This paper examines the change in the perception of the suburban from an inherently non-sustainable territory to one with environmental, social and architectural potential through a comparative analysis of the suburban in three European countries: Belgium, France and Denmark. The approach identifies urban, architectural, social and environmental constants and variables in each country in order to better illustrate the reasons for and nature of this shift of perception. 104 M. Serre et alii Suburban renewal. Perspectives from Belgian, Danish and French cases ÀGORA The article begins with a comparative insight into the legal contexts and urban policies that have favored or limited suburban development. This review highlights how the increasing focus on sustainable development has introduced the concept of suburban transformation as an integral part of the 'urban sustainability' discourse. Several case studies of renewal initiatives in the three countries are then examined.

Across Europe many suburban areas strive to boost their vitality through intensification of uses and densification of their vast existing urban fabric. Urban participatory practitioners working from external positions to urban administrations can play a vital role by introducing new co-creative formats for collaboration between public and private actors. Drawing on theories of capacity building and participatory planning this article explores two case-studies from France and Denmark. Through two models of action led by two different urban participatory practitioners we investigate capacity building as long-term and multilevel processes that are structured through different phases and processual goals: (1) To Mobilize: How to create a group of action. (2) To Involve: How to work together in the same direction (3) To Flow: How to anchor the process. The juxtapositioned cases then establish a nuanced perspective on interdisciplinary approaches of urban practitioners and their implications for capacity building in a suburban context.

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