Fare e Dare Spazio in una prospettiva strategica di piano. L’esperienza di Reggio Emilia nella sperimentazione degli Accordi Operativi

Abstract

This paper contributes to the growing debate on the intersection between spatial planning and social innovation by applying the concept of trading zones, conceived as spaces of action for social innovation, to urban planning. Through a critical reinterpretation of the experience developed by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia within the pilot implementation of the Public Call for Expressions of Interest for Operational Agreements, introduced by Emilia-Romagna Regional Law No. 24/2017, the paper examines, from a practice-based lens, the potential of planning instruments to foster and enable co-productive exchange arenas among public authorities, private investors, and local communities. Embedded within the co-planning processes of the public city, these arenas, focused on the urban project and flexibly anchored to planning instruments, are framed as pathways for “making space” and “giving space” within a strategic planning perspective.