Sixteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This paper draws on a study that explored participatory visual storytelling as a means of engaging young people in narrating and reflecting on urban transformation. Focusing on a selected case study in Cardiff, United Kingdom, the study invited young members of the community to capture images of their neighbourhood through place-based photo walks. The resulting photographs formed a curated collection that served as a basis for engagement and knowledge exchange between the community and broader audiences in group exhibitions, offering insights into urban places from the perspective of young residents. The visual narratives revealed rich and layered understandings of place, highlighting how young people interpreted, experienced, and reimagined their everyday urban environments. The paper offers critical reflections on the role of young people as co-creators of knowledge, the dynamics of community engagement and place-based agency, and the positioning of participatory urban photography within the broader realm of inclusive and creative urban research.