PRECINCT SCALE LIVING LABORATORIES: CASE STUDY of RANDWICK LIVING LAB

Abstract

The concept of Living Laboratory (LL) provides a novel grass-roots data-driven approach for collaborative design of place involving multiple stakeholders. In this paper we focused on reviewing the most common approaches utilised in the construct of user-centric LL. This is done by systematically reviewing methodologies and engagement techniques as well as presenting one LL milieu as a case study - Randwick Precinct Living Laboratory - and its key outcomes. In the case study we aimed to understand the design of a user-centric precinct scale LL where stakeholders were involved in the design of a precinct using a sketch planning approach. The novelty of the Randwick Precinct LL was the use of multi-table technologies and other digital planning tools such as a dashboard to support collaboration. The results suggest a sketch planning approach to facilitate and encourage both user-to-user and user-to-technology interaction and make the LL concept operate at precinct level. Moreover, this paper distils the lessons learned from Randwick Precinct Living Lab and explained how LL can contribute to inclusiveness, user contribution, high innovation, collaboration and consensus building.