This document provides an overview and introduction to resources from Integral UrbanHub on using integral theory and frameworks to design thriveable cities. It summarizes perspectives from experts on the importance of developing urban centers and discusses concepts like integral methodological pluralism and integral program design. The document advertises additional books and guides available on integralurbanhub.org that apply integral theory to understand challenges cities face and how to address them through collaboration across sectors and worldviews.

1. Paul van Schaik
integralMENTORS
17
Integral UrbanHub
Integral Program Design
Thriveable Cities
DRAFT
Urban Hub
a meta-pragmatic approach

2. © integralMENTORS
17

3. Urban Hub
Integral Program Design
Thriveable Cities
integralMENTORS
Paul van Schaik
Creator & Curator
Integral UrbanHub
17

4. Copyright ©©integralMENTORS– October 2019
ISBN-13: 978-17….
In fullness and freedom
A series of graphics from integralMENTORS integral UrbanHub work on Thriveable Cities presentations.

5. "Perhaps of even greater relevance is that the long-term sustainability of
the planet is inextricably linked to the fate of our cities. We are
urbanizing at an exponential rate, with more than half of the world’s
population now living in urban centers.
The biggest global challenges we are facing from climate change, the
environment, availability of energy and resources, social unrest, and
financial markets are generated in cities, but cities are also the hubs of
innovation, wealth creation, and power.
Put slightly differently, cities may well be the problem, but they are also
the solution.
This strongly suggests that there is a great urgency to develop a more
quantitative, predictive, computational framework that can complement
the traditional, more qualitative, narrative approaches to understanding
cities – a framework that can help inform today’s and tomorrow’s
practitioners and policy makers.”
Geoffrey West - Santa Fe Institute

6. "All this requires a significant reality check, and a sense of humbleness
about what each actor can achieve’. …however, we should be hopeful and
accept that because ‘we only have influence (and not control) over
development processes, we must not lose our courage and ambition.
The fact that the large-scale, long-term change that is required cannot be
planned in advance, or achieved based on any one actor’s goals and
intentions, is not a reason to give up the drive for change.
Lessons from the concept of self-organization in complex systems show us
the power for change within systems of heterogeneous and connected
agents.
The role that mindsets, feedback, leadership and sense-makers have in
shaping the behaviour and interactions of interacting agents
shows the true potential for change’.”
Harry Jones, co-author of a recent ODI paper on complexity

7. Content
Introduction
Integral Frameworks
Integral Methodological Pluralism
Integral Theory of Change
Integral Evaluation
Design Ideas
Case Study
Participation
Evolving Change
Going Integral
Books

8. It has become clearer and clearer to me that the work I am
engaged in involves building our capacities to cope with
phenomena—that is, the mess of the world, “the swamp,”
the heat, the smell, the emotionality, the conflict and all the
things that come from engaging as whole people with
whole people.
This means leaving our desks, holding our models lightly
and engaging our senses.
The reward being work that is deeply rooted in the
complexity of the world, owned by the people who are
affected by them instead of opaque, unaccountable
agencies.
Slouching Towards Flatland, Zaid Hassan, 2007

9. Introduction

10. Integral begins with a recognition that we are evolving
through growth stages in individual consciousness and
culture.
Each of these stages has something important to offer: a
dignity, insight and capacity, which shines most brightly
when combined, or integrated, with the dignity, insights and
capacities of other stages.
This integration creates more than the sum if its parts, giving
rise to new emergent capabilities.
These capabilities include the ability to harmonize
previously conflicting perspectives and worldviews and to
see and enact solutions that have not been seen or tried
before.

11. “Between current technologies and the emergent potential
of collective action, a plethora of solutions exist. Ultimately,
however, the problem of sustainability is a human problem,
the greatest challenges of which are socially constructed. In
other words, “only a major shift in moral reasoning, with
greater commitment given to the rest of life, can meet this
greatest challenge of the century” (Wilson, 2016).
The good news is that the shift has already begun on the grass roots level
where local sustainability initiatives are becoming prototypes for the
potential inherent in a globally connected, post-formal society. Even
better, these localized initiatives mark the beginning of a move towards a
truly regenerative culture.
Complexity theory holds that a small, local, well- leveraged change can
transform entire systems.
Collective Evolution and Next-Stage Organizations – Eric Reynolds 2017

