The document discusses the role of designers in city planning and placemaking. It notes that while planned communities have existed for over 200 years, there is still much to learn about what truly makes communities work. Intervention is sometimes needed when places decline, but too much can stifle organic growth. The ideal is putting people at the heart of placemaking by promoting social relationships, shared spaces and activities, and a sense of identity and belonging. Well-designed public spaces and buildings can encourage mixing and strengthen social bonds in a community.
13. An alternative view: what
makes a community?
• Physical boundaries to promote geographical
identity
• Local myths & stories
• Visible leadership
• Strong social relationships, networks & bonds
• Opportunities for informal, spontaneous social
encounters
• Rituals and rhythms
• Shared belief systems, garden cities, new towns,
eco-cities.
14. Reviewing the evidence
“… where these facilities were already in place when people began to
arrive, the community came together and networks were formed more
easily” CLG New Towns Review
“ … most mixing across social groups takes places between children. It
is these contacts … that provide opportunities to meet and form
relationships.” CIH/JRF 2005
“ … planning for hard infrastructure alone would never build a
community … it would only be done by a matrix of formal and informal
opportunities or supported activities.” Cambridgeshire PCT (2007)
19. A framework for social sustainability
The Young Foundation/Social Life Social Sustainability Framework, 2011
20. So what is the
designers role?
• Make beautiful functional buildings and
places
• Physical structures that promote
identity and belonging
• Public space that encourages people to
mix and get to know each other
• Promote neighbourliness
• Places to play and use
• Places that make people feel safe and
prevent crime
• Encourage people from different
backgrounds to mix
21. Designing places
On behalf of the community
Involving the community
With the community
“Cities have the capability of providing something
for everybody, only because, and only when, they
are created by everybody.” Jane Jacobs
22. Putting people at the heart of placemaking
social-life.co
nicola.bacon@social-life.co
saffron.woodcraft@social-life.co