How Can Ephemeral Urban Systems Forge Enduring Civic Value?
The Challenge
Hosting a global summit required moving 750,000 daily attendees through a historic city center with narrow medieval streets. Previous events left host cities burdened with abandoned infrastructure, while temporary solutions often disrupted residents’ lives for years.
Our Approach
Buffalo Strategy conceived adaptive urban ecosystems where every temporary element served dual civic purposes. Modular transit plazas designed as future community centers were erected in vacant lots, while event-wayfinding systems became permanent pedestrian navigation aids. We employed biodegradable composites for short-term structures, which subsequently nourished urban green spaces as they decomposed.
Key Takeaway
Temporary infrastructure gains lasting value when conceived as civic prototyping. By engaging residents in co-designing convertible elements, we transformed the event into a laboratory for urban innovation rather than a disruptive spectacle.
The Outcome
1
Repurposed 89% of temporary infrastructure into permanent civic assets.
2
Reduced post-event demolition costs by 67% through circular material design.
3
Increased local business revenue by 214% during the event via integrated commerce corridors.
