Integrated Design and Living Labs to Fostering Smart (Waste) Networks

There is increasing concern about environmental sustainability and waste management issues. This study argues that the combination of process integration and participatory organization can support and promote the creation of smart networks aimed at improving the sustainability performance at both the building and urban levels. This work is intended to act as a starting point to theoretically connect the two bodies of literature: on one side, integrated design process and integrated project delivery, on the other side, participatory organization and the Living Lab approach. Little studies have been done to couple the two topics as a strategy to foster and facilitate smart waste networks in the context of the building sector. To achieve this, first, the Chapter reviews relevant literature about the integrated design process and integrated project delivery. The Chapter proceeds then with presenting literature about participatory organization and the Living Lab approach. Lastly, the Chapter concludes with the presentation of a proof of concept of collaborative service aimed at boosting social innovation and smart waste networks and developed by applying an integrated design process and a Living Lab approach. Some final considerations are proposed.