Rethinking Construction - Embedding Participatory Processes in Construction Practices

Høyer, Bjørn Fuhr

4. term

Sustaianable Cities, Master

2025

85

Byggebranchen er under pres for at understøtte bæredygtig udvikling, men de gængse processer er præget af komplekse tekniske krav, lineære forløb, kortsigtede økonomiske hensyn, begrænset interessentinddragelse og for lidt fokus på sociale forhold og brugerbehov. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan deltagelsesprocesser kan integreres i byggepraksis og styrke social bæredygtighed gennem casestudier af Dreyers Kollegie i København og Håndværkskollegiet i Roskilde. I begge projekter faciliterede rådgivningsvirksomheden Hele Landet omfattende forløb for at afstemme projektets resultater med brugernes behov og det omgivende samfund. Specialet anvender aktør-netværksteori (ANT) og Susan Leigh Stars begreber om standardisering og konventioner. ANT ser på, hvordan mennesker, organisationer og teknologier danner netværk og forhandler roller, mens Stars arbejde viser, hvordan standarder og rutiner former, hvad der bliver prioriteret og målt. Med dette blik analyserer specialet, hvordan Hele Landets deltagelsesprocesser udfordrer den traditionelle byggeproces via roller, forhandlinger og “oversættelser” – det vil sige at forbinde forskellige interesser og gøre dem operationelle – og hvordan disse udfordringer kan håndteres. Resultaterne viser, at interviewpersoner anerkender, at deltagelse forbedrer projekter og skaber social værdi. Samtidig møder integrationen af deltagelse barrierer i form af standardiserede praksisser, krav om økonomisk effektivitet, tidspres, teknisk fokus, kvantitative måleparametre og faste konventioner for byggefaser. Konsekvensen er, at social værdi ofte nedprioriteres, og deltagelsesprocesser skubbes i baggrunden. Specialet peger på, at nuværende byggeforløb mangler formelle mekanismer, der sikrer prioritering af deltagelse gennem hele projektet, hvilket øger risikoen for et socialt performancemæssigt gab – at de ønskede sociale resultater ikke nås i praksis. Som svar identificerer specialet flere strategier til at stabilisere og institutionalisere deltagelse: indlejre deltagelse i måleparametre og beslutningskriterier, sikre kompetent facilitering, kommunikere værdien bredt, skabe strukturel opbakning via regulering, afprøve tilgangen i pilotprojekter og etablere deltagelse tidligt i projektet. Disse greb kan ændre de gængse konventioner og forankre deltagelse i den daglige byggepraksis. Specialet bidrager dermed til arbejdet med mere socialt responsive byggeprocesser og peger på behovet for yderligere studier.

The construction sector is under pressure to support sustainable development, yet common project routines are shaped by complex technical requirements, rigid linear workflows, short-term economic goals, limited stakeholder involvement, and insufficient attention to social aspects and user needs. This thesis examines how participatory processes can be integrated into construction practice to strengthen social sustainability, using case studies of Dreyers Kollegie in Copenhagen and Håndværkskollegiet in Roskilde. In both projects, the consultancy Hele Landet facilitated comprehensive participation to align project outcomes with the needs of users and the surrounding community. The analysis is guided by Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Susan Leigh Star’s concepts of standardization and conventions. ANT looks at how people, organizations, and technologies form networks and negotiate roles, while Star’s work shows how standards and routines shape what is prioritized and measured. Through this lens, the thesis explores how Hele Landet’s participatory processes challenge conventional construction through roles, negotiations, and “translation” — connecting different interests and turning them into workable actions — and considers how to address the resulting challenges. Findings show that interviewees acknowledge that participation improves project outcomes and creates social value. At the same time, integrating participation is hindered by standardized practices, demands for economic efficiency, schedule pressure, a technical focus, quantitative metrics, and fixed conventions of project phases. As a result, social value is often deprioritized and participatory processes are sidelined. The thesis identifies a lack of formal mechanisms to keep participation prioritized throughout the project, increasing the risk of a social performance gap — when intended social outcomes are not achieved in practice. In response, the thesis outlines strategies to stabilize and institutionalize participation: embed it in metrics and decision criteria, provide skilled facilitation, communicate its value widely, secure structural backing through regulation, use pilot projects, and establish participation early in the project. These steps can help reframe conventions and embed participation in everyday construction practice. The thesis thus contributes to efforts toward more socially responsive construction and highlights the need for further research.

[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

Construction ; rethinking ; participatory ; processes ; conventional ; linear ; industry ; economic ; sustainable ; social ; value ; socially ; integrate

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