Monday
Apr042011
Structures for Inclusion Conference
Monday, April 4, 2011 at 2:47PM 
The Structures For Inclusion conference looked towards those that are ensuring that the other 98% (those who can’t afford to hire an architect) of the world have the opportunity to live in socially, economically and environmentally healthy communities.
These goals are parallel to the mission of UNDA and the projects presented were a testament to the direction that we hope to achieve with our future projects. The most inspiring examples were those that articulated their vested interest in community involvement. Everyone interacts with space and it is the role of the architect to facilitate a design that meets needs. There is a clear difference between a community driven effort, which a designer has the tools to implement and establish, and effort thought to be good for the community. Design investigations should include diverse community members, rather than formally presenting to them to receive feedback. It is unrealistic to please everyone, however the responsibility of the designer is to understand community member’s unique visions for the place and how to interpret these into a cohesive design. Notably, the Building Community Workshops Congo Street Initiative articulated the input of residences in the redevelopment of their homes on a street slated for demolition. The Detroit Collaborative Design Center’s St. Joseph Rebuild Center took an approach to creating a structure accessible for people to come together, feel safe and seek refuge.
I keep considering what UNDA can do with the information presented at the conference. We have initiated our education programs within the Boston Public school system and received positive responses from students, teachers and volunteers. I look toward a program like Studio H, set in rural Bertie North Carolina as an example of changing the way high school students approach learning by utilizing tools of a design education. Their hands on approach of investigation through construction methodology is something I would love to see employed through UNDA and is potentially game changing to the urban youth we are trying to serve.
Within Boston, there is a diverse community of architectural related non-profits. We are taking steps to collaborate with these entities rather than compete. Given the infancy of the organization, it is important to band together to work with others to highlight different strengths and really make a difference in Boston neighborhoods. This leads to the question, what is next? It is hard to answer, because the possibilities seem limitless. Long term, I think UNDA has the potential to organize communities to help implement design solutions and bring them to reality. Whether it is building park benches and flowerbeds to make a gathering space more enjoyable, or larger scale design build projects that express the communities we are working with.
Many of the larger scale projects presented at the SFI conference were built in rural communities; however, learning how to transfer their know-how to an urban environment is a challenge that UNDA is willing to take. The pedagogy of UNDA is to be inclusive through our programming and attract projects that allow design to be a tool for learning.
These goals are parallel to the mission of UNDA and the projects presented were a testament to the direction that we hope to achieve with our future projects. The most inspiring examples were those that articulated their vested interest in community involvement. Everyone interacts with space and it is the role of the architect to facilitate a design that meets needs. There is a clear difference between a community driven effort, which a designer has the tools to implement and establish, and effort thought to be good for the community. Design investigations should include diverse community members, rather than formally presenting to them to receive feedback. It is unrealistic to please everyone, however the responsibility of the designer is to understand community member’s unique visions for the place and how to interpret these into a cohesive design. Notably, the Building Community Workshops Congo Street Initiative articulated the input of residences in the redevelopment of their homes on a street slated for demolition. The Detroit Collaborative Design Center’s St. Joseph Rebuild Center took an approach to creating a structure accessible for people to come together, feel safe and seek refuge.
I keep considering what UNDA can do with the information presented at the conference. We have initiated our education programs within the Boston Public school system and received positive responses from students, teachers and volunteers. I look toward a program like Studio H, set in rural Bertie North Carolina as an example of changing the way high school students approach learning by utilizing tools of a design education. Their hands on approach of investigation through construction methodology is something I would love to see employed through UNDA and is potentially game changing to the urban youth we are trying to serve.
Within Boston, there is a diverse community of architectural related non-profits. We are taking steps to collaborate with these entities rather than compete. Given the infancy of the organization, it is important to band together to work with others to highlight different strengths and really make a difference in Boston neighborhoods. This leads to the question, what is next? It is hard to answer, because the possibilities seem limitless. Long term, I think UNDA has the potential to organize communities to help implement design solutions and bring them to reality. Whether it is building park benches and flowerbeds to make a gathering space more enjoyable, or larger scale design build projects that express the communities we are working with.
Many of the larger scale projects presented at the SFI conference were built in rural communities; however, learning how to transfer their know-how to an urban environment is a challenge that UNDA is willing to take. The pedagogy of UNDA is to be inclusive through our programming and attract projects that allow design to be a tool for learning.
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