Design through community involvement by Ale Bog

RECKON OBSERVE ASK LET THEM SHOW LET THEM DECIDE

Nov/Dec 2015

text Alexandra Bogdanova

Design through community involvement

DESIGN THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

FROM ITS ORIGINS, ARCHITECTURE WAS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROFESSION. WITH TIME IT HAS BECOME EVEN MORE COMPLEX. NEW TECHNOLOGIES, MATERIALS, FUNCTIONS AND NEW PROBLEMS CHANGE THE WAY WE DESIGN NOW. HOWEVER, THERE IS A CONSTANT ELEMENT THAT HAS NOT GONE, IT IS A HUMAN – USER.

ARCHITECTURE STILL WORKS FOR USERS, AT LEAST IT SHOULD. THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGIES OR THE MOST COMPLEX SHAPES ARE NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS PEOPLE, WHO WILL USE THIS BUILDING, SPACE OR PLACE.

RECKON OBSERVE ASK LET THEM SHOW LET THEM DECIDE

PHENOMENOLOGY IS KNOWN AS A YOUNG PHILOSOPHICAL STREAM IN ARCHITECTURE. AT THE SAME TIME, ARCHITECTS ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT PERCEPTION OF PLACE, OBJECT OR ELEMENT. AT THE STAGE WHEN CITIES BECAME MORE COMMUNAL, LABOUR, DANCE AND COMPLEX LIFESTYLE HAS CHANGED. HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ARE GATHERING PACE AT THE MOMENT. IT HAS BECOME POPULAR TO INCLUDE USERS TO THE DESIGN PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN OR LANDSCAPE FIELDS. IN SOME COUNTRIES IT HAS EVEN BECOME AN ESSENTIAL SECTOR (DENMARK IN SOME CASES). THERE IS NOTHING AMAZING, AS LONG AS A PROFESSIONAL CREATES DESIGNS FOR HUMANS; IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS, PREFERENCES AND EXPERIENCE. AND THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND SUCH PIECES OF INFORMATION IS TO ASK USERS DIRECTLY.

TO UNDERSTAND THE GAP AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE METHOD, IT’S SIGNIFICANT TO NOTICE THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS A WIDELY USED METHOD IN URBAN AND LANDSCAPE SPECIALISATIONS, BUT IN ARCHITECTURE IT’S A HARDLY FOUND PRACTICE. WHAT’S THE REASON?

CAN AND SHOULD WE CHANGE THE FACT? HOW IS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROCESSED?

DESIGN THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

COPENHAGEN OR KEY TO SUCCESST

MAPPING ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNEYS OF FUTURE INHABITANTS OF THE PROJECT, OBSERVATION MAY IMPROVE PLANNING.

IN A LECTURE DROGA ARCHITECTS IN RESIDENCE IN BRISBANE NORD ARCHITECTS SHOWED SOME PRECEDENCE OF

PARTICIPATION OF ALL GROUPS FROM DESIGNERS, THROUGH

EXTENSIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROJECT RESULTS AT THE

GOVERNMENT TO LAY PEOPLE WITH PRODUCTIVE EQUAL

END. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT NOBODY BOTHERS ABOUT

PARTNERSHIPS EMBODIES CREATIVE DESIGN THINKING. AN

THE ENVIRONMENT WE LIVE IN, THAT PEOPLE AREN’T READY

EFFECTIVE DESIGN EXPLAINS NEEDS OF MAINSTREAMS AND EX-

TO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME ON SOME GROUP MEETINGS TO

TREMES ALL TOGETHER AND HOW THE ARCHITECT CAN ADJUST

DISCUSS A POTENTIAL, FUTURE NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT.

IT TO MATERIAL AND SOCIAL WORLD (STEINS 2015). TO

HOWEVER, THESE GUYS PROVED THAT WE ARE LIKE KIDS, WE LIKE IT, WHEN OTHERS ENGAGE WITH US. EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR ATTENTION (GREGERSEN 2015). FROM HERE, THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS THE ARCHITECT’S INTEREST IN THE FIRST STAGE. THE ARCHITECT’S IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY AND ENERGY REFLECT DIRECTLY ON A FINAL RESULT. ARCHITECTS SHOULD CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF PLAY, SO PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO THE SESSION, BECAUSE THEY FEEL RESTED, NOT EXHAUSTED. AND THE PARTICIPANTS’ AGE DOESN’T MATTER, THEY ARE ALL KIDS THAT COME TO PLAY WITH BIG-SCALE TOYS. IT’S NOT A JOB, IT’S FUN. DURING A PLAY EVERYONE IS ALIKE, THERE ARE NO POSITIONS OR PREVALENCE. SUCH A PROCESS JOINS SOCIAL LAYERS, HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THOSE AROUND THEM. IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL MOMENT AS WELL. PEOPLE FEEL POWERLESS REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT FROM TIME TO TIME, WITH

