the problem, the potential and the process

These are the slides I presented yesterday to Elio Caccavale, product designer and lecturer, who amongst many things specialises in collaborative research methods.  He spent the morning with the Master of Design course to give feedback about our projects and to offer some suggestions about who we might benefit from speaking to.  The focus was very much on who would be our ‘expert’ – in my case the community of Menzieshill.

1. The problem

This is South Road park in Menzieshill, looking towards Tesco.  I’m not saying that Tesco is the problem here, but there is a general threat to our open spaces.  At the moment open space is graded by council officers according to various criteria – this is then used as a reference during the planning process, to evaluate what importance a piece of ground has.  However, these judgements are made by people who, more often than not, don’t live in the area.  It is important to find a way of allowing local residents to share their thoughts and connections with open spaces so that the true value can be understood.

2. The potential

Open space has tremendous value.  It can strengthen personal relationships, increase opportunities for leisure and relaxation, improve quality of life, and contribute to a stronger sense of local identity.  Shared spaces can soften the corners of the city and act as a natural magnet for a whole range of social interactions – all the more important in this northern country where so much of our lives take place behind closed doors.  The images above are of projects that have had significant effect on their communities:

top left: City repair, Portland.  Creatively transforming intersections and communities through placemaking.

top right:  Hausbau: Folke Kobberling and Martin Kaltwasser, Berlin.  Artist and architect couple building temporary structures with recycled materials.  These structures become hubs for the local community – “We want to transport a sense of possibility into the remaining public space.”  (Folke Kobberling)

bottom left: No.1 Allotment project, London.  Space for the disabled to learn new horticultural skills.

bottom right:  Squatted plot, Baltimore.  Creating life and growth in unused space.

3. The process

This gives a feel of what I’ll do with this project – it is still early days, so things will become clearer as I go on…  Pictures include Park(ing) Day; workshop at Buddhafield festival; Big things on the beach in Portobello, Scotland; Anab Jain’s ‘Wanted’ ad; the Changing Space gallery; Nadine Feghaly and Dima Boulad’s park patches; plus various images of my previous projects – including impromptu tea gatherings, camera kits/cultural probes, children’s workshops and vegetable growing.  Watch this space to see what will happen in Menzieshill….