Change by Design 2014: Collective imaginations for contested sites in Euston

The UCL Urban Laboratory and the Bartlett Development Planning Unit are supporting the fifth instalment of the Architecture Sans Frontieres-UK Change by Design workshops, looking at how participatory design can be used to enhance the negotiation capacity of local groups when relating to large-scale development and regeneration initiatives in London. Building on participatory design tools developed in previous workshops in Brazil, Kenya and Ecuador, the Change by Design team (Naomi Shinkins, ASF-UK; Beatrice De Carli, School of Architecture of the University of Sheffield; Matthew French, UN-Habitat Afghanistan; and Alexandre Apsan Frediani, DPU) is partnering with Citizens UK and diverse groups of local stakeholders to generate community designed scenarios which seek to bring about positive outcomes of the proposed High Speed Two (HS2) rail link in the Euston area for local residents.

The workshop will build on research undertaken by MSc Social Development Practice students from the DPU, which investigated 'regeneration aspirations' of residents in the Euston area. The report has contributed towards the elaboration of an HS2 Citizen Charter spearheaded by Citizens UK members in Camden, which intends to enhance the negotiat­ing power of community groups and push for the best possible conditions for local residents and communities in future regeneration plans for the borough.

The Change by Design workshop aims to support such on-going activities of Citizens UK by using the principles expressed at the HS2 Citizen Charter to explore residents' spatial imaginations for three contested sites in the Euston Area. Using participatory design tools, the workshop will generate scenarios that reflect local residents' regeneration aspirations as a tool to support on going negotiations with stake-holders involved in the HS2 proposal for Euston station. The workshop also aims to reflect on the role of participatory design in supporting and bringing about social change (For more reflections on this, listen to the podcast of the event exploring the collaboration between ASF-UK and the DPU on participatory design).

Join this one-week workshop to explore and debate participatory design as a relevant tool for advocacy and socio-spatial transformation. 

Where? London, UK 

When? 10-16th September 2014 

Who? Built environment practitioners, researchers and students

To apply, contact: changebydesign@asf-uk.org 

Application deadline: 22nd June 2014

How much? £375 (includes course fee and lunch) 

Change by Design 2014 is an initiative by Architecture Sans Frontières UK in partnership with Citizens UK, with the support of The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College London; Urban Laboratory, University College London; Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield. 

For more information on the workshop.

For more information on Change by Design