ACHIEVE AN EFFECTIVE DESIGN, USERS MUST BE MOTIVATED AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR IDEAS AND CONCERNS. STANDARD QUESTIONNAIRES DON’T ENCOURAGE USERS’ ENGAGEMENT, WHILE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VARIOUS GROUPS IMPROVES RESULT MUCH BETTER. THE BRIGHT, EMOTIONAL PROCESS AND ENERGY DURING CONSULTATIONS ENGAGES THE INTEREST OF EVERYONE. DEBORAH SZEBKO SHARES HER EXPERIENCE ABOUT POWER OF GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND BRAINSTORMS.

SUFFICIENT COMMUNICATION STANDS ON ANOTHER LEVEL IN COMPARISON WITH BASIC BOX-TICK ANSWERS (SZEBEKO 2005). PEOPLE CAN MAKE CHOICES AND FEEL PART OF THE WHOLE PROJECT. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT CONSULTATION, BUT GIVING OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE TO TAKE A CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES (MAHDAVINEJAD & ABEDI 2011).

THE HELP OF PERIODICAL TRAININGS PARTICIPANTS BECOME

THE PERFECT WORLD DESIGNING A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, FOR INSTANCE, AN ARCHITECT GUIDES THE WAY PEOPLE WILL LIVE THERE, BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND BELIEFS. ARCHITECTS BUILD KNOWLEDGE OF ART FROM PROJECT TO PROJECT AND IDEALLY THE KNOWLEDGE BUILDING PROCESS HAPPENS DURING A POST-DESIGN RESEARCH. HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE CARRIES OUT SUCH RESEARCH. BY THE WAY, THE PROCESS MIGHT BE HASTENED IF THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE CONSULTED BEFORE EVEN A BRIEF DEVELOPMENT. THIS PART TAKES TIME AND ENERGY DURING THE PROCESS, BUT IT ENCOURAGES MORE AFTERWARDS. PARTICIPATORY DESIGN ALLOWS FINDING OUT NEEDS OF USERS. THE RESULT REFLECTS MAJOR DEMANDS AND CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS. WHEN PEOPLE ARE HAPPY, THEY LOOK AFTER THE PLACE THEY LIVE IN, THEY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY DON’T WANT TO MOVE TO ANOTHER PLACE AND AS A RESULT THE OBJECT WORKS SUCCESSFULLY AND LASTS LONGER. THE ARCHITECT RECEIVES MORE PROJECTS AND EVERYONE IS HAPPY. OF COURSE NOT EVERYTHING IS SO PERFECT.

WHAT MAJOR PRINCIPLES UNDERPIN YOUR APPROACH TO URBAN INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT?

RECKON OBSERVE ASK LET THEM SHOW LET THEM DECIDE DESIGN THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

EFFECT ON THE ARCHITECT’S ROLE A ROLE OF THE ARCHITECT IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE COMMUNITY’S WISHES AND TO WHAT EXTENT, WHO MAKES A DECISION AND LEAD ALL THAT’S HAPPENING AROUND. RETAINING AUTHENTICITY OF PUBLIC AND PERSONAL IDEAS IS A BIG CHALLENGE. AT THE TIME OF MEETINGS, DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTION STAGES, THE ARCHITECT HAS A ROLE OF A LINK BETWEEN VARIOUS LAYERS: CLIENTS, RESIDENTS, CONSTRUCTORS, BUILDERS AND MANY OTHERS. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS A COMPLEX CONCEPT. PRE-PLANNING, BEFORE GATHERING, NEEDS TO BE CARRIED OUT TO ANALYSE POSSIBLE EFFECTS, ISSUES, TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED, RESOURCES BE NEEDED AND STRATEGIES BE USED. AS A RESULT A WHOLE DESIGN PROCESS BY THE ARCHITECT CAN’T BE THE SAME. IT ISN’T ABOUT THE FINAL PRODUCT ANYMORE. IT’S AN INVESTIGATION OF SOLUTIONS THAT COME FROM REGULAR CONSULTATIONS (ASSI 2002).

