Charrette

Begin by clarifying:

• What is to be planned or designed?
• Which questions remain open?
• Which decisions can still be influenced?
• Which stakeholders need to be involved?

Also determine:

• the project timeline
• the location
• roles and responsibilities
• communication channels

Important:

Participants should understand from the outset what opportunities for meaningful participation and influence are actually available.

Before the Charrette begins, the planning area should be explored together.

Suitable activities include:

• neighbourhood walks
• guided site tours
• bicycle tours
• site visits

Pay particular attention to:

• identifying problematic locations
• recognising the area's strengths
• collecting initial impressions

Helpful guiding questions include:

• Where do people enjoy spending time?
• Where do conflicts arise?
• Which places or facilities are missing?
• Which routes or connections do not function well?

During the preparation phase, relevant information should be collected.

This may include:

• conversations with local residents
• interviews with planning professionals and other experts
• discussions with community groups and local organisations
• analysis of existing plans and planning documents
• public communication and outreach activities

Important:

Make every effort to include a broad range of perspectives.

A small core team supports and coordinates the entire process.

It typically consists of:

• planning professionals
• facilitators
• representatives of the public administration
• the organising team
• subject-matter experts

The core team is responsible for:

• overseeing the overall process
• structuring the collaborative work
• preparing information and materials
• documenting interim results

Before the main Charrette begins, smaller preparatory events can be organised.

These events can be used to:

• provide background information
• answer participants' questions
• collect initial ideas
• encourage people to take part in the main process

These activities make it easier for participants to engage in the intensive collaborative phase that follows.

At the beginning of the Charrette, participants receive an introduction to the process.

The following aspects are presented:

• the objectives of the Charrette
• the overall process and schedule
• the planning area
• the ground rules for collaboration

The facilitation team also explains:

• how the collaborative work will be organised
• how ideas and outcomes will be documented
• how planning decisions will be developed throughout the process

Important:

All participants should understand that the planning process is open-ended and that ideas and proposals may evolve as discussions progress.

The Charrette is typically organised around several thematic workstations.

Possible topics include:

• mobility
• green spaces
• housing
• quality of public spaces
• safety
• use of public space

Each table is facilitated and documented. The work usually develops through several stages.

Table 1: Identifying Needs and Challenges

Participants discuss questions such as:

• What works well?
• Where are the main challenges?
• What needs should be addressed?

Helpful tools include:

• sketches
• photographs
• notes made directly on maps and plans

Table 2: Integrating Professional Perspectives

Planning professionals and subject-matter experts contribute:

• technical expertise
• legal and regulatory requirements
• planning constraints and opportunities
• examples from comparable projects

Important:

Professional expertise should enrich the discussion without dominating it.

Table 3: Developing Solutions and Design Concepts

The collected ideas are then developed into more concrete proposals.

Possible working methods include:

• drawings
• sketches
• physical models
• direct annotations on maps and plans

Participants discuss questions such as:

• What is realistically achievable?
• Which alternative solutions are possible?
• What would be the potential impacts of each proposal?

A defining feature of a Charrette is its open and transparent working process.

Throughout the event:

• interim results are displayed publicly
• visitors can join the process at any time
• discussions remain open and visible
• additional ideas can continuously be added

This creates a transparent planning process and encourages ongoing participation.

At the end of each day, interim results are presented to all participants.

These sessions provide an opportunity to:

• collect feedback
• identify emerging conflicts
• refine and improve ideas

In this way, the planning proposals evolve step by step throughout the Charrette.

At the end of the process, the completed plan or master plan is presented to the public.

The presentation explains:

• how the proposals were developed
• which ideas have been incorporated
• which questions remain unresolved

Participants are invited to:

• provide feedback
• identify priorities
• suggest final revisions

The outcomes are:

• documented
• visualised
• summarised

They may be presented as:

• a report
• a planning document
• conceptual sketches
• a presentation

The outcomes are then shared with:

• political decision-makers
• the public administration
• planning professionals

These stakeholders use the results as a basis for further planning and decision-making.

It is important to communicate transparently how the process will continue after the Charrette.

Source: https://mobilitaetsplanung-hessen.de/methodenkoffer-partizipative-planung/