Abstract

This photo essay introduces a pilot urban design project focused on the design of sets of interactive “henges” across three central Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia) city locations. Developed through a collaborative design process with the city council and other local Smart City stakeholders, these henges feature site-specific digital and sensor-based forms of interaction. They represent an innovative approach to shifting patterns of night-time anti-social behavior within specific locations by re-imagining these sites as arenas for individual and social play. The henge sites aim to prompt discussion with city communities over the value of play within urban design and engage citizens in future Smart City initiatives. This essay discusses the challenges of collaborative research involving multiple urban stakeholders, and of developing innovative social design using interactive technologies.