RAPID URBAN REVITALISATION
Creating great neighbourhoods is about building networks of people and places. Rapid urban revitalisation projects are cheap, fast and fun ways to create physical improvement for spaces, and also build long-lasting social networks. The result is a more sustainable, safe and inclusive environment for everyone. This pack is full of ideas to get you started. Choose from a range of easy-to-source materials, an activity, or mix and match the cards to come up with new outcomes. Some ideas are so simple you could transform your neighbourhood in a weekend.
For further information, please contact CoDesign Studio: www.codesignstudio.com.au
A set of flashcards to help you with practical ideas on how to design and implement projects that can quickly and cheaply transform your neighbourhood.
HOW TO USE THIS PACK
1. 2.
METHOD
3.
+ MATERIAL
HOW TO USE THIS PACK
Review the Method cards. These example processes will help you identify project opportunities, provide tips on getting the community involved, and help identify people and skills you might need to make projects happen. Select a Material (or two or three) that you can get your hands on cheaply and easily. You will find some starting ideas in this pack. Choose an Activity. These cards suggest interactive and collaborative ways you can use your chosen material(s) to create a neighbourhood improvement project, whether it’s an event, a game or constructed outcome. DISCLAIMER: The ideas and suggestions in this pack are examples only. Individuals are responsible for undertaking adequate safety precautions, obtaining relevant permissions and observing any relevant laws or regulations related to the project. CoDesign Studio takes no responsibility for projects that result from using this pack.
+ ACTIVITY
1
IDENTIFYING BEAUTY
METHOD 1:
Duration: 1-3 hours Location: Site/Neighbourhood Materials: Camera, butchers paper, pens
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IDENTIFYING BEAUTY
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Process: Organise a group design workshop Spend time walking around the site/neighbourhood and identify and photograph three things that are beautiful about that place. This could be a texture, a view, a building, a pavement or a talent or skill of a community member. Come back together as a group and upload photos – share together why you have identified each item. Think about how these existing beauties could be enhanced or incorporated into your project. Tip: The ‘beauty’ may not be a physical object. It might also be a sound, a skill or talent or a smell. Use all of your senses.
The majority of resources needed to create change already exist within communities, our role is to identify them.
2
TRANSECT WALK
METHOD 2:
Duration: 1 hour – 1 day (depending on size of project) Location: Site/Neighbourhood Materials: Paper, pens, aerial photo or map, camera
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TRANSECT WALK
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The local community are usually the experts on the condition of the site/neighbourhood. This tool helps us to learn about local technology and practices, and Identify problems and possibilities.
Process: Organise a group of participants who are representatives of the community and key stakeholders (e.g. community leaders, residents groups, local government, business owners etc). Using a map or aerial photo, mark a cross section line through an interesting area of the neighbourhood. Participants walk along this cross section line (as closely as possible) documenting their findings along the way. Note down observations, problems, opportunities. Undertake and record interviews with people you meet along the way. Discuss findings in the group. Tip: Things to mark on the transect may not just be physical buildings. Think about activities, living conditions, people’s stories, business activities, sounds, smells, traffic movement, trees and green space.
3
STAKEHOLDER MAPPING
METHOD 3:
Duration: 1 hour – 3 hours Location: Neighbourhood Materials: Paper, pens
STAKEHOLDER MAPPING
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Identifying individuals and groups of people who are connected to or influenced by the project, and understanding what each of them wants to get out of it, helps us to create new outcomes that work for everyone.
4
Process: Identify a problem/opportunity in your neighbourhood that you wish to address. Put the problem/opportunity in the centre of a page. Around the page, identify all the people who might be connected to that problem including residents, businesses, local government, waste collection services, tenants, children – as many as you can think of. Think about how the problem/opportunity would be viewed from the perspective of each different stakeholder. Identify what outcomes each of these different stakeholders would like to see from your project. Tip: Aim to invite representatives from each stakeholder group to your next planning or design meeting to hear from them in person, and co-create solutions together.
THE POWER OF 10
METHOD 4:
Duration: 1-2 hours Location: Site/Neighbourhood Materials: Paper and pens
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THE POWER OF 10
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Process: Visit the site or neighbourhood Explain the power of 10 and the theory behind the question you are asking Ask people in the area to identify what attracts them to that area – what activities, is there something particularly unique about that places, are there activities that they would like to see in that place in the future? Make a list of 10 existing or future drawcards to that area Identify new potential drawcards where your project could add value. Tip: This tool is that the idea can be used at many different scales. You can look at it on a city, neighbourhood, street or site scale.
Research suggests that places that are great to visit offer at least 10 things to do. This could be a place to sit, playgrounds to enjoy, art to touch or look at, music to hear, food to eat, history to experience, and people to meet.
