27 th June 2012 The Social Life of Cities: what is the designers’ role? London Festival of Architecture Events
Nov 11, 2014
27th June 2012
The Social Life of Cities: what is the designers’ role?
London Festival of Architecture Events
Social Life is a new venture set up by the Young Foundation
We know that a lot of what makes cities work is flexibility, organic growth
When places go into economic decline it has a huge social cost and there is a need to intervene
Mistakes are often repeated
There are times when places go through moments of change where the potential for intervention is amplified
200 years+ of planned new communities but relatively little known about what makes places work
Putting people at the heart of placemaking
Over the last three years we reviewed the evidence, and explored the tension between intervention and organic development
The first question: what is a community?
An alternative view: what makes a community? • Physical boundaries to promote geographical
identity • Local myths & stories • Visible leadership • Strong social relationships, networks & bonds • Opportunities for informal, spontaneous social
encounters • Rituals and rhythms • Shared belief systems, garden cities, new towns,
eco-cities.
Reviewing the evidence “… where these facilities were already in place when people began to arrive, the community came together and networks were formed more easily” CLG New Towns Review
“ … most mixing across social groups takes places between children. It is these contacts … that provide opportunities to meet and form relationships.” CIH/JRF 2005
“ … planning for hard infrastructure alone would never build a community … it would only be done by a matrix of formal and informal opportunities or supported activities.” Cambridgeshire PCT (2007)
The importance of social relationships
Plaque to commemorate the site of former Arkwright Town
New Arkwright, Derbyshire
• HafenCity, Hamburg
•
Hafen City, Hamburg: sociologist appointed as “go-between” - intermediary for early residents and developer
Cabrini Green, North Chicago: good fences help make good neighbours
A framework for social sustainability
The Young Foundation/Social Life Social Sustainability Framework, 2011
So what is the designers role? • Make beautiful functional buildings and
places • Physical structures that promote
identity and belonging • Public space that encourages people to
mix and get to know each other • Promote neighbourliness • Places to play and use • Places that make people feel safe and
prevent crime • Encourage people from different
backgrounds to mix
Designing places On behalf of the community Involving the community With the community “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Jane Jacobs
social-life.co [email protected] [email protected]
Putting people at the heart of placemaking