Scenario workshops and urban planning

Denmark traditionally has a strong culture of participation. One of Denmark's participatory methods is the 'Scenario Workshop' in which citizens, policy-makers, business representatives and experts meet to discuss and then search for a solution of a commonly recognized problem. The participants are asked to discuss 4 different ways of solving the problem - scenarios. These have been prepared in advance to be used as visions and as a spur for discussion and criticism. This article gives a discussion of scenario workshops, starting with a description of what a scenario workshop actually is, what it is intended for and the way in which it is conducted. The second part of the article details a case study of a scenario workshop, which was aimed at building on a broad, political consensus concerning the need to develop and transform cities and communities in a way that, was ecologically sustainable. It ends with a short discussion as to how scenario workshops can be improved in the future.