Architecture and Participation : Infrastructures for Public Engagement

Architecture is a medium of dynamic exchange within the larger built context, continually being reappropriated by the communities who use it and the professionals who make it. Within its creation process, opportunities for communities to contribute their ideas must be made accessible by the municipality who hosts it, the clients who contract it, and the professionals who design it. This thesis will explore factors that restrict participatory practices and methodologies that facilitate community engagement. By empowering communities, incorporating the knowledge of local peoples, and prioritizing participatory processes, an architecture can be created that directly serves the people it was designed for. Deploying interactive infrastructures throughout neighborhoods during project design encourages and creates opportunities for dialogue between design professionals and local communities. The aim of the infrastructures is to foster accessible and inclusive means through which participants can engage with and influence new building developments.<p></p>