University of Strathclyde and Collective Architecture

Pollokshields Bench Network: Creative and innovative working methods to engage a community in the development of locally shared spaces.

Executive Summary

This SEEKIT study has been carried out by the academic partners be+/Strathclyde University and Collective Architecture.  The study builds on initial community consultation work carried out in 2006 in the garden suburb of Pollokshields in Glasgow.  

The academic partners be+ undertook site-specific research into local behaviour, opinion and aspirations relating to streets, parks and public places between September and December 2007.  

Throughout the duration of the study be+ worked alongside Collective Architecture, a private practice already committed to community participation, to research and develop innovative consultation practices that go beyond the scope of the typical practicing architect or designer. 

These consultation methods and ‘ways of working’ aimed to engage local people at the early stages of project development to instill a sense of local ownership towards the built environment.

The study outlines the way in which a series of working methods were developed, tested and employed.

It sets out the research methods that were employed by be+ and Collective Architecture between June and December 2007 to further engage the local Pollokshields community within the design development of The Bench Network.  

The intentions of the study are as follows:

(a.) To build a series of temporary structures locally within Pollokshields.  These structures would be temporary in nature and constructed in reclaimed and recycled materials.  

(b) The structures would be used as a ‘test bed’ to explore local opinion, potential use and scale, and to raise questions and local awareness regarding the project and future technological elements.  The materials would be recycled at the end of the study.

(c)To develop a set of working methods and research techniques, which could be employed within the wider architectural community, housing associations, public bodies, planners, academics and students.

To collate the final outcomes of the study into a CPD presentation delivered to students, practicing architects and teachers.

The outcomes of the various community consultation and prototype studies were presented and discussed throughout the duration of the study at a series of meetings/workshops between SME partner, Collective Architecture and the Academic Partners be+ to ensure that participation techniques and methods were effectively transferred.

The following outcomes of the study were identified by the project partners:

1. The Bench Network was well received locally by people from a variety of age groups and backgrounds and considered to be a potentially rewarding project.

2. The success of any permanent bench installation would depend on further community involvement in the arrangement and management of the benches. The interest generated from previous consultation imagery displayed on prototype A demonstrated that continued involvement further engaged young men further in the next stage of the design process.

3. be+ conducted two CPD presentations at Collective Architecture (Glasgow Wood Recycling and Engagement Techniques) attended by architects and architectural assistants. 

4. be+ forged links with the Electron Club, the Energy Savings Trust and The Energy Systems Unit as resources for the development of technological elements that might be incorporated into future, permanent installations. 

5. Collective Architecture forged new links in their industry.  The connection with the Glasgow Wood Recycling project led Collective Architecture to win a high profile competitive interview to design an exhibition at the Lighthouse Centre for Design around the concept of building an exhibition with locally sourced, recycled timber.

6. be+ developed stronger links within the Pollokshields Community to progress site specific proposals for three underused existing small parks in Pollokshields in conjunction with the Save Our Parks Campaign Group.  

As identified above, project partners be+ and Collective Architecture have both benefited from the undertaking this study in terms of knowledge transfer and future connections.  More importantly, the study has highlighted the desire locally within Pollokshields to improve the quality of its locally shared spaces.  The study has also highlighted that the success of this process will require continued, long-running consultation and local involvement. The project partners aim to build on the techniques employed during this study to further engage locally to realise the project.