PROJECT 

Engagement and social resonsibility 

A determined standpoint in the design process was taken. Engagement and social responsibility correlated with unique expertises held by certain groups/ actors present on site (atelier de stad Gent and TimeLab), is set to challenge the architectural conventions and typologies, which nowadays seem no longer relevant or have been played out. 

 

As a result, our design proposal can be described as a design for engagement and social interaction within a dense and rather passive environment (eg. Artevelde Hogeschool). In this way, the 'soft' or 'intangible' of our projects, emerges in a new direction. A place where an entire spectrum of activities will take life and make estranged communal space, as the on in the Brusselsepoortstraat 97, purposeful and cherished. 

 

ARCHITECTURE AS TOOL FOR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT?

Small scale, Big Change?

Nothing is everlasting; everything changes through time, so there is a constant need to adapt and respond to changes. Architecture is evolving, expectations are changing and so it seems our task as an architect to anticipate to the changing needs. It seems time to reposition our role as an architect, turning away from the top-down approach that architects applied in the past. There is a new aim to drive change at the local level, empowering society to have more impact on the development and design process of their space.

 

Nowadays architects are taking a different stand facing star architecture and posh architectural movements. We can notice an exciting shift in the longstanding dialogue between architecture and society, with a renewed sense for commitment. There is a growing interest in community engagement and collaborative design that seems to lead to new opportunities, but also new responsibilities for the architect. More than ever the architect is willing to take his social responsibility and uses his skills to engage with the people, outlining his new role in the design process, approaching the local community to develop a shared understanding of the place, the challenges and the potential. We should not underestimate the advantages of successful and meaningful community participation within the design process.

 

Sharing ideas and sharing knowledge are the main fundaments of collaborative design. By developing a common sharing and learning process between all actors who are involved in the process, we are able to activate the idea of common good. Creating a community where there is a stronger sense of belonging and ownership. Bringing the people together and stimulating an environment that is more responsive to the social needs and environmental change. Earning the trust of the participators and letting them feel it is not the project of the developers taking over space, but their project. The skills of the community should play a crucial role, allowing them to apply their ideas, knowledge and skills within the design, instead of creating posh overpowering architecture without a sensible feel for the current and future actors of the site. Trust as a fundament.

 

“If people feel a sense of belonging to the world in which they live, an involvement in the spaces they inhabit it is a good starting point.” Angela Brady – Riba President 2011-2012

 

Trust plays a crucial role in socially engaged design. It must be earned in both ways. The community should be able to notice their particular impact in the project. If they are not able to recognize the impact of their involvement in the outcomes, they will lodge it as a frustrating and timewasting process, where they feel powerless. This could lead to a community that loses its enthusiasm and its commitment, which eventually leads to an unappreciated design. It is our job as an architect to look for specific ways to get people involved in the process. Exploring new ways of collaborative working that involves the users of the site into the design process. This might be through the use of workshops, consultation, group discussions, self-build constructions,... even this actions could form the foundation of a participatory design.

 

This design studio made clear that architecture can be so much more than only designing buildings. Architecture can be used as a tool to bring people together, supporting common goods and interaction between people. In this particular new architectural approach, it is recommended that we reposition our role as an architect in the design process. It is important to use our skills to engage with society, going for an effective dialogue and trying to develop a shared understanding of their space. People are becoming actually aware of the difference between manipulation and participation. Engaging with local people and local issues, right from the start is crucial. Using their knowledge, experience and needs translated with the help of architecture so that society can embrace the design because it is theirs. It is not always needed to design big fancy buildings to fulfill the needs of society; even small scaled interventions based on the needs from the

on-site-actors can have a huge impact on society. Designing ‘with’ rather than designing ‘for’ the people, is a new stand we should take as a responsible young architect.