Designing more inclusive co-creation: the roles of space

Co-creation is increasingly promoted as a means to strengthen social cohesion and democratic legitimacy by involving citizens in shaping public policies. Yet, these processes often fail to include the full diversity of local populations. Participation tends to attract the "usual suspects" – educated, resourceful citizens already active in community life – while those most affected by local issues such as housing, mobility, or access to services remain underrepresented. This raises the question of how public administrations can engage hard-to-reach groups more effectively. While existing research highlights recruitment strategies, incentives, and facilitation methods, the spatial dimension of participation remains largely overlooked. How and where co-creation takes place may significantly shape who participates and how they engage. Evidence from other domains suggests that meeting people in familiar, everyday spaces can foster dialogue, trust, and inclusion more effectively than institutional settings. Drawing on a qualitative case study of a French city, this paper examines how a local administration sought to diversify participation by transforming an empty commercial unit into a "Project Workshop." This informal, accessible venue was designed as a neutral, welcoming space for dialogue around urban planning projects. The findings show that this spatial strategy attracted a more diverse public in terms of age, socio-economic status, and cultural background, and led to tangible modifications in ongoing projects. The analysis identifies four roles of space in co-creation: communicative (enabling dialogue), participatory (facilitating engagement in decisions), contentious (allowing dissent and negotiation), and convivial (building trust and social ties). Together, these dimensions help bridge divides between administrations and citizens. The paper argues that designing inclusive co-creation requires rethinking not only how but where participation occurs, positioning space as a strategic lever for more equitable and effective public engagement.