A Co-Design session for the Wyndford

The Co-Design event took place on the 2nd of May 2023, in the Maryhill Hub. It was arranged by the WRU (Wyndford Resident Union) and the facilitators; Eva Voulgaridou and Chico Shankland, aiming to feed into the Archifringe event organised by a group of GSA students named: Rethinking the Architect: the Fight to ‘Save the Wyndford’

You can read more about the event here: https://architecturefringe.com /festivals/2023/rethinkingthe-architect-the-fight-tosave-the-wyndford

Why

Four tower blocks in the Wyndford Estate in Maryhill are currently slated for demolition. In November 2021, the residents received a letter introducing the demolition plans under the guise of an exciting "transformation project." However, the letter did not provide a clear explanation of what the project entails. The residents were invited to participate in an 8-week consultation, but many of them reported that no subsequent events were organized. Consequently, they have lodged an official complaint, alleging unlawful consultation.

As architects, we strongly believe in the power of engagement and participation as crucial steps before any proposals. We advocate for redefining our role as active listeners, facilitators, and supporters of the community.

The purpose of this co-design event was to demonstrate what is possible and necessary, to create a positive narrative for the future of Wyndford, and, most importantly, to listen to the residents!

The session was divided in 4 separate sections.

01. Strengths and Challenges

The participants were asked to write thoughts on printed photos which were provided in advance. Once marked by the participants, the photos were pinned on the wall, allowing everyone to embrace collective thinking.

02. Brainstorming​

Using the photos from activity 01, we asked the residents to identify key topics that require further discussion.

03. Co-design

The key topics were then grouped into 4 categories that we assigned to study groups for brainstorming and ideas discussion.

Participants

In total about 30 people participated in the session with a mix of owners, tenants and a few visitors living in the neighbourhood. The age mix was quite varied with participants from their late 20s to their 60-70s. The invitation to the event was open to all, aiming to ensure inclusivity, freedom of participation and maximum engagement.

It is worth noting that consultation processes are typically lengthy and phased, and we are aware that a few hours cannot fully capture the depth and complexity of a comprehensive consultation process. This event served as a 'teaser', offering a glimpse of the possibilities and benefits that a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process can bring.