Seeping in? Embankment of product innovations in urban renewal

There seems to be a widespread consensus that the buildings sectors ability to handle innovation will be crucial for its future. This paper reports on ongoing research into getting new products, which are intended for urban renewal, implemented and embanked in actual urban renewal projects. Three different approaches to the journey of new ideas and new products into a sector are discussed, namely buying behaviour, innovation networks as well as actor networks and political processes. A specific focus is given to processes of embankment, which is understood as the normalization into the engineering and design culture of the companies responsible for design in urban renewal. Embankment is beyond implementation, which is the first use of a new product. Implementation is often given special attention, whereas embankment is often forgotten. Case findings from an ongoing study of three products developed with support from the Urban Renewal Company of Copenhagen are presented and discussed. One, the centrally placed heating system is used as primary example. A mapping of the design and production network within urban renewal in Copenhagen show a relatively small group of engineers, architects and contractors as recurrent. Drawing on the three theoretical perspectives, different explanations occur for the lack of even implementation, but also lack of embankment of the products. Prices, tradition in choice of solutions, competing products and lack of leadership are some of the explanations. Suggestions for improved embankment include the strengthening of non-commercial intermediaries, such as professional associations. It is argued that the seeping in of an innovation in a sector cannot be carried out solely on a commercial basis. Rather personal networks are crucial.