Community-centered design or participatory design is an approach in the design process that prioritizes the active involvement and engagement of the community. It includes them in the design and planning processes of their built environment. This design approach seeks to build a rigid foundation that considers and recognizes the needs and values of the people who will inhabit and use the spaces. It seeks to create more inclusive, sustainable, and culturally relevant architectural solutions by creating responsive and transformative designs.
Community-centered Design: By the Community for the Community
The cruciality of community engagement ensures the inclusivity of a diverse demographic group prioritizing accessibility to ensure that the built environment caters to people of all abilities. It emphasizes the necessity to hear their voices as well as include their input in the design process. Workshops, both online and on-site, are an interactive method to work on the community-centered design that stems from their needs, wants, and values.
The inclusion of the community incorporates elements from their cultural context that reflect local traditions, history, and aesthetics. Their respect for local customs and traditions gives a closer insight to architects and designers to the cultural relevance of their interventions, which is paramount in the design process. It provides the required integration and preservation of cultural techniques. Their participation shifts the focus to user-centered solutions. By the involvement of end-users in the design process, architects aspire to create spaces that fulfill the functional, social, and cultural needs of the community.
Community-centered design benefits the social cohesion between the members of the community. It has the power to shape social interactions, foster a sense of belonging, and strengthen societal ties by creating spaces that encourage communal activities, gatherings, and shared experiences. It supports the social infrastructure and further nurtures community connections. It also gives power to the people and fuels their emotional need to have a direct impact on their surrounding environment. Engaging the community in the design process promotes a sense of ownership. People are more likely to care for and sustain spaces that they have been a part of creating. This can contribute to the longevity and sustainability of architectural interventions.
Community-centered design focuses on the integration of sustainable practices that align with the community’s values and environmental goals. Incorporating green spaces, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable materials in response to community concerns about environmental impact.
Empowerment, Flexibility, and Adaptability
Community-centered design empowers community members by giving them an active role in the decision-making processes related to their living spaces. It provides the needed flexibility and adaptability to spaces to accommodate the changing needs over time. Spaces can evolve with the community, ensuring that they remain relevant and functional for years to come. The fostered empowerment presents an opportunity for active learning and education helping residents understand the importance of various design choices and creating a sense of pride and awareness about their built environment. Their engagement is not only limited to the design process, it extends to the construction process by emphasizing the use of local materials and involving local craftsmen which results in supporting local economies and preserving traditional craftsmanship.
Architecture: Reflection of the Community
Architecture is a visual reflection of the locals. The involvement of the community in community-centered design provides insights into local challenges and concerns. Concerns that are related to housing, transportation, or public spaces. This allows the designs to address specific, real-world problems faced by the community. The following discussed projects are the epitome of people-centered design that mirrors societal needs. They showcase different scales and approaches to community-centered design in architecture, ranging from neighborhood revitalization to sustainable housing solutions.
Theaster Gates’s Dorchester Projects (Chicago, USA):
Theaster Gates, an artist and urban planner, transformed abandoned buildings in Chicago’s South Side into vibrant cultural spaces. The Dorchester Projects involve community engagement, arts, and cultural initiatives to revitalize the neighborhood.
Housing as Urbanism – Aedes Network Campus (Berlin, Germany):
The Aedes Network Campus in Berlin explores innovative housing solutions. It emphasizes community participation, affordability, and sustainable design to address urban housing challenges.
The Eden Project (Cornwall, United Kingdom):
The Eden Project is an educational charity that transformed an abandoned quarry into a series of interconnected biomes housing different ecosystems. The project focuses on environmental education, sustainable architecture, and community engagement.
Vancouver Laneway Housing (Vancouver, Canada):
Vancouver‘s laneway housing initiative involves the construction of small, secondary residences in the backyards of existing homes. This community-centered approach addresses housing affordability and density issues, while also preserving the character of established neighborhoods.
The High Line (New York City, USA):
While not a traditional housing project, the High Line is an elevated linear park built on a former railway track. This urban regeneration project in Manhattan involved the community in its design, providing a green space that reflects the neighborhood’s history and culture.
Baumgarten School (Vienna, Austria):
The Baumgarten School project in Vienna focuses on creating a modern, energy-efficient school building that integrates seamlessly into the community. The design emphasizes natural light, flexible learning spaces, and a connection to the surrounding environment.
Kalkbreite Cooperative (Zurich, Switzerland):
Kalkbreite is a cooperative housing and mixed-use development that prioritizes community involvement. Residents actively participated in the planning process, and the project included a mix of affordable housing, commercial spaces, and communal facilities.
The Luchtsingel Bridge (Rotterdam, Netherlands):
The Luchtsingel Bridge is a crowdfunded project that reconnected fragmented neighborhoods in Rotterdam. The community was involved in fundraising, and the bridge serves as a symbol of community collaboration and urban revitalization.
Community participation in people-centered design is not just a method; it’s a philosophy that values collaboration, empathy, and a deep understanding of the communities architects serve. By actively involving people in the design process, architects can create spaces that go beyond aesthetics and functionality, becoming catalysts for positive social change.