IN OTHER WORDS, BE PATIENT AND GET READY TO WORK EVEN HARDER. IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS, BUT DON’T BE SCARED. IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THIS DIFFICULT STUFF IS ONLY FOR BIG PLAYERS. I BELIEVE, THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYONE. A SMALL COMMUNITY IS FOR A SMALL STUDIO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MOREOVER, ARCHITECTURE IS A PROFESSION THAT WE CHOSE NOT BY THE REASON OF MONEY OR AN EASY LIFE. IT IS OUR PASSION AND LIFE. SO LET’S CREATE A BETTER LIFE TOGETHER.

WORKSHOP IN NETAJI NAGAR, YERAWADA, PUNE

BUREAUCRATIC ISSUES ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT DIFFICULTIES INITIALLY IS A DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN THE PROJECT SUBSIDY. EVEN WHEN WE EXPECT THE COLLABORATION TO BE FREE TO JOIN AND UNPAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES IN HUMANS INVOLVEMENT. FOR INSTANCE, ETHICAL APPROVAL IS NEEDED TO PROCESS ALL THESE ACTIVITIES. POLICE SHOULD BE INFORMED IN ADVANCE ABOUT A GATHERING AND REASONS FOR THAT. ARCHITECT SHOULD DEVELOP A CURRICULUM OF MEETINGS AND WRITE A COURSE DESCRIPTION (NGO MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION SWITZERLAND 2014). ANOTHER ASPECT IS ADVERTISING. PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS, IF NOT, NO ONE WILL ATTEND. THERE ARE SOME WAYS TO INVITE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE. IT MIGHT BE AN ABSTRACT IDEA OF A BETTER LIFE AS A RESULT, BUT JUST A FEW PEOPLE WILL POINT THIS OUT. ANOTHER WAY IS TO PRESENT THE PARTICIPATION AS A DEVELOPING OF PERSONAL SKILLS, LEARNING, BUILDING THEIR BAGGAGE OF KNOWLEDGE.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MAY INCLUDE THE EVENT IN THEIR RESUMES IF IT’S WORTHWHILE. AT THE STAGE, THE ARCHITECT DESIGNS EVERYTHING, BUT ARCHITECTURE.

REFERENCES ASSI, E. 2002, “COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN A HOUSING RENEWAL PROJECT IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM”, JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION, VOL. 8, NO. 1, PP. 74-85. GRAYSON, T., YUET, H.T., JOLLY, D., KARBAN, K., LOMAX, P., MIDGLEY, C., ROUKE, I.O., PALEY, C., SINSON, J., WILLCOCK, K. & WILLIAMS, P. 2013, “INCLUDE ME IN: USER INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION”, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION, VOL. 17, NO. 1, PP. 35-42. GREGERSEN, M.R. APRIL 21, 2015, “DROGA ARCHITECTS IN RESIDENCE - NORD ARCHITECTS (COPENHAGEN)”. MAHDAVINEJAD, M. & ABEDI, M. 2011, “COMMUNITY-ORIENTED LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING”, PROCEDIA ENGINEERING, VOL. 21, PP. 337-344. NGO MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION SWITZERLAND 2014, , COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (5 DAYS). AVAILABLE: HTTP:// NGOMANAGER.ORG/NGOMS/COURSE-PROGRAMME/ COMMUNITY-PARTICIPATION-IN-DEVELOPMENT-PROJECTS-5-DAYS/ [2015, NOVEMBER 28]. STEINS, C. 2015, AUGUST 4-LAST UPDATE, INNOVATING THE PLANNING PROCESS THROUGH COMMUNITY-CENTERED DESIGN [HOMEPAGE OF ACI INFORMATION GROUP], [ONLINE]. AVAILABLE: HTTP://SCHOLAR.ACI.INFO/VIEW/14B5FB080A40 0140009/14EF8D8177500010008 [2015, NOVEMBER 25]. SZEBEKO, D. 2005, “CO-DESIGNING FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND SERVICES IN THE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT”, JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH, VOL. 4, NO. 4, PP. 42-47.

Pictures BALESTRA, F. & GÖRANSSON, S. 2009, WORKSHOP IN NETAJI NAGAR, YERAWADA, PUNE, [ONLINE]. AVAILABLE: WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM [2015, NOVEMBER 28]. NICK WATES 2010, HOW TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS IN PLANNING, DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT, RUDI & LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY, LONDON, [ONLINE]. AVAILABLE: WWW.RUDI.NET [2015, NOVEMBER 28]. POLISTUDELFT 2010, WHAT MAJOR PRINCIPLES UNDERPIN YOUR APPROACH TO URBAN INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT?, [ONLINE]. AVAILABLE: WWW. POLISTUDELFT.NL [2015, NOVEMBER 28].

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