Mads Pålsrud & Tabea Glahs are the founders of Growlab Oslo, an experimental design studio focusing on creating more democratic and eco centric cities through participatory design, urban and eco activism and public art and interventions. The past five years they have researched ways of how to use human-centered design in Urban development through various self-initiated projects as well as consultants. Growlab was also the initiator of Action City, an urban activist school during the 2019 Oslo Architecture Triennale. Growlab is a part of a network of actors in Oslo working with urban changemaking and placemaking and are happy to be co-hosting this session together with Nabolagshager.

credit: Growlab Oslo

Check out Growlabs' website, Facebook, Instagram, and watch their presentation during the Placemaking Pils.

During the Placemaking Pils Mads and Tabea explained their project Embrace don't chase they realized in a socially challenged neighborhood in Oslo. Using various tools to engage with local businesses, drug users and passers-by they learned that the street Storgata they were mainly working in was lacking Christmas decorations. They created a meaningful project by inviting people to light a candle to commemorate drug users that passed away due to their drug use. Lighting up the street was relevant for many who particiapted in the project.

Growlab's talk was part of the Placemaking Pils winter edition in 2020 hosted by Nabolagshager. We had the pleasure to co-host this event with our partners from Growlab and our PlaceCity partners Superwien, PlaceCity Vienna Floridsdorf, and from Placemaking Europe as part of our PlaceCity project. Placemaking Pils is a tool developed by Nabolagshager and is part of the Placemaking Europe toolbox. Download your free manual to get started on organising your own Placemaking Pils.