Community Engagement Essay

Chen Cherng Yu

Community Engagement P30026 - Design Literature Review Date of Submission - 8 November 2013



“do you sell ice cream?”

“no. we sell architecture design, community development and consultation, interactive workshops and service design.”

The ideas and practices of community-led design has been around and practiced for a long time, especially so within the field of architecture, urban design and master planning (Alexiou et al., 2013). Ralph Erskine, one of the pioneers in community-led design, has shown in his Byker Wall project in Newcastle how successful a project can be by involving the community (Blundell Jones and Canniffe, 2007). Despite the growing demand of this approach in the built environment (Wares, 2000), the practice of community-led design has been underutilized and sidelined as there remains poor recognition and understanding of its approaches and benefits (Alexiou et al., 2013). But why is that? Why do practitioners remain ambiguous towards users participation during design process?

This literature review sets out to observe a practice that advocates and exercises participatory methods in their design practice. It will provide an insight into the general approach of the particular practice as well as the particular research methodologies practiced in their key projects. Through that, the literature review aims to distinguish the general potentials and limitations of the research methodology in assisting design process and its relevance to the contemporary architectural practice scene.

Winston Churchill once said “We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us” (Churchill, 1944). While buildings often reflect the qualities of the people who design and construct them, its architectural design surel...

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...ing process, it is nevertheless a good start for the young firm. The practice shows that with the right type of participatory method at the right time at the right place, community participation can be manageable and effective (Sanoff, 2000). The result will then be design of buildings and other products that are reflective of the concerns and aspirations of the end users (Sanoff, 2006). In conclusion, community participation is all about working with communities on an equal basis (Wares, 2000). While the unique approaches of this young practice are surely commendable, perhaps what is truly inspiring about Icecream Architecture is their unique mentality of and bold approach towards architecture. Less constrained by formalistic theories and traditional conventions of architecture as profession, Icecream Architecture seems to be more concerned with people and process.