How we work as community architects
We are a Midlands based practice with over 20 years experience in public consultation work at a variety of project scales. We enjoy the work and are committed to finding win/win solutions to often conflicting demands.
We prefer to work from a local design office which should act as a drop in point of contact with display space, meeting area and phone/fax facilities. On larger masterplanning projects we have also experimented with internet based, E-regeneration, using bespoke, open access sites. There are no right methods, those which get the best public response are right for your area.
All projects share consultative processes built upon effective participation with the project stakeholders. We have direct experience of a variety of participatory design techniques:
- User Focus Groups
- Design Workshops
- Gaming and Simulation Community Video
- Community Newsheets
- Planning for Real
- Questionnaires
- Attitude Measurement
- Minolta mapping
- Project Web Sites
- Modelling- Lifesize/scaled and computer based
Getting to know and trust each other is essential, but will take time. We expect to work in an open manner with our proposals being open to scrutiny and public discussion.
Established residents groups should play a central part in getting us up to speed by sharing their local knowledge and experience. Local people are experts about their home area.
Our success is measured by how much the community collectively own the outcome.
Your Plan, Not Ours.
Local economic regeneration
During redevelopment opportunities for wider economic regeneration exist. They require multi-agency involvement and considerable effort to fully exploit. Frequently they are process and people based and do not rely upon physical interventions.
Opportunities which we have been involved in include:
- Local employment campaigns
- Construction training packages
- Reskilling /Back to Work campaigns
- Community Business support/Social Enterprises
- Transitional relief measures
- School/business liaison
- Credit Unions
- Community Development Trusts
- Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS)
- Parenting/community Childcare initiatives
- Community Levy/Neighbourhood Funds
- Industrial Sponsorship
- Youth Forum
- Public Art Projects
- Ecological/sustainability projects
- Wildlife Conservation & Educational Projects
- Community web sites
- Local Learning Net