Abstract:
This thesis is a critique and reflection on current architectural design processes and is also a personal reflection on the role that architectural designers play in social processes. The exploration is focused on understanding the importance of relationships within the design process as well as analysing levels of control between the designer and the community involved. Two frameworks, Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation and John Habraken’s Levels of Control, have been adopted and compared in this thesis. The hope is that these will foster discussion about current architectural design processes and methods. These models were chosen as they include a broad spectrum of ideas concerning participation and design methods; both present widely recognised ideas which are often referred to in regards to the wider spectrum of design processes. The practical component for this thesis has been communicated through a participatory design workshop to explore the standard design process. It focuses on a collaborative process rather than a paternalistic model in order to achieve the goal of designing ‘with people’ rather than ‘for people.’ The workshop visualises the new regulations outlined in the Auckland Unitary Plan for residential zones and also makes the proposal more accessible to the public through two scales of design. The idea of community-orientated design and public and private space is explored through the workshop and focuses on the participants’ urban and spatial desires.1 Two scales of control have been engaged within the public workshops which encourage participants to explore space and form through the composition of dwelling components and the arrangement of a variety of house typologies within a suburban neighbourhood context. These 9activities invited participants to engage both physically with the models and verbally with the design facilitators allowing for a discussion of ideas which shape the design outcome of this thesis. Sharing in decision-making and control over a design project ensures that communities are empowered to engage with architecture.