Pop-up City Research Initiative
Pop-up City Research Initiative studies the temporary, intentional gatherings of people and resources meant to accelerate collaboration and experimentation on frontier tech, science and arts, as well as human coordination systems. We document existing models, their success and failure points, suggestions for improvement and future directions.
1. Overview
Scope
Zuzalu-derived
Pop-up cities
& comparative analysis of related community and city-building models
Participants
Pop-up cities & communities'
Organizers,
operators, attendees/residents, sponsors, locals, civics, vendors, volunteers, & more.
IP & Licensing
CC BY 4.0
Open license
allowing reuse and adaptation with attribution. Learn more: open license (CC BY 4.0)
Methods
Mixed-methods research from
50+ Interviews, 200+ Surveys,
Desk and online research & Thematic analysis
Learn more
Status*
32
Interviews
/50
with key stakeholders completed
19
Pop-up cities
& organizations represented so far
0
Surveys
/200
Surveys planned for launch in Feb 2026
*Last updated
Help us grow this number
2. Rationale for the Study
Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a pioneer, but we do. By virtue of having been part of an emergent “pop-up city”, you helped pioneer new forms of governance, economy, and culture, and likely witnessed or contributed to the development of frontier projects within the community.
Pop-up cities, in the sense we use the term here, are temporary, city-like communities where people co-live, co-work, and experiment with new forms of culture, governance, and economic life. They are characterised by:
Short duration: a few weeks to a few months
Relatively large size: roughly 100 to 1,000+ short- and long-term residents
Techno-optimist populations with strong overlap across crypto, longevity, AI, governance, neurotech, and art
Project acceleration dynamics: startups, research collaborations, art projects, and policy ideas
The term “pop-up city” became widely adopted starting in 2023 with the emergence of Zuzalu, and later with Zuzalu-like communities such as Vitalia City, Edge City, the Mu, and dozens of others.
There is no single agreed model for these communities. … Read the full rationale
3. Research Focus and Questions
Focus
The study focuses on lived experience and value exchange within pop-up cities, including but not limited to experimental cities, temporary communities, large-scale cultural events, and special zones that function as fast-forming urban environments.
Questions
Despite the rapid growth and evolution of these gatherings and their organizing entities, there is limited en masse talk between stakeholders, both internally (within one pop-up city project) and externally (amongst multiple pop-up projects). The aim of the current study is to understand patterns, tensions and blind spots around:
What kinds of value people seek when they engage with a pop-up city (social, economic, cultural, professional, and others).
To what extent those expectations are realised in practice.
How participants perceive the balance of costs and benefits in terms of time, money, labour, attention, and risk.
How pop-up city models differ in structure and form.
Which groups the current models serve well, and which may be underserved or disadvantaged.
What changes could make future iterations more economically, socially, and operationally sustainable.
4. Methodology
Semi-structured interviews
We conduct 30–60 minute semi-structured interviews with a diverse set of stakeholders, including organisers and operators, volunteers and staff, sponsors and partners, local residents and businesses, and both regular and first-time attendees.
Desk and online research
We complement interviews with desk and online research, including review of public documents, reports, media coverage, and online discussion related to specific projects and to the broader discourse around temporary and experimental urban communities.
Large scale survey
Based on the qualitative findings, we will run a survey to test key hypotheses at a larger scale and quantify selected patterns. Details of the survey go in their own page; Read more
Thematic analysis and synthesis
Interview and survey material and secondary sources are analysed thematically to identify recurring patterns, tensions, and design levers across different contexts.
5. Data Consent
For any questions or concerns regarding privacy, please contact us at research@thouartofficial.com. Our work follows a conservative approach to privacy and consent, as outlined below:
We collect only data that is relevant to the research.
Participation is voluntary. Participants may decline to answer any question or withdraw from the interview or survey at any time, without consequence.
Data is anonymised by default. Where we collect optional demographic information, we do not publish any combination of details that could reasonably identify an individual (such as name, specific role, or other unique attributes).
Quotations used in public outputs are anonymised unless explicit permission is given to attribute them.
Audio recordings and raw notes remain private. Data is not used for purposes beyond this research without explicit consent.
6. Outputs and Publication
This study is designed to produce shared public outputs and, where appropriate, tailored contributions for specific ecosystems or organisations.
Planned public outputs
+ Full Report
Web + Downloadable PDF
+ Insights
A series of shorter posts on our website and social media, sharing findings, patterns, and practical takeaways.
+ More
This report is the first step in an ongoing line of work. We aim not only to document current models, but to iteratively refine frameworks and tools that practitioners, residents, and institutions can use over time.
7. Timeline
Nov 2025
Initial fieldwork
Research launched with in-person interviews at Edge City Patagonia and DevConnect.
Dec 2025
Qualitative phase
Additional interviews with key stakeholders, complemented by desk and online research; preparation of a large-scale survey based on early themes and insights.
Feb 2026
Quantitative phase
Deployment of the follow-up survey, alongside data analysis and selected additional research methods where needed.
Q1 2026
Publication
Release of a public report summarising key findings, case insights, and practical frameworks.
Q1-Q2 2026
Public engagement
Open discussions, talks, workshops, and feedback sessions to test the findings and explore future directions.
8. Leadership and Independence
The study is co-led by Denisa Lepădatu and Jimin Lee under the umbrella of Thou Ārt Research. Together, we are responsible for the design of the research, data collection, analysis, and publication of findings.
The work is independent and non-commercial. We welcome critical feedback, external review, and collaboration with organisations who share an interest in temporary and experimental urban communities.
9. Participate and Contact
Our ability to reach every relevant voice is limited. If you are involved in a temporary or experimental city-like community, or know someone who is and are willing to participate or to help us connect with others, it makes a real difference.
How to participate
Start participating by filling the form below. We'll respond promptly in 12-24 hours.
For questions or organisational enquiries, you can also email research@thouartofficial.com
This study depends on people who are willing to share their time and experience. We are deeply grateful to all organizers, residents, builders, partners, and locals who have already contributed through early conversations and interviews.