Source: Project for Public Spaces http://www.pps.org/reference/poweroften/
5
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN WORKSHOP
METHOD 5:
Duration: 3-4 hours Location: Workshop space Materials: paper & pens, laptop & projector, model making material such as plasticine, Lego, cardboard etc.
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN WORKSHOP
When you generate visions for a place and designs for a project together with stakeholders and communities, it can build shared ownership of the project, and create an opportunity for new ideas to emerge.
6
Review: • Before you begin, undertake an investigative exercise such as a transect walk or the power of ten. Choose one problem or opportunity to focus on. Design Phase 1: Vision • Create an overall vision for the site or project - what you want it to look like, feel like, smell like, how you would like people to use the space. Set clear objectives for the outcomes of the project. • Use butchers paper and pens to draw/list ideas Design Phase 2: Prototype and Test • In groups, use the ‘materials’ and ‘activities’ cards to think of creative solutions that will address the problem or opportunity, and will meet the objectives of the vision. • Build models to test ideas, don’t get too caught up in having the final design worked out in advance. Design Phase 3: Design • Groups present prototypes back to the main group. • Choose one idea and develop the design • Create an action plan and materials list of things you need to make it happen.
MATERIAL 1:
CHAIRS
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3. + 7
HOW? Improve the activity of a public space by providing light-weight re-locatable chairs; reclining deck chairs are particularly inviting!
Draw attention to something great (or awful) in your neighbourhood by placing a row of chairs, like an outdoor theatre, in front of it.
The elderly and disabled often need to take breaks when they go for a walk. Place chairs a regular interval down your local high street to make it more accessible and welcoming for everyone.
Look up linked activities: Constructing Decorating Inhabiting Games
MATERIAL 2:
WITCHES HATS
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2. 3. + 8
HOW? Witches hats can be used to change the way a space operates by directing, and altering the flow of movement, Think about creating a temporary bus stop or use witches hats to create a temporary bike path or pedestrian path.
Be creative - stack them up to create seats or public artwork.
Place battery powered lanterns or outdoor lights underneath to create an attractive lighting strategy.
Look up linked activities: Constructing Decorating Inhabiting Games
MATERIAL 3:
CHALK
1. 2. 3.
+ 9
HOW? Create a game on the footpath or a similar safe pedestrian area. A hopscotch grid only takes a few moments to draw.
Grab people’s attention and slow them down as they rush through an urban environment by drawing a pathway, a yellow brick road or writing an interesting message.
Get creative and decorate a dull or bland urban space with chalk. You could even involve passers-by in the decoration process.
Look up linked activities: Decorating Inhabiting Games
HOW?
MATERIAL 4:
ASTROTURF
1.
Create a surprise play surface with a non-horizontal lawn. Think about mounds, roofs, green walls and sloped surfaces.
2.
Transform a parking space into a mini park.
3.
Turf the lot! Wrap unlikely objects in turf, creating unusual modes of seating.
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+ Look up linked activities: 10
Decorating Wrapping Inhabiting Constructing
MATERIAL 5:
PAINT
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+ 11
HOW? Paint ugly or unlikely objects such as bins and skips in bright colours - transform the appearance of the street. Tip: avoid objects related to community safety such as fire hydrants.
Create opportunities for interactive painting; through face paint, body art, communal pavement art.
Invite others to take part in and experience art; local artists could demonstrate their skills through painting a wall, building or pavement, contributing to the artistic value of the community space. Tip: speak to the owner first, ask them to collaborate.
Look up linked activities: Decorating Games
MATERIAL 6:
MILK CRATES
1.
Configure clusters of crates on the pavement; creating communal sitting areas or create terraced environments, amphitheatre or lounge seating by stacking and binding crates with cable ties.
2.
Crates to grow things in; line with a bag or sack and use as flower pots.
3.
Use crates to carry - add a handle and make unique bicycle baskets or shopping bags.
+ 12
HOW?
Look up linked activities: Constructing Decorating Inhabiting
MATERIAL 7:
STRING & YARN
1. 2.
3. + 13
HOW? Create a string roof or structural hanging systems, by tying wool from one feature to another, creating a web. Try ‘graffiti knitting’ on chain wire fences or other gridlike features in your neighbourhood.
‘Yarn bomb’ your neighbourhood - identify objects to decorate such as trees, bike racks, street pole and so on.
Look up linked activities: Games Decorating Constructing Wrapping
MATERIAL 8:
PLASTIC BAGS
1.
Re-use plastic bags for crochet or knitting to produce extra durable eco-friendly bags.
2.
Cut the bags into strips and fix to a line or string to create bunting or decorative flags.
3. + 14
HOW?
