Ebenezer Gate Pocket Park

Sara, Rachel; Jones, Matthew; Rice, Louis; Daniels, Sally; de Graft-Johnson, Ann

Abstract

The Hands-on-Bristol collective worked with local residents, community groups artists, architects and makers to co-create a community run pocket park. The research aim underpinning the project was to use action-based design-research processes to explore how collaborative processes can positively empower communities in place-making. The project then ran in two phases, with two distinct sub-aims: To explore how can abandoned pockets of urban space be reclaimed for community use through participatory design processes and; To develop techniques which empower communities in place-making.

The projects developed a range of methods of engagement that facilitated working closely with a wide section of the community in collaboration with students, artists and built environment professionals. The project generated initial ideas for sustainable community place-making through organizing creative consultation and co-design events, working with local stakeholders to identify pockets of abandoned space and generate debate about their use,and then to negotiate the opening up of a disused pocket of land for community use. The project used co-design principles to design and build a community space, funded by the DCLG which empowered the community to take ownership of the space in a way that led to it functioning as a successful community managed space.

• Digital Artefact Type: Other
• Conference Name: Barn Raising Event
• Start Date: Apr 17, 2017
• End Date: Apr 17, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 17, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 13, 2017
• Keywords: co-design, participation, architecture, community, pocket park
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/912744
• Related Public URLs: http://www.hands-on-bristol.co.uk/ebenezer-gate-pocket-park/
• Contract Date: Feb 13, 2017