This thesis explores the mechanisms, challenges and potential of urban co-production in the creation of public spaces, with a focus on the Aurora district of Turin, Italy. As cities increasingly adopt participatory governance models, the study examines how co-production can move beyond fragmented and symbolic participation to become a systemic governance tool. Through an in-depth case study of three public space projects in Aurora – the Giardino Cardinale Pellegrino, the Giardino di Via Saint Bon and the Trincerino railway trench – the study examines how different levels of governance interact, how citizens contribute to planning processes, the role of the academic community and what institutional barriers hinder effective collaboration.