Beyond the Void: Activating Vacant Spaces through Informal Practices

Cities worldwide contain numerous vacant spaces—unused, underutilised, or abandoned land and buildings across public and private realms. While long present in urban landscapes, these spaces have recently gained renewed attention as sites of possibility. Informal actors are increasingly activating such voids through unconventional, sometimes temporary interventions, offering alternatives to conventional public spaces, such as parks and squares, typically produced by the formal sector. This seminar explores how these informal practices transform vacant spaces into dynamic, socially meaningful places.

We invite submissions from PhD students, early-career researchers, academics, and practitioners engaging with this topic from diverse disciplinary perspectives. While we welcome a broad range of discussions, we are particularly interested in work that addresses:

• Spontaneous or deliberate uses of urban vacant spaces, viewing them as potential and alternative spaces. Empty spaces may arise unintentionally, appearing as overlooked opportunities. Alternatively, they can be deliberately incorporated into a broader transformational vision. In both cases, vacant areas are regarded as valuable resources to be woven into the fabric of everyday urban life. Related key concepts: Everyday urbanism, DIY urbanism, Guerrilla urbanism, Urban voids, Leftover/Residual space.

• Using urban vacant spaces in different ways, emphasising adaptability and flexibility. The utilisation of unusual spaces, such as abandoned buildings or vacant lots, frequently generates innovative perspectives. This becomes particularly significant when these spaces are examined at a broader scale: as fragmented yet interconnected nodes within the urban fabric, or through the urban life cycle framework. Related key concepts: Temporary urbanism, Interim use, Meanwhile use.

• Bottom-up or hybrid initiatives in activating empty spaces. Emphasising the urban actors and their roles. The city’s gaps have emerged as platforms for civic expression, often activated through grassroots initiatives asserting the right to the city. In certain contexts, collaborative approaches involving stakeholders and government are considered more effective for achieving systemic impact. Related key concepts: Insurgent urbanism, Loose space, Indeterminate space, Tactical urbanism.

If you have relevant research, projects, or insights, we invite you to submit a 300-word abstract by December 12th, 2025.

Each presentation will be allocated 15 minutes.
For abstract submission and more information, please contact: cndhd@leeds.ac.uk. 


We look forward to your participation.