[OSList] Charrette in Connecticut

[Barbara B. Bunker]

I heard about a charette process used to redesign the decaying downtown in an
urban CT town.  The architects brought in sketches or photos of the main street
downtown and asked a very diverse group of stakeholders to think about what they
would do to meet their own needs as well as get rid of urban blight.  Seniors
wanted their senior center connected more easily and safely to the downtown. 
Some people wanted 2nd floor apartments downtown.  New types of business were
proposed.  The joggers wanted the fence that kept them from coming downtown for a
coffee to have a gate so they could meet friends while exercising, etc, etc.  The
architects/planners  then went back to their drawing boards and created new
models that were responsive.  Some weeks later at another meeting the whole group
reassembled to review and react to the new plans. It's my understanding that the
final project was quite successful.  I see it as a structured engagement process
for getting the people affected, involved in the change process.  B3





Barbara B. Bunker Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology Emerita
The University at Buffalo
117 Highland Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
716-881-2166

On Mon 01/30/12  5:21 PM , "Harrison Owen" hhowen at verizon.net sent:
> Eva – The big difference with OS and Charrette is that the
> architects charge megabucks and think they are doing a real big
> special deal. We just invite some folks to enjoy their open space, and
> then they forget about us. We may or may not get paid.  L
> ho
> Harrison Owen
> 
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> 
> Potomac, MD 20854 
> 
> USA
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
> 
> Camden, Maine 20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> 
> (summer)  207-763-3261
> www.openspaceworld.com
> 
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
> 
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> OSLIST Go to:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> [1]
> FROM: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] ON BEHALF OF Eva P
> Svensson
> SENT: Monday, January 30, 2012 3:10 AM
> TO: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> SUBJECT: [OSList] Charrette?
> Hi you'll wise guys out there,
> 
> Have you heard of charrette? On wikipedia it says  
> 
> "A _charrette_ is a method of organizing thoughts from experts and
> the users into a structured medium that is unrestricted and conducive
> to the creativity and the development of myriad scenarios.
> 
> The word _charrette_ may refer to any collaborative session in which
> a group of  designers [2] drafts a solution to a design problem. While
> the structure of a charrette varies, depending on the design problem
> and the individuals in the group, charrettes often take place in
> multiple sessions in which the group divides into sub-groups. Each
> sub-group then presents its work to the full group as material for
> futuredialogue [3]. Such charrettes serve as a way of quickly
> generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and
> interests of a diverse group of people. Compare this term with 
> workshop [4]."
> So what's the different from a good OST meeting I wonder??
> 
> Anyone knows?
> 
> Hugs from a winter like Sweden
> 
> :o)
> 
> Eva
> 
> Skickat från min iPad
> 
> Links:
> ------
> [1]
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designers
> [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogue
> [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workshop
> 
>