THE WORK OF LANDSCAPE URBANISM: Using digitally enriched board games to engage communities in UK planning

Over the last few years, the development of games for the engagement of communities in planning and the understanding of geological processes has increased in scope and ambition. Working from the perspective of planning and landscape design, Landscape Urbanism at the Architectural Association proposes a combination of physical and virtual environments to explore how games can help engage communities learn about complex legislative processes. Through game testing and site development, the course proves how settings offer an enriched virtual and digital experience and drive audiences of several ages into the same playing space, hence serving the purposes of informing as well as binding across age groups. The presentation shows two project cases which combine highly crafted board games with projective mapping and 3D simulation of real-world environments to bring people in contact with neighbourhood planning as well as food policy. The projects are developed through extensive research on the current planning framework, mapping techniques, game testing, bespoke crafting of board game tables and techniques to enhance the digital game experience through Godot or Unreal Engine. Testing these games in two real-life environments showcased both the limitations of the approach as well as the unexpected potential of this type of approach as part of a process of participatory planning.