Benefits of Citizen-Oriented Projects and Collaboration between FabLabs Programs

The paper describes the potential benefits of developing larger urban citizen oriented projects as a series of smaller workshops in cooperation with local maker spaces and FabLab initiatives. The approach is demonstrated in a case study of the Potulná Alej (PA) project developed by the Maker Institute (MI), a Prague based non-profit maker organization.

Evolution and benefits of schemes have changed in maker spaces (MS) and FabLabs (FL). Examples of the definition of MS and its mixed missions have led to various definitions and identity variations, some disregarding its coworking schemes (van Holm, 2015) and impact in circular economy; changing the hobbyist character of makers into more entrepreneurial and community projects as suggested by Li, Eberhart, and Eesley (2021) in their study on the relationship between MS, entrepreneurship, and institutions; and the need to valorize the need of these spaces by emphasizing critical socio economic agendas with its push for 21st century skills according to Rayna and Striukova (2020) showcasing that FL and MS play a significant role in fostering skills for the 21st century. FL and MS are yet to find their standing in society, not unlike other new places and establishments that aim for similar sharing of technologies and knowledge such as core facilities (Soltwedel & Haase, 2023). The mission of the facilities sometimes calls for a widespread use of services and not just tailored and expert tools or staff in order to be more ample. Some questions arise about the impact of these MS and FL and their mission (Schneider & Lösch, 2019), which is why we suggest that some public intervention projects would aid this process, making these spaces operable for the public and materializing ideas in public space.

This paper addresses the original Wanderbaumallee (WBA) project in Munich, its iteration in Stuttgart, and integration from the MI as a flagship project to incentivize the maker community on Kampus Dejvice (Prague’s technical campus containing 5 educational institutions and 1 municipality)1. We outline the advantages of collaboration between FL, MS, and grass-root communities and the benefits of developing community projects through public workshops, such as WBA projects. Emphasis is made for the need for FL and MS to integrate sustainable and nature-based solutions into their core programs. We point out benefits to assess why FL and MS should integrate within their strategies to pilot, promote and cultivate activities together with existing community projects or develop new ones on their own. We aim to discuss the similar impact in with which grassroot projects and organizations can benefit from the standing of makerspaces to create more wholesome projects and garner further municipal support in their missions, while makerspaces and FabLabs gain a sustainable and reputable project that will strengthen their community standing and future impact.