12. Second Tier Program Design
www.integralmentors.org
Walking in the world not talking of the world
No one vision is sufficient in and of itself – visions can
guide but only by collaborative action in a creative
generative process can visions grow and become part
of an ongoing positive sociocultural reality.
Without taking into account the many worldviews that
currently co-exist and crafting ways of including them
in a positive and healthy form we will continue to
alienate vast sections of all communities and
humankind.
It is through the growing healthy versions of all the
different worldviews that we can attempt to move
towards an equitable, regenerative and caring world.
Through action we will move forward – through only
ongoing talk we will stagnate and fail.
These books are to be dipped into – explored and
used to generate ideas and discussion.
A catalyst for collaboration and action.
And most importantly grown, modified in a generative
way.
This is a living series - any suggestions for inclusion in
the next volumes send to:
info@integralmentors.org

13. How to use this book
A taste of many visions in our world.
Visions both positive - utopian, and negative -
dystopian. Each claiming to be true and enfolding all
the others.
But in reality they are ‘true’ but partial – and some
more ‘true’ than others. Each ‘shallower’ truth
transcended but the best is included in the next
‘deeper’ or broader truth.
It’s how we use them together and in collaboration
that will define how successful we are. It is the
morphogenetic pull of caring that will determine how
we succeed as a human race. It is the ability to
generate an equitable, fair, resilient and regenerative
‘system’ that must drive us forward.
The means will be a combination of many of the ideas
showcased here but many more still to be discovered
on our exciting journey into the future. Held together
through a syngeneic Integral Mythological Pluralism.
Too little courage and we will fail – too much certainty
and we will fail. But with care and collaboration we
have a chance of success. Bringing forth emergent
impact through innovation, syngeneic enfoldment &
collaborative effort.
And a deeper understanding of a broader framework
will be required – that is, a more integral vision.
Explore and enjoy – use as many of the ideas as
possible, enfolding each into an emergent whole that
grows generatively.
At each step testing – reformulating – regrouping –
recreating.
Moving beyond, participating, thro’ stake-holding,
thro’ share-holding, to becoming a thrive-holder.
Second Tier Program Design
www.integralmentors.org

14. INTERVENTIONS
'Whatever plan of action we adopt in our attempt to remake the world, our
usual first step it to pin a laudatory label on what we are doing. We may call
it development, cure, correction, improvement, help, or progress. We load
untested conclusions onto ill-stated premises. But every intervention in an
existing system is, for certain, only an intervention. We will make progress
faster if we honestly call the changes “interventions” only, until an audit
shows what we have actually done. Needless to say, such honesty will be
resisted by most promoters of change.
The point isn’t to avoid risk or even intervention. But rather to be humble
about our knowledge, or lack of it. To know when we should avoid small,
immediate, and visible benefits that introduce the possibility for large (and
possibly invisible) side effects. Less is more.’
Garrett Hardin writes In Filters Against Folly

15. Full book only
available at
integralMentors
workshops

16. Books

17. Key to an Integral approach to urban design
is the notion that although other aspects of
urban life are important, people (sentient
beings), as individuals and communities, are
the primary ‘purpose’ for making cities
thriveable. All other aspects (technology,
transport & infra-structure, health, education,
sustain-ability, economic development, etc.)
although playing a major part, are
secondary.
Urban Hub Series
These books are a series of presentations for
the use of Integral theory or an Integral
Meta-framework in understanding cities and
urban Thriveability.
Although each can stand alone, taken
together they give a more rounded
appreciation of how this broader framework
can help in the analysis and design of
thriveable urban environments.
Guides for Integrally Informed
Practitioners
The Guides for Integrally Informed
Practitioners (adjacent) cover much of the
theory behind the Integral Meta-framework
used in these volumes. For topics covered in
others volumes in this series see the
following page.

18. Not available as a pdf

19. Urban Hub series
Pdf versions are gratis to view & download :
https://www.slideshare.net/PauljvsSS
Can also be viewed at:
issuu.com/paulvanschaik
Hardcopies can be purchased from Amazon
Urban Hub 19
Curator
Marylin Hamilton
Urban Hub 20
Curators
TCI C40 cities
Not available as a pdf

20. 17
IntegralUrbanHub
IntegralProgramDesign
ThriveableCities
UrbanHub
ameta-pragmaticapproach
A series of books from integralMENTORS Integral
UrbanHub work - on Wellbeing and Thriveable Cities
Integral theory is simply explained as it relates to
these themes see UH 2 & UH 3 for more detail.
This volume is part of an ongoing series of guides to
integrally inform practitioners.
This looks at how programs can be implemented
using the Integral Mets Framework and Integral
Methodological pluralism