Spaces for All: A Historical Assessment of Placemaking and Participatory Practices in the V4 Nations

Abstract

This research examines the evolution of placemaking and participatory planning practices in the Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) during the two decades following their accession to the European Union. Through a historical literature review of 77 peer-reviewed sources published between 2004 and 2024, the study investigates the drivers, impacts, challenges, and opportunities associated with participatory urban planning, while also analysing the involvement of different age groups in these processes. The research adopts a three-cohort framework encompassing children and youth, adults, and seniors, and evaluates participatory practices in relation to Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.3.2 and 11.7.1 concerning participatory structures and inclusive public spaces. Findings indicate a gradual shift from top-down planning approaches towards more collaborative and participatory models, supported by European Union funding, community engagement initiatives, digital technologies, and creative placemaking practices. Poland emerges as the most advanced case in institutionalising participatory practices, while progress in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary remains more fragmented. The study highlights the importance of tailoring participatory methods to different age groups and emphasises the need for institutional support, inclusive governance, sustainable funding, and balanced integration of digital and non-digital participation tools. The paper concludes that inclusive placemaking practices can contribute significantly to resilient, equitable, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive urban development across the Visegrad region.