Co - design of Intergenerational spaces EJ - EVENT 10TH AUG 2017
DESIGN. Design. CO-DESIGN. PLACE. Co-design. Place. - AND the THE RACE FORfor SPACE - and race space - BY M ARK .
RECENTLY, OVER 40 PEOPLE GATHERED IN OUR WOLLONGONG STUDIO to sh
in a discussion about the benefits of urban spaces where a diversity of generations can interact. Our them
through recent events has been promoting a design process that engages with the end user from the outs
of a project. Popularly called CO-DESIGN, this process of creating urban and built environments focuse on NOT JUST DESIGNING FOR PEOPLE, BUT WITH PEOPLE.
- PHOTO’S
Our Danish collaborators, RASMUS FRISK AND THOMAS
AARUP DUE FROM ARKI_LAB, shared their experiences designing with people to create urban spaces that encourage interaction across all ‘LIFE PHASES’. Thomas’ beautiful story
about a conversation with an elderly lady at a bus stop touched many of us as we were reminded of our own prejudices. He was seeing frail older lady – she told him she was missing her days as a ballerina.
Aboriginal elder, UNCLE MAX, brought a quiet stillness to the room. His thoughtful storytelling gave everyone a firsthand experience of what it was like to sit at the feet of a wise elder. Uncle Max spoke of learning through observation and recalled lessons from his youth where his elders taught him the value of PATIENCE AND RESPECT.
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To genuinely engage co-design, “YOU NEED TO BELIEVE
THAT THEY KNOW SOMETHING THAT YOU DON’T KNOW” according to Pritzker prize winning Chilean architect, Alejandro Aravena, awarded for his groundbreaking work in social housing. As Margie noted after Uncle Max’s talk, “BEING AUTHENTIC IS ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL ASPECTS IN A CO-DESIGN PROJECT.”
BY RU BY SO E T ER B O E K
comments COMMENTS TROY
Most importantly for me it cemented the IMPORTANCE of being present in the ENVIRONMENT and the people’s world around us. As Uncle Max noted, to watch the world talk to us. And to pause be present and listen - co-design. To be present in other people’s world and know the older person sitting next to you may well miss her ballet.
APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE CONTRIBUTION YOU MAKE! I took a lot away from this evening. I expect we all did in our own way.
- P H OTO BY J O S H W I L B U R N E O N U N S P L AS H
DORELIA
For Me . . . . . . the most POWERFUL MESSAGE was the story Tom told about the old lady who used to dance ballet and misses it. It reminded me not to simply judge a book by its cover and to recognise the person within, especially when dealing with seniors, people with physical disabilities, different races etc.
HOPEFULLY ONE DAY I WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE OLD, AND I HOPE PEOPLE DON’T LOOK THROUGH ME AND MISS THE PERSON INSIDE.
MARGIE Shelly the ethnographer from jump the Fence said “ I would describe UNCLE MAX’S PRESENTATION AS A MEANDERING” which I felt captured the essence of both his presentation, and his process.
BEING AUTHENTIC IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ASPECTS IN A CO-DESIGN PROJECT. WAS SUCH AN INTERESTING NIGHT!
LUCIA
Thanks for inviting me.
It was really INTERESTING! As English is my second language I had some problems understanding Uncle Max, but making my own interpretation of what he said is also a good exercise.
SENSIBILITY SHOULD BE THE HEADLINE, NOT ONLY IN ARCHITECTURE, BUT IN EVERYTHING THAT INVOLVES PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENCES.
I liked the thing about designing together. Ask the user what they want,
On the topic of education, there was a great point that touched on experience; A child that had never felt the grass between her toes. To go outside and touch the grass, smell it, break one of the long grass blades, wallow on it, jump around, or have a nap between the wild flowers. . . Can you imagine a better way to think about or design something than you have not experienced before?
which are their wishes, their ideas, motivations, their hidden creativity‌ all like a mess that the architect collects and puts together in a real way. Then, when is built,
And then I found it funny the point of making urban design as if it was a party. You invite everyone, but how do you get to make everyone to stay until the end? Different strategies for the different ages. Like at weddings!
magically people use it and it works. But it is not magic, it’s co-design!
- P H OTO BY J U L I A N W I L D N E R O N U N S P L AS H
STEVEN
thoughts from the workshop.
This was a FASCINATING comparison between the INTERGENERATIONAL relationships of modern society, portrayed by arki_lab, and the “ancient knowledge” of Aboriginal
culture, passed down through the generations. Modern society understands there are “LIFE PHASES” and today’s society encourages “AGEISM”, where we generally like to be with people of our own generation. This contrasted to the Aborigines lifestyle, where experience is gained through PATIENCE AND OBSERVATION whilst living in INTERGENERATIONAL families, reinforced by a strong understanding and relationship with their land and all that it provides. The ability to provide (for example) Seniors Living projects, which encourage integration between generations and also between residents and communities, is one way that all generations can benefit from each other through cohabitation, whether by learning from our elders, or from the exuberance of youth.
WILL
Connection to the LAND AND PLACE is so important in this world of geo-location and constant digital/social reminders of where we have been and where we are.
AND THAT CONNECTION IS SUCH A SIMPLE IDEA TOO. TO STOP AND WATCH AND HEAR WHAT IS AROUND YOU . . .
I also noticed that Uncle Max, like Ian Brown at the last event, commented that while discussion is very important, we also look to architects and designers to come up with something that is beautiful.
thank you. THANK YOU. Thanks for sharing this event with us. One of our ambitions is to hold this sort of activity to engage and involve the community. So, thanks to everybody for coming in and contributing. - SEE YOU NEXT TIME.