Abstract
The challenges and opportunities for multi-roles in participatory urban development projects are investigated. An analysis of bottom-up initiatives in two living labs in Germany: Quartier:PLUS (Braunschweig) and Österreichischer Platz (Stuttgart) demonstrates that the capacity to assume multiple roles and to code-switch across social and institutional domains is a critical factor in project success. Drawing on intersectional and postcolonial perspectives, as well as auto-ethnographic reflections and peer interviews, the study highlights how social positioning – shaped by class, gender and ethnicity – structures role allocation and the often-invisible labour of translation. While multi-roles facilitate mediation between institutional, civil society and marginalised actors, they also entail risks including overburdening, a lack of recognition and the reproduction of structural inequalities. Code-switching is conceptualised as a key socio-cognitive practice that enables the negotiation of divergent perspectives. As prerequisites for more equitable participation processes and democratic urban development, institutional strengthening of mediating practices is required along with the systematic integration of intersectional approaches into planning and research.
Practice relevance
Individuals play a crucial role in multiple, overlapping roles (multi-roles) in participatory urban development projects. Drawing on two bottom-up living lab case studies (Quartier:PLUS in Braunschweig and Österreichischer Platz in Stuttgart), however, project success depends not only on technical expertise but also on the ability to navigate between diverse social, institutional and cultural contexts. This requires forms of invisible translation and code-switching that entail substantial, yet largely unacknowledged, emotional and cognitive labour, which is particularly onerous for marginalised actors. The findings highlight the need for practitioners, municipalities and funding institutions to recognise both the hidden workload and the structural inequalities embedded in participatory processes. Recommended measures include compensating translation labour, embedding intermediation roles structurally within projects, and advancing intersectional training for practitioners. Institutional support is essential for mitigating burnout, fostering inclusivity and ensuring the long-term viability of participatory planning practices.