Kiel

Cities such as Kiel are confronted with the growing challenge of fostering inclusive civic participation across increasingly diverse and spatially fragmented urban landscapes. Traditional structures of local governance often centre around fixed, institutional locations like the town hall, which can act as both a symbolic and physical barrier to broader citizen involvement. Participation is frequently limited to those with the time, proximity, and resources to engage in formal processes, leaving many voices unheard.

This challenge is particularly acute in less central and scattered neighbourhoods, where daily interaction with municipal institutions is rare. Residents in these areas often lack convenient access to information, decision-making forums, and meaningful opportunities to express their concerns or contribute to shaping public policy. As a result, engagement tends to remain concentrated in well-connected urban cores, reinforcing spatial and social inequalities in governance.

Furthermore, existing participation formats often rely on top-down communication and formal procedures that may feel inaccessible, intimidating, or unresponsive to the lived realities of many citizens. This disconnect contributes to a general sense of distance and disillusionment with local institutions, weakening the foundations of democratic co-responsibility and hindering efforts to build more responsive, inclusive, and trust-based urban governance.

The Tiny Rathaus project aims to explore and implement new forms of civic engagement and public sector innovation through a mobile, flexible structure. Its primary function is to make municipal dialogue more accessible by bringing participation opportunities directly into diverse urban contexts. This approach lowers entry barriers and allows a broader spectrum of citizens to engage in local decision-making processes.

By altering the physical and symbolic framework of municipal interaction, the project challenges conventional perceptions of public administration. It creates a temporary, informal environment that encourages more approachable and transparent dialogue between civil society and local government representatives.

The space also facilitates constructive and respectful communication. It offers a setting where individual concerns can be voiced alongside institutional perspectives, contributing to greater mutual understanding and trust.

Through its adaptable and low-threshold infrastructure, the Tiny Rathaus enables a wide range of actors—from community groups to small organizations—to experiment with co-creative methods that might otherwise be out of reach due to limited resources.

The Tiny Rathaus has evolved from a prototype into a fully operational mobile unit, demonstrating the practical implementation of co-creative approaches in municipal contexts.

Designed as more than a temporary intervention, the structure enables flexible use by a broad spectrum of actors, including city officials, civic initiatives, and local communities.

Its public engagement impact is significant. Since completion, the Tiny Rathaus has visited 32 locations, hosted 167 events across 130 active days, and facilitated approximately 3,000 individual conversations.

The presence of the mobile unit has generated visibility for over 22,000 citizens, evidencing its capacity to activate public spaces and foster civic participation.

Functioning as a practical case study, the project supports the development and application of creative competences in public sector innovation.

It serves as a recognizable and accessible example of “creative bureaucracy” within Kiel, often cited as a reference to encourage the adoption of co-creative methodologies in other municipal departments and projects.

Nationally, the project has received substantial recognition. In 2021, it was awarded the Koop.Stadt federal prize as part of the National Urban Development Policy, acknowledging its innovative approach to public engagement.

Its visibility has extended through inclusion in conferences, publications, and media coverage.

The model has contributed to a broader dialogue on mobile infrastructure for civic engagement and has inspired similar initiatives, such as the Tiny Design School and the Tiny Dorfladen.

Overall, the Tiny Rathaus demonstrates the potential of mobile, participatory formats to reshape how municipalities interact with citizens and stimulate innovation within public administration, while contributing to more inclusive, collaborative, and responsive urban development in municipalities beyond Kiel.