Mapping Human Agency in the AR-Enabled Co-Production of an Urban Community Podium

The application of Augmented Reality (AR) in construction is transforming how non-expert users engage with complex assembly processes, with its potential to foster broader community involvement in urban space production remaining underexplored. This paper presents an integrated framework that incorporates AR-enabled phygital instructions with timber dowel structures, facilitating the active participation of non-experts in the design-to-production process of an urban community food podium. By leveraging AR and computational design, the system bridges the gap between expert and non-expert users, enabling wider participation in the construction process while maintaining precision through robotic fabrication and step-by-step digital guidance. Tested within a graduate-level course and showcased at a public event, the project aims to empower community members to engage in production and assembly, offering insights into participatory urban design and co-production. The results demonstrate the capacity of augmented fabrication to enhance human agency, making complex construction tasks accessible and collaborative, and paving the way for resource-driven, community-enabling urban developments.