27th June 2012

The Social Life of Cities: what is the designers’ role?

London Festival of Architecture Events

Social Life is a new venture set up by the Young Foundation

We know that a lot of what makes cities work is flexibility, organic growth

When places go into economic decline it has a huge social cost and there is a need to intervene

Mistakes are often repeated

There are times when places go through moments of change where the potential for intervention is amplified

200 years+ of planned new communities but relatively little known about what makes places work

Putting people at the heart of placemaking

Over the last three years we reviewed the evidence, and explored the tension between intervention and organic development

The first question: what is a community?

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.

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)

The importance of social relationships

Plaque to commemorate the site of former Arkwright Town

New Arkwright, Derbyshire

• HafenCity, Hamburg

• 

Hafen City, Hamburg: sociologist appointed as “go-between” - intermediary for early residents and developer

Cabrini Green, North Chicago: good fences help make good neighbours

A framework for social sustainability

The Young Foundation/Social Life Social Sustainability Framework, 2011

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

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

social-life.co nicola.bacon@social-life.co saffron.woodcraft@social-life.co

Putting people at the heart of placemaking