Tie the bags to fences or objects to create a wall or arrange the bags as an art installation.
Look up linked activities: Decorating Games Constructing Wrapping
MATERIAL 9:
CARDBOARD BOXES
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3. + 15
HOW? Use boxes to build walls and create new, temporary spaces.
Cardboard boxes can be stacked, taped or glued together to create bigger, stronger constructions that can handle rough children’s activities. Think about how they might use it, and keep their safety in mind.
Boxes can be used to fuel imaginative minds: be a TV presenter, drive a racing car or fly off in space.
Look up linked activities: Constructing Inhabiting Games Decorating
MATERIAL 10:
STICKY NOTES
1.
Leave a creative message for your friends or neighbours using sticky notes.
2.
Create a public message board, allowing community members to share ideas or respond to a question.
3.
Cover objects such as walls, windows and doors with sticky notes, creating interesting patterns.
+ 16
HOW?
Look up linked activities: Decorating Games Wrapping
ACTIVITY 1:
GAMES
1.
Involve everyone: set up a giant outdoor board game that anyone can play.
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Change perceptions; create a temporary play space for children in a location they do not usually play.
3.
Create mystery and intrigue; guide people along an unusual (or ordinary) pathway through your neighbourhood. You could use chalk or witches hats.
4.
Encourage community participation; involve passersby in the creation of a temporary piece of art.
5.
Just play; take a few moments out of your day to play outdoors, try hopscotch in a quiet street.
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17
HOW?
Look up linked materials: Chalk String & Yarn Witches hats Astroturf Paint
ACTIVITY 2:
DANCING & SINGING
1. 2.
Organise an outdoor dance session, flash-mob style, with a group of friends or involve some professionals from a local dance school. Create a temporary dance floor to inspire some impromptu dance moves, perhaps even provide some music.
3.
Create a temporary outdoor stage and organise a local choir or band to put on a performance.
4.
Make an outdoor instrument the community can play, encourage passers-by to make noise.
5.
See if you can set up a regular community event in a public space, showcasing local talent.
+ 18
HOW?
Look up linked materials: Cardboard Boxes Witches hats Astroturf Chairs Crates
ACTIVITY 3:
WRAPPING
HOW?
1.
Surprise people by transforming a dull everyday object with a colourful material.
2.
Mend the holes and crevices of a tumble down building with colourful insertions.
3.
Create a piece of art in the street by weaving a pattern into a fence.
4. 5.
Wrap unusual objects with coloured paper or fabric - think about transforming a bus stop, a bin, a public seat or tree. Cover a dull vertical surface, like an underpass wall, with a bright fabric or paper. Tip: If/when it starts breaking down, replace or remove the wrapping, so it doesn’t become rubbish that your neighbour doesn’t like.
+ 19
Look up linked materials: String & Yarn Plastic bags Astroturf Sticky notes
ACTIVITY 4:
DECORATING
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. + 20
HOW? Decorate your place or neighbourhood by painting murals, artwork, or writing text that celebrates your unique suburb. Plant the nature strips to green your suburbs, for a more attractive and welcoming place that reduces heat and attracts fauna. Arrange a meet up with friends and neighbours to create semi-permanent art and play through using chalk or other semipermanent products. Grab some sticky notes and decorate bus stops or notice boards, with ideas, poems, quotes etc. Make flags out of recycled garbage bags or old cloths and rags to decorate the area you live in and bring attention to important places like community gardens or historic places or element. Look up linked materials: Plastic bags Sticky notes Chalk Paint
ACTIVITY 5:
CONSTRUCTING
1.
Change the nature of any space by creating a temporary or semi-permanent structure.
2.
Build something that can be utilised as a play space, a meeting area, or a market stall.
3.
Set up an art installation from recycled materials.
4.
Not all constructions have to be huge! Small changes can have a large impact on perception of space.
5.
Stimulate community engagement in your project, by initiating a herb garden or veggie patch.
+ 21
HOW?
Look up linked materials: Cardboard boxes Milk crates Chairs Astroturf
HOW?
ACTIVITY 6:
INHABITING
1. 2.
Lay out a roll of Astroturf in your neighbourhood to change the appearance of uninviting or uninteresting spaces, transforming perception and creating new spaces. Gather crates to create places to sit and enjoy the surrounds, or use them as play elements: goal posts, stacking, pots and so on.
3.
Grow plants or seeds in cracks or nature strips to improve neighbourhood atmosphere and appearance.
4.
Organise a neighbourhood working bee to clean up rubbish and reclaim the space.
5.
Use umbrellas to create shade and designate spaces for picnics and other place making day events.
+ Look up linked materials: 22
Cardboard boxes Chairs Astroturf Milk crates