This paper explores participatory architecture through counterbalancing a historical review with an analysis of four emergent projects. This paper aims to contribute to understanding emergent participatory architecture practices and extract best practice and insights around these forms of designing with people. We analyse four emergent participatory projects developed in Spain, France, Norway and England, using a narrative inquiry-based method to examine interviews, observations, and literature. We then discuss the lessons learnt and argue for contemporary participatory architecture as a strong alternative to overcome the issues associated with conventional approaches to architecture that exclude people from the design process; and to address the most pressing challenges in our society and cities with local communities.