Architecture as Engagement

Architecture as a process not a final product.

Through studying these organisation it's clear the traditional sense of the architect is seen as irrelevant in community led renovation. Through analysis of the work of Assemble Architecture Collective in Granby, I aim to show how architects can go beyond their traditional role to have much greater impact, through harnessing the skills they already posses.

Traditionally with top-down housing regeneration, if an architect did engage with a community of future users, even with the best intentions it results in condescension, only allowing a brief invitation to participate in a process they ultimately have no influence over. However, community led housing organisations choosing to engage the architect rather than the other way around, creates an unusual dynamic. Forcing the project to be very participatory in nature, as they are in effect the clients with full authority over decisions, this recasts the role of the Architect leading to a new way of practice. Lewis Jones of Assemble explains, ‘it's a funny one because the CLT are the clients as well as the potential users, so it had to be developed in partnership’’. 70

Good communication with the community is key and architects, unlike other professionals, have enhanced ability to visually communicate ideas. Translating the idea, which for the residents had previously been merely discussions, into a proposal with a level of “detail and visual authority” enables them to truly explore their vision. 71 This can also create the conditions for a meaningful dialogue to occur between local grassroots level and institutional partners, such as the local authorities and funders. Assemble did this by creating a “Brochure to describe the area in a more positive light” 72 . Presenting the whole

area as a consortium of ideas enabled Granby to secure asset transfer from the council and attract more grant funding. Architects’ ability to incorporate the creativity of locals, empowering them to flourish and communicate their ideas to institutions, can be very transformative.

Architects should also aspire to have a much deeper involvement, addressing the larger socioeconomic issues that affect the community in question, beyond the usual scope of the “designer”. 73 Through embedding themselves into the context of the user, while drawing from being a generalist in areas of knowledge from engineering to social arts, Architects are able to see the wider picture and link identified

Figure 13: “Brochure to describe the area in a more positive light” Source: Assemble http://assemblestudio.co.uk/?page_id=862

Figure 14: Embedding into community, Fran from Assemble with Theresa and Hazel from CLT, celebrating Christmas together Source :Ronnie Hughes https://asenseofplaceblog. wordpress.com/2015/12/17/happy-christmas-from-granby-4- streets/ local

issues to possible solutions. 74 Assemble achieved this through organising an array of other complementary actions, to help regenerate the community. These built upon previous efforts to improve the area, giving recognition and celebrating the achievements of the residents. The most notable creation being the social enterprise the Granby Workshop, which brought long-overdue economic opportunity back to the

Working in partnership with the community, the architect should not relinquish their role as a designer - a trend that was present in the 60’s & 70’s. In a attempt to preserve power structures, they striped themselves of any authority acting as more of a facilitator delivering the desires of the community without imposing on them. 77 However with this “relinquishment of power, the expert professionals also relinquish their knowledge” 78 . Assemble managed to form a good working relationship with the residents of Granby, where both parties’ mutual respect

held their specific knowledge at an equal level of importance, allowing for productive, informed suitable design. Assemble are very vocal about the fact they will not ‘deny or undermine their role’ in the design process. They have things they are also interested in and they believe in ‘collaborating with other people to find a common ground’ rather than adopting a position of letting someone participate in a framework which they set out. 79 This resulted in excellent design and aspiration, while remaining open to collaboration with the communities, built on trust generated through real engagement with the neighbourhood. 80

Architects working with the community should ultimately work in a live way, designing a process rather than a predetermined outcome. They should be opportunistic, working in small steps that exploit the given context, through detailed analysis. Focus their skills to make connections between differing parties, as well as diverse social issues. Drive beyond the preceding notion of “design professionals”, to forge a new era of civic responsibility and ethical entrepreneurialism. 81

Figure 15 : Assemble working on site in Granby producing fireplaces from rubble Source :Ronnie Hughes https://asenseofplaceblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/17/happy-christmas-fromgranby-4-streets/

Figure 16: "Assemble use innovate forms of communication to engage residents. Granby resident Nasra Elliott and daughter Shiloht next to 1:10 model of winter garden project” Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/granby-four-streets-liverpools-shining-11575281