What do place-makers actually do to sustain knowledge dynamics? Place-making practices in a Czech suburban knowledge location
Abstract
Knowledge locations are expected to generate interactions among multiple knowledge actors, address these actors' ongoing spatial needs, and provide the conditions of their engagement for a meaningful experience. However, little is known about the practices needed to overcome these challenges.
This article investigates three place-making practices through which actors (public research labs, public institutions, firms, municipalities, and local communities) build a commonly shared identity and meaning of place. Focusing on a case study of the 'Star Cluster' on the southern outskirts of Prague, Czechia, we discuss how these practices contribute to overcoming the challenges of knowledge locations in a suburban environment and help to establish intangible experiences, tangible features, and a new identity of place.
The agency of various actors and place-making practices contributes to enriching our understanding of the link between urban and knowledge dynamics.