Estableciendo Raíces

estableciendo raĂ­ces

a communal design process

laura gĂłmez | ARCH 7130 | research proposal

introduction ........................ ....... 4 background .............................. 6 existing literature ............... ....... 8 research gaps .......................... 10 methods | strategy ........... ....... 12 site | scope | scale ................ 14 research timeline ...................... 16 statement of positionality......... 18 sources ...................................... 20

table of contents

What if design was at the hands of the community it serves? Designed spaces ultimately serve those who live/work/engage with their context on a continuous basis, so what if we allowed the community to spark these efforts? In doing this, we, as architects/designers would relinquish some of our power as leaders but in return could create spaces that are equitable and meet not only our design goals but the needs of the community. This can create a mutually beneficial process, in which both parties learn from each other and work together towards a common goal, and can provide much more than just a finished built environment at the end of the process. Sparking this change could result in communities being more knowledgeable about design, learning skills of representation and communication, and most importantly feeling ownership of the space created and intended for them.

An architect’s ultimate purpose is to create spaces for the user, and as such the main voices in the development of spatial design should be of those who inhabit the space. Spatial equity, especially in quickly developing urban centers like Boston, needs to become a priority.

Minority communities are displaced by large waves of gentrification, and people are made to feel like they do not belong in spaces that they inhabit daily. Ensuring that people are intrinsically involved in development processes allows for the preservation and growth of communities.

How can the community gain power and ownership through design?

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introduction

This research proposal explores a possible path of achieving these goals through the development of a design framework that addresses gaps in participatory design and ultimately a conceptual public space design.

The ideas of “belonging,” “home,” and “ownership” will also be explored through this research process to gain a better understanding on how these themes can affect design. Using Participatory Action Research methods, and a focus group of community members, the framework will be tested through a community ideation process in which three possible public spaces will be designed cooperatively. The methods of photovoice, workshops, and data walks will be employed to gather community thoughts on their context, a mutual learning environment, and effective communication strategies between the designer and the community.

This redefined design process will look to establish a sustainable cycle of collaboration that can be applied to a variety of public spaces and community projects. Insight in the community’s perception of these concepts will help guide the conversations and ultimate approaches to engagement methods during the next phase of the project.

introduction

East Boston is a community that has been let down by urbanization and design. The neighborhood has been suffering with the effects of gentrification, especially in the past few years, as the area is quickly developed. The new developments are mostly high cost residential units, with 1-2 bedroom apartments. These spaces do not serve the current demographic of East Boston, which is mostly moderate income immigrant families, and the conversations between those in charge of the projects and the community have not proven to be a positive experience for the residents.

As an example, town halls, which are meant to be a time where the community and project developers/architects can have a conversation and mediate issues, are often unproductive. These spaces are not usually made accessible to the community, mostly due to language barriers. The residents are not provided translation services in order to learn about the developments and voice their opinions. As such, there is a sense of disillusionment and negativity regarding design projects amongst the community, as they have been overlooked and disregarded.

As architects/designers, we must mediate the power we have in these conversations, and work to create inclusive and open spaces for communication and ideation with the community. Advocating and centering the voices and needs of the users of our designs should be

“Wherever there’s a developer there’s an architect right alongside them” A quote from Leo Olson, part of neighborhood organization Empower East Boston and resident.

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background

background

This is of course not a new topic. The connection between the community and the design process has been studied for years now, and has led to great changes within our industry. However, there are still gaps in the idea of participatory design that must be addressed in order to create a more equitable design process. Some of the literature which I explored in this phase is discussed below: I started with looking into the concept of placemaking, a term which became increasingly popular in the design and eventually development field. However, the concept now proves to be largely ineffective as it has been co-opted mostly by development agencies in order to create a more favorable public view but disregard the values meant to be highlighted.

Due to its popularity, placemaking became a “fuzzy concept” that leads different people to do different things (Zitcer 2018) and ultimately cannot be critically used.

The design process was another point of research in this first phase of the project, looking at what current common practices are and what could be some possible gaps within them. Lawson (2006) defined the design process into a few major key ideas. Some, relevant to this work, are highlighted below: The Process is Endless

The design process should be seen as a cycle, not a one-off activity.

The Process Involves Finding as Well as Solving Problems

The designer can “diagnose” the site, its needs and requirements, a lot easier with the help of people who are within the same context.

