Designing Public Consensus: The Civic Theater of Community Participation for Architects, Landscape Architects, Planners, and Urban Designers

by Barbara Faga, Barbara Faga

"At long last we have a great book on public participation in the planning process. Designing Public Consensus presents examples of the interaction between architects, planners, landscape designers, engineers, and the public. More important, Barbara Faga presents situations when that interaction has worked, when it has not, and why. She is able to extract, from what she has dubbed "civic theater," practical recommendations for professionals who practice in a democracy that requires such interaction." --From the Foreword by Alexander Garvin, former vice president for planning, design and development for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Designing Public Consensus is an insightful and useful resource for architects, planners, and urban designers, with case study examples illustrating approaches for working with small towns, large cities, government agencies, citizen activists, community groups, and other stakeholders. By examining the public process implemented by EDAW and a variety of design firms in urban design projects of different scales, Faga reveals the lessons learned by the design practitioners. Throughout the case studies, first-person accounts by the designers, government officials, clients, and other stakeholders reveal the moments of brilliance as well as the good intentions gone wrong.

253 pages, Hardcover

First published March 10, 2006

Reviews

[Du · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good book. It might be that it is dated or just out of touch, but I didn't find the public engagement portions too innovative or really useful. The case study style worked, but all of the color images are stuffed in the center of the book and that made it a bit awkward.

I think the book would have come across better if it had been written by a public sector planner and not a consultant. It has a tone to it that is not one of public investment, but more of requirement to engage the public, as in "if you must invite them, do this..."

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book overall, but her idea of "civic engagement" is weak. She definitely comes off as a haughty consultant and often insulting towards the public at times. But it does provide an overview of projects, which is important.