INTRODUCTION TO PARTICIPATORY ARCHITECTURE Cover Image

INTRODUCERE LA O ARHITECTURÃ A PARTICIPÃRII
INTRODUCTION TO PARTICIPATORY ARCHITECTURE

Author(s): Lorin Niculae
Subject(s): Architecture, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Editura Universitară “Ion Mincu”
Keywords: social housing; extreme poverty; social exclusion; participatory design; participatory architecture;

Summary/Abstract: The presentation brings an insight on the program of social housing in extremely poor settlements run by the Soros Foundation Romania over 2010 and 2011 (its program manager was the author himself). Along with a brief introduction of the conditions and premises of the intervention, there are explained the principles and methods of a participatory architecture: the bottom-up model, the empowerment and enablement of the communities, the direct, peer to peer work with the communities members, the involvement of the beneficiaries in the early phases of design, the flexibility and capacity to evolve and transform of the proposed architecture, the implementation of trans disciplinary teams and the study of the cultural identity are just few instruments sine qua non for a good intervention; without them, any intervention might be seen as oppressive rather than necessary. The change of the housing paradigm and getting rid of the modernist model represent a stake of the moment for creating an architecture of the public interest in Romania.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 179-199
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: English, Romanian