Designers Work in the Context of a Need for Action

We do not merely create spaces, but also activate them. What better way of ensuring utilization than having the voices of the people who will actually be in the space.

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existing literature

existing literature

To look at some work that has been done in contexts similar to East Boston (immigrant communities creating a sense of place and belonging) I looked at case studies highlighted in Transcultural Cities: Border Crossing and Placemaking by Jeffrey Hou. Four case studies are highlighted below for their connections to imminent themes in this context: community building, identity, community engagement, and public spaces.

Everyday Places that Connect Disparate Homelands: Remembering through the City Clare Rishbeth “We Are the Fruit Bowl”: Place, Cultural Identity, and Social Ties among Immigrant Residents in Public Housing Lynne C. Manzo Transcultural Participation: Designing with Immigrant Communities in Seattle’s International District Jeffrey Hou Regulation and Reception of Public Space in Hong Kong Kin Wai Michael Siu

Finally, I looked at specific instances in which the community was said to be involved in the design process. In these instances, the development of a design was already set and defined, and the involvement of the community was more feedback based, asking how they should approach an already designed idea.

In looking at the existing literature, I find two major gaps. The first, studying the design process as a cycle. The idea was touched upon

by Lawson (2006) but the implementation of the concept is lackluster.

This research project aims to delve deeper into approaching the design process as a continuous cycle, between the community, space, and the designer, as a way to develop communication and skills as well as ownership in these spaces.

The second gap is found in thinking of the community as ideators. The literature explored in this phase delves deeply into ways in which the community can be engaged and provide feedback, but fails to consider them as possible points of ideation. As such, I am looking to find ways in which community ideation is at the forefront, by engaging the community before a project is even conceived, and continuing this engagement throughout the process.

Continuing Research

In the coming weeks, to continue these explorations and address recent feedback, I will be looking further into the ideas of participatory design as it relates to architecture as well as activism through architecture. Building up this knowledge will be crucial in the further recognition of gaps in the design process as well as identifying possible solutions and approaches to the issues highlighted in this booklet. This research will be conducted through a series of articles and books listed in the bibliography.

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research gaps

research gaps

design as a cycle

community as ideators

To tackle these explorations, I will be using various participatory research methods and a focus group of East Boston residents. This way, the East Boston community will be represented and included in the research process as respected and valued parts of the project.

The focus group will be formed through the snowball sampling method, starting with existing connections (Leo Olson and Deysi Gutierrez from Empower East Boston as well as a family friend that currently resides in the area) whom will be asked to spread the word and ideally gather more residents that would be willing to partake in the project. The focus group allows for longitudinal research (looking at the same participants through continued involvement) which creates a more established connection between me as a designer and the residents as community representatives. It also helps in testing out the framework in a timely manner given the project’s constraints.

Methods To start the project, photovoice will allow for qualitative data gathering on the community’s perception of their neighborhood. This method allows for the community to reflect the space through their own eyes, by submitting photography/video/other mediums of their interpretation of East Boston as well as the ideas of “home” and “belonging”.

Participatory Action Research (PAR) will be used throughout the next phase.

This method allows for equal participation between the “researcher” (designer) and the “subject” (community) working together towards a common goal. The method is self-reflective so it allows for learning, understanding, and action to be taken during the research process. In this case, I envision using this method by ensuring open communication channels between the focus group and myself, such as surveys, interview time, etc.

Data Walks, a method used in Public Health, is an interactive way for project stakeholders to converge and engage in conversations regarding the research being done, usually by walking around different parts of the neighborhood at set stations. In this instance, I aim to employ this method by creating accessible ways of disseminating project information to all parties involved in the research process. This means, looking at ways to visualize design ideas that extend beyond technical drawings and abstract diagrams, and are able to be understood and discussed by everyone.

Lastly, but most importantly, are workshops. This method will be used to ensure that the research project is a mutually beneficial process in which the community is equipped with skills necessary to understand and partake in design processes. In this way, I as a designer can provide a service to the community in the same way as they are providing a service to the project as experts in their own context. The workshops will focus on developing design skills like representation and language as well as idea development, which will aid in the community ideation stages of the next phase and beyond.

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methods | strategy

methods | strategy

photovoice

workshops

participatory action research

data walks

The site, scope, and scale of intervention will be defined by the community ideation sessions. I define Community Ideation as a process in which the community will take the lead in defining what their needs and wants are in their space. In this way, the residents are given autonomy to make design decisions, and I as the designer can act as an “interpreter” to consolidate these ideas. The hope is that the schematic design stage will remain a collaborative process, not only within the designer’s expertise.

