Between waiting and project: a comparative assessment of eight meanwhile urbanism

This article defines temporary urbanism as a set of practices that activate vacant land by testing programs, rules, and alliances before their consolidation. It distinguishes between two main interpretations: the first, “meanwhile urbanism,” seeks to provide a solution during the transitional period in an interrupted urban process by assigning temporary uses and activities until the planned future development takes place. The second approach views time as a process of adaptation and demonstration to reach a more robust and community-driven consensus. Focusing on “meanwhile urbanism,” the study analyses eight European case studies and identifies four main typologies: 1. Community-led participatory uses on small plots; 2. Interventions creating temporary recreational spaces with environmental and educational value; 3. Projects using modular infrastructures to address equipment or service deficits; 4. Large-scale developments incorporating temporary uses to maintain social engagement during long-term implementation. The results confirms that community participation, flexible design, and local appropriation are critical to strengthening social fabric and place identity. These interventions, varying greatly in duration, demonstrate that interim uses can adapt without obstructing final projects. The article concludes that temporary urbanism should be regarded as a dynamic complement to formal urban planning and could be very useful in Valencian Community where extensive undeveloped lands exist.