Tuning the Labbing

Abstract:
The chapter examines a research collaboration within the evolving dialogue between the tenants’ union and the rental housing company in Hammarkullen, in Gothenburg – an interaction historically marked by tensions, mistrust, and recurring communication breakdowns.

For many years, local consultation practices (samråd) have been shaped by miscommunication, prejudice, and limited receptiveness to opposing perspectives, resulting in fragile and often dysfunctional dialogue. Recently, renewed interest in more constructive engagement has emerged, driven by the urgency of upcoming large-scale housing renovations. While this shift has gained support from both tenant representatives (Hyresgästföreningen, HGF) and the housing company (Bostadsbolaget, BB), past conflicts continue to influence trust and expectations.

The chapter follows the early stages of a consultation process, alongside a co-designed workshop and a ‘consultation conference’ (samrådskonferens) that introduced a preparatory model for local dialogues.

Positioned as a community action researcher, method co-designer, and mediator, the author explores how dialogic methods can “tune” complex interactions – much like instruments before an orchestral performance – fostering collaborative learning and more resilient urban governance, while also critically examining risks of over-instrumentalization, asymmetric appropriation, and limited institutional commitment.

If you want to have access to the seminar’s material, please contact Emilio: edcb@kth.se

The opponent for the seminar will be PhD Candidate Sara Brolund de Carvalho.

Bios
Emilio Brandao is an architect and PhD-student at KTH School of Architecture, within the project CoNECT: Collective Networks of Everyday Community Resilience and Ecological Transition. And for the last 12 years he has been a lecturer in design activism at Chalmers University of Technology. Both his research and awarded teaching experience (UIA Innovation in Architectural Education Award 2022-2023) are interested in urban practices and pedagogies for social inclusion and community resilience. Emilio works with collaborative methodologies of co-creation, and design and build, together with multiple local actors. His work engages with contexts highly challenged by diverse socioeconomic inequalities and urban injustices, both locally in Sweden and internationally, and built on experience from architectural practice, action-based teaching and research, and active engagement in NGOs.

Sara Brolund de Carvalho is an architect, educator and Ph.D candidate. Her practice is situated in the borderland between architecture/urban planning and art. In her writing, she often addresses concepts such as spatial care and community building. Sara is a co-founder of the research group Aktion Arkiv.