Three sites have been identified as possible sites of intervention, with different scales and attributes. The first is an open BPDA parcel in a nonactivated area of East Boston. This empty lot allows for ample control of design/intent. The second is Central Square, an existing condition. This space is designed but underutilized by the community, mostly seen as a “passing through” square despite large amounts of space and possible connections to the context. Finally, sidewalks are a highly activated space in everyday life in East Boston. Particularly during the pandemic, these spaces have shown to be fundamental to community engagement, whether a resident is waiting for restaurant pickup or engaging in distanced interactions with neighbors.

Based on recent feedback, another approach that could be taken is looking at existing public space development proposals in East Boston as a way to test and engage these ideas. At this time, possible proposals have not been identified, but during the coming weeks further research will be conducted in search for possible projects.

All of these options provide different opportunities that will be assessed through the community ideation phase of the next phase to determine the best way to address these ideas and employ the framework.

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site | scope | scale

site | scope | scale

sidewalks

BPDA land

central square

The next phase of this project is set to take place in the Spring 2021 semester (January-May), with an intermediate phase between midDecember 2020 and mid-January 2021. The intermediate phase will be utilized for continued research and initial connections with the community, as well as general planning for the coming months. The Spring 2021 semester will be split into various intervals to address the framework, community ideation sessions, and project synthesis.

A full breakdown of the semester by weeks can be seen here:

december

january

continued research + initial connections w/ community

literature review surveys

framework development

february community ideation pt. 1 feedback

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research timeline

surveys workshops PAR

research timeline

march community ideation pt. 2

feedback

april

project synthesis + analysis

data walks workshops PAR

Although I share a lot of common characteristics with many of the residents of East Boston as a Latinx woman, that is an immigrant, and lived in a largely low-income Latinx town when I migrated to the United States, it is important to recognize my privilege as a graduate student within this community. Furthermore, I have not lived in this specific community, and although I have had multiple interactions with the area and the community, it has not been constant.

Setting up this project, I would like to create a position of Reciprocal Collaboration. The information and ideas shared should and will aim to be mutually beneficial for both the insider and outsider populations.

In regards to the approach of this research project, I am to make it as equitable as possible. It is important to understand that a large part of the population may either have limited access or no access to technological forms of communication (such as smartphones, reliable internet connections, etc.) and even those who have access may be limited in their literacy of these programs (apps, video conference software, etc). In order to mitigate these differences, I will look to find ways in which I can partner with community organizations or set up safe analog ways in which to interact with residents that may not have access to these mediums.

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statement of positionality

statement of positionality

Blundell Jones, Peter., Petrescu, Doina, Till, Jeremy, and ProQuest.

Architecture and Participation. London ; New York: Spon Press, 2005.

Canter, David. The psychology of place. St Martin’S Press, 1977.

Hou, Jeffrey, ed. Transcultural Cities : Border-Crossing and Placemaking.

London: Taylor & Francis Group, 2013 Lave, J., and E. Wenger. Situated Learning : Legitimate Peripheral Participation /. Cambridge [England] ; New York :: Cambridge University Press, 1991.

Lawson, Bryan., and ProQuest. How Designers Think the Design Process Demystified, 2006.

Ravina, Danilo V, Shih, Rowell Ray Lim, and Medvegy, Gabriella.

“COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE: THE USE OF PARTICIPATORY DESIGN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY HOUSING PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINES.” Pollack Periodica 13, no. 2 (2018): 207.

Rodgers, Maria, Marques, B, and McIntosh, J. “Connecting Māori Youth and Landscape Architecture Students through Participatory Design.”

Architecture and Culture, 2020, 1-19.

Zitcer, Andrew. “Making Up Creative Placemaking.” Journal of Planning Education and Research 40, no. 3 (September 2020): 278–88. https:// doi.org/10.1177/0739456X18773424.

Sanoff, Henry Community participation in riverfront development, CoDesign, 1:1, 61-78, 2005. DOI: 10.1080/15710880512331326022.

Wilkins, Craig L., and Dan Pitera, eds. Activist architecture. Detroit Collaborative Design Center, University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture, 2015.

Zitcer, Andrew. “Making Up Creative Placemaking.” Journal of Planning Education and Research 40, no. 3 (2018): 0739456X1877342-288.

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sources

sources