architecture, planning, peopleA Way of Life
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Empty Homes and Local Exchange This project questions the motives and results of conventional planning and regeneration projects in delivering benefits to existing residents. Attempts at public participation are at best a placation to legitimise this process. This project suggests users get together to take up a genuine control to change things such as empty houses, derelict buildings, and disused land in their area, without overlooking the decline in neighbourliness and community based on geographical proximity, which in itself leads to a lack of interest in and withdrawal from the built public environment. The project promotes a network of local skills and resources exchange whereby points can be earned for cleaning, childcare, gardening, DIY repair etc. which can in turn be used to pay for services offered by others in the area. Whilst allowing greater contact between neighbours, the network provides the ability to use shared skills to act on local physical sites. The role of the architect in such a network becomes part fixer, adapter, facilitator and go-between. Thus ‘regeneration’ can give a rejuvenated community a sense of ownership and responsibility over their built environment, as well as the social and economic benefits of local collaboration. |
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what: 4th year thesis project when: 2005-06 where: AA DIP14 download: pdf presentation 5Mb |
