19.08.2016 - Ausgabe: 4/2016

Ways of involving local communities in the active planning of public spaces

By ThoMi Bauermeister, Bettina Walther (gruppe F Landschaftsarchitekten)

Public consultation is a phrase that is on everyone's lips because it is considered to be a factor that essentially determines the success of undertakings - although this insight has only really prevailed in Germany since certain major construction projects triggered large scale public protests. And yet, this strategy of involvement is all too often seen simply as a means of reducing resistance to plans; this ignores the fact that involving the public not only generates acceptance but can also be used to harness the expertise that local residents possess; like landscape architects and planners, they too have skills. They can contribute input to planning and design processes because they have the local knowledge that the outside planners do not. In order to create sites that will conform to the actual needs of the subsequent users and to increase their level of identification with projects, gruppe F has actively strived over the past 15 years to include local communities in its public space planning projects through dialogue-orientated processes.

If consultation strategies are appropriately conceived and residents are offered the opportunity of genuinely contributing, it is surprising how many will take up the challenge. At the same time, if the consultation process is to be a success, people also need to be encouraged to become involved. There are low-resistance techniques that can be employed. For example, participants can be prompted to write their wishes on signboards that are then put together at the area in question. This procedure will ensure social inclusion with even less-well educated people and those with speech disorders feeling comfortable about becoming involved. A playground in the Letteallee in Berlin was to be renovated and local children were asked to give their opinion on the various existing features of the original playground using little signboards bearing 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' symbols. They also added their ideas for changes to the boards which they then stuck in the ground at the location of the envisaged modification.

Being present on the spot improves contact to residents and helps ensure that it can be determined that the results of the consultation process are representative of the wishes of the community as a whole. In the above case, chance passers-by were surveyed to determine what they knew about the playground and its condition while three local public workshops were held during which an informal atmosphere for discussions was created using stratagems such as an event in which we offered to exchange 'pancakes for ideas'.

So that discussions can remain on a less complex level at which there is no need to employ technical jargon, it is a good idea to present concepts in a readily intelligible visualised form, such as models. The ideas and designs for the equipment to be installed in the Letteallee playground were sculpted by 9 - 10 year-olds attending the primary school in its vicinity. For the participants, all this gave them insight into not only what is involved in development procedures but also into the functioning of democratic processes - they learned about the relevance of planning, to communicate about design and how to come up with a solution satisfactory to everyone.

Those who have taken part always end up waiting impatiently to see their decisions take shape and are disappointed when nothing at first happens. In the case of actual construction projects, it is thus always advisable to ensure that very real prospects for implementation are in place and that the budget and project time frame are known. Construction work on the playground in the Letteallee commenced immediately on completion of the consultation process and it was opened in the spring of 2015.

The colourful plastic 'hill' with its large climbing net, trampoline, long slide, slide poles and three mountain climber ropes that is the main attraction of the new playground is used as a lively linking element between the two different levels of the playground. While the higher level has a large area set aside for active diversion and ballgames, a carousel and large double swing and offers plenty of play options for children aged 6 years and over, the lower protected section has been designed to be more attractive to younger children. Here there are a play house with freely accessible wooden platform and two small colourful spring-mounted animal figures made of wood for riding in the sand pit. The play options are supplemented by a teepee offering various climbing options. New trees have been planted to provide shade and together with the various seating areas, this play area also offers a pleasant venue where accompanying parents and carers will also be able to rest and relax.

Another important factor that determines the outcome of public consultation processes is transparency. In a further consultation process supervised by gruppe F, the public were given the opportunity to participate in a charrette procedure[1] that had the objective of preparing a preliminary concept for the regeneration of the Böcklerpark in Berlin. There was an on-site office that visitors could drop into at any time and either observe the progress of the planning work or actively become involved, and learn about the processes, activities and actual design work and input their own ideas. Public meetings were held at which concrete planning suggestions were collectively generated and adapted as necessary. This meant that those interested could participate in the planning process at all stages and discover on what basis decisions on the work to be carried out were made.

The highlight of this charrette procedure was a party to celebrate its completion, at which the results of consultation were presented in summary and there were performances by dance and skateboard groups. This not only provided the event with a cultural context but also demonstrated the close and diverse relationship that the community has with the Böcklerpark. The show put on by local groups, such as its 'Monday dance group', attracted more people to the site who could also be recruited for the project; such parties also serve to celebrate what has been achieved. Neglected sections of the park were refurbished as a direct result of this consultation process and new features were created to make the periphery of the park more accessible and appealing. The removal of unsightly hedging and the integration of additional attractions, such as a hybrid city square with skatepark and a playground for young children, means that people are more actively incited to use the park following its rejuvenation.

Another project involved the creation of a community garden on the former site of the Bettina-von-Armin school in the Märkisches Viertel district of Berlin. Already in 2009, gruppe F used an 'idea exchange' concept to collect opinions of the local residents on how this waste ground should be used. Our 'ideamobile' vehicle, a colourful VW van, visited various central parts of the district to draw attention to the project while passers-by were also surveyed. The local weekly market was also used as a venue at which it was possible to stop and question people during their routine activities, thus facilitating the collation of the various ideas and views without any extensive outlay of effort.

Work groups and meetings were held as part of the idea exchange process in order to discuss the potential uses of the site. As a result, 78 ideas were accumulated. Some of these could actually be implemented at other locations in the district while concrete suggestions for the intermediate use of the Bettina-von-Armin school site were generated. Among this mass of proposals, that of constructing a community garden there turned out to be most viable and this concept was implemented over the next three years.

Those living in the neighbourhood can now rent the 40 m² plots that they can cultivate themselves. In addition to the garden allotments, there are a playground and lawn for sunbathing. A community centre was also constructed that incorporates a tool shed, toilets, kitchenette and a terrace.

In a project entitled 'Stage & Chill', the two designer firms gruppe F and Bauereignis collaborated with the pupils and teachers of the Herbert-Hoover school in the Wedding district of Berlin to create a stage setting that can also be used as a schoolyard chillout site. The process began in the spring of 2014 with a ‘pupils’ ideas week’, during which many classes worked on this topic in various lessons. The actual design of the stage was then developed over the course of a week with a small group of pupils from various classes during a process that involved an excursion, a model building phase, a survey of the schoolyard and 1:1 trials with various elements on the stage site. This less formal approach to the trying out of ideas helps children and adults who are unfamiliar with the plans to envisage what the results of proposals will actually look like on the site itself.

Based on the initial concept drawn up by the pupils, gruppe F then set about the planning. The first section was completed by May/June 2015, during which the pupils themselves participated over the two weeks of work. Thanks to their active involvement, the pupils came to identify closely with the project, helping to minimise subsequent vandalism.

The completion of the first phase of construction was marked by a colourful topping out ceremony that included theatre performances and the pupils were then able to begin to use their stage. The end of the most extensive work phase was celebrated by a party at which the great commitment of the pupils to the project was acknowledged. In the same year, a second construction phase saw the creation of an audience space with wooden platforms.

The projects outlined above demonstrate that it is possible to achieve a high level of support for new construction undertakings and to promote a greater sense of community through consultation processes with the local residents, who can be recruited for planning and design tasks as experts with the necessary local knowledge.

 

Image: gruppe F Landschaftsarchitekten