Author: [Institutional Affiliation] Course: BYP302 – Urban Planning and Civic Engagement Date: June 2026 Abstract This paper examines the establishment, methodology, and impact of Modellverksted Skedsmo (Skedsmo Model Workshop), a municipal initiative designed to bridge the gap between abstract planning documents and tangible community engagement. Through the use of physical 3D modeling, digital twin technology, and co-creative workshops, the model workshop redefined how citizens, students, and policymakers interact with urban development projects. Drawing on case studies from the transformation of Skedsmo sentrum, the Rælingsdalen green corridor, and school-based participatory budgeting, this paper argues that model workshops serve as critical infrastructural tools for democratic resilience. The findings suggest that tactile and visual modeling lowers barriers to participation, fosters intergenerational dialogue, and produces more robust planning outcomes. However, challenges related to resource intensity, representativeness, and digital exclusion persist.
Over three months, classes worked in teams to build their proposals. The best models were displayed at the workshop, and residents voted using stickers. The winning proposal—a combined stage and amphitheater at Skedsmo ungdomsskole—was actually built using real municipal funds. modellverksted skedsmo
Hou, J. (2020). Tactile urbanism: Co-creating city models with communities. Journal of Urban Design , 25(3), 301–318. The findings suggest that tactile and visual modeling
Over six months, the model workshop hosted 12 open “build evenings.” A base model of the existing sentrum was prepared. Participants could move colored blocks representing new buildings, add green spaces using felt patches, and adjust road widths using tape. Each session was photographed, and changes were digitized into the twin. The best models were displayed at the workshop,
The model workshop produced a detailed topographical model of the 4 km corridor. Residents were invited to “draw” desired paths using yarn and to place “animal crossing” markers where they had observed hedgehogs, deer, or amphibians. A separate session for hunters and landowners used the digital twin to simulate seasonal water flow.