OPUSH Delft team engaged with residents of monument houses in Delft to discuss their experiences and challenges that they face while living in a monument house. The perception of the residents was recorded firstly through a short survey that touched upon the level of comfort, any changes that their house has undergone, and any discrepancies between the installation requirements of alternative sources of energy and the structural integrity and possibilities of change in the monument buildings. In addition to that, the survey was followed by a short interview session with residents who wanted to share more information about the issues that they are facing, the research, analysis, or work that they have done on their own, and any additional collective effort needed to proceed in the future. Delft, being home to more than 1500 municipal and state monuments faces a challenge in the transformation towards sustainable sources of energy, with the situation being worsened from the part of residents who face increased costs due to economic, political, and environmental changes. The lack of an energy labeling for monument buildings also poses a problem for the proper monitoring of the extent of the problem.
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In June 2024, the OPUSH Delft team engaged with public libraries’ “DOK designers”, a group of children aged between 7-12 years old to take part in the Citizen Science pilot “Check je plek”. There, the participants were invited to share from their experiences what is their favourite place in Delft, and what make this place unique and important to them. Having identified urban design elements a discussion was further developed about urban sustainability and life in the city. The pilot was followed with a second investigation of the interior design of the library itself and the participants’ own ideas about how the space of the library could look like and be re-arranged in order to facilitate study and play. The growing discussion and decisions of the group was aimed to the creation of a collective design for the public library.