Socially and culturally sustainable public participation in urban development: Map questionnaire as a bridge-building tool in Kontula shopping mall

Social sustainability is a prerequisite for legitimate public participation. Currently, multilingualism and multiculturalism place particular demands on participation methods and processes. This article presents a case study where entrepreneurs with an immigrant background were engaged in the development process of Kontula shopping mall in Helsinki, Finland. The results show that an existing digital participation tool, specifically a map questionnaire can be utilized in a novel way in a multicultural context to build a bridge between this marginalized group and urban development. New skills and tailored methods are required to support the participation of immigrant entrepreneurs.

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