Listening & Observing
We believe truly understanding a place begins with listening, walking its streets, and meeting its people—both formally and informally. Taking time to observe, to listen, and to exchange is essential. It lets us absorb a territory’s unique atmosphere and uncover its hidden soul.
Walking the Territory
Walking the site with communities and partners grounds design in reality. Beyond revealing local rhythms and long-term dynamics, it creates the conditions for dialogue and debate, enabling us to question assumptions and identify new project opportunities.
Collective Drawing & Thinking
We work through collective drawing. Sketching is not only a design tool but a way of thinking, testing, and communicating ideas in an open, accessible way. For us, the smallest details matter as much as the largest gestures.
Full-scale Testing & Prototyping
We favour collaborative workshops and real-world experimentation as essential parts of our practice. These methods allow us to test ideas in situ, refine them through experience, and ensure that proposals are not only technically sound but also embraced by those who will use them.
Transitional Uses as Experimentation
We see transitional uses as strategic tools for shaping the future of our cities. They turn the time between planning and realisation into opportunities for experimentation, bridging the gap between vision and action. Temporary uses, installations, and events help us explore ideas, strengthen local engagement, and reveal each site's potential.
Trust & Long-term Collaboration
Building strong relationships with partners and establishing trust is crucial. Open dialogue and mutual respect help us navigate complexity together and co-create shared visions for the future.
Rights and Credits
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No part of this website may be used or reproduced without prior written permission from MOTU.
The images shown on this page are drawn from various projects carried out since 2013, as part of co-design and participatory processes. They document collaborative approaches developed with residents, users, and local partners in diverse urban contexts. Any reproduction or use is subject to authorization.