A Pleasant Place: citizen engagement, urban climate and photography.

Whilst the issue of heat in cities and ways to adapt and mitigate have become prominent in public discourse, strategies for raising awareness about the causes and effects of urban micro-climates are lacking. This excludes residents from participation in debates about sustainable urban design and the creation of 'pleasant places'. We present the outcomes of a community engagement project designed to raise citizen awareness of the factors effecting the heterogeneity of urban climates and their health impacts. 

For this project, we designed a series of walks and workshops that used alternative photographic techniques to explore the interaction of non-visible solar radiation with the built and natural environment. These techniques include cyanotype printing, near-infrared photography and thermal imaging. This allowed us to introduce complex physical principles around the surface energy balance to non-expert participants. Participation in the activities and the ensuing discussions triggered critical consideration of the impact of urban environments on the experience of heat and ways to mitigate their negative effects. The outcomes of our activities led to the creation of an exhibition which provoked further public engagement over a period of three months with a variety of audiences including decision makers, architects, academics, local residents, students and community groups.

The design and conduct of these workshops was informed by contemporary research on urban heat adaptation and supported by public engagement funds aimed at translating research into practice to the benefit of east London communities.