Citizen participation and place-making in the process of ger area redevelopment in Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between citizen participation and place-making in the process of ger area redevelopment in Ulaanbaatar. Although Mongolian legislation mandates public participation in redevelopment projects, in practice the process remains predominantly expert-driven and top-down in nature. This gap between formal planning and the everyday spatial needs and experience of residents result in a disconnect between policy and lived reality. Guided by the theoretical framework of Henri Lefebvre’s Right to the City and David Sim’s Soft City concept, this study used a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection in two redeveloped cases in Ulaanbaatar. Findings indicated that current redevelopment plans often fail to reflect residents’ everyday needs, social relationships, and expectations for public space. Rather than enjoying their living in apartment blocks, residents emphasized the importance of safety, comfort, and inclusivity in living environment. This article concludes that citizen participation must move beyond formal compliance and be integrated meaningfully into the place-making process, recognizing residents as co-creators of urban space.