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Consensus Design
Consensus Design offers a practical step by step guide to co-design; an increasingly important consideration for architects as they compete for work.
The text moves from identifying the methodology of the process to developing a series of principles and practical steps which illustrate how consensus design can be established.
For easy reference, flow charts show the process of achieving consensus design and include variations for different types of project and different groups of people. It gives clear timings so that agreements can be reached within a specific time frame, and also features a number of case studies to illustrate consensus design principles in practice. Case studies include projects in the UK, US, and Sweden.
Consensus design isn't just a utopian ideal. It's the only meaningful way in which people can be involved in shaping where they live and work. It can have an influence on social stability, crime-reduction, personal health and building longevity, all of which in turn have monetary and environmental cost implications. Its consideration can also greatly help architects win work and commissions.
Day argues that when places are designed by professionals for people, many things obvious to the residents are overlooked. When they are designed by lay people, the design can suffer from the lowest common denominator factor. When places are designed by both it tends to end up in conflict. However, Consensus Design shows that co-design is not doomed to either conflict or banality if it is managed correctly.
The text moves from identifying the methodology of the process to developing a series of principles and practical steps which illustrate how consensus design can be established.
For easy reference, flow charts show the process of achieving consensus design and include variations for different types of project and different groups of people. It gives clear timings so that agreements can be reached within a specific time frame, and also features a number of case studies to illustrate consensus design principles in practice. Case studies include projects in the UK, US, and Sweden.
Consensus design isn't just a utopian ideal. It's the only meaningful way in which people can be involved in shaping where they live and work. It can have an influence on social stability, crime-reduction, personal health and building longevity, all of which in turn have monetary and environmental cost implications. Its consideration can also greatly help architects win work and commissions.
Day argues that when places are designed by professionals for people, many things obvious to the residents are overlooked. When they are designed by lay people, the design can suffer from the lowest common denominator factor. When places are designed by both it tends to end up in conflict. However, Consensus Design shows that co-design is not doomed to either conflict or banality if it is managed correctly.
- GenresArchitectureDesign
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2002
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Day
119 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 21, 2008
The first good book I've read on the subject. Day presents his research into the consensus design process- one that fundamentally challenges the typical power-based structures employed by architects, developers, city-planners, and otherwise wealthy and powerful players with vested interests. His approach essentially inverts the typical decision process by agreeing first on an understanding of the site and program (something that's relatively easy to attain) and then moving eventually into more concrete issues. In this way, the designers/users/clients/consultants/financiers/etc can all refer back only one or two steps in the process to find a place where everyone was in agreement.
Day also puts forth a well-developed and interesting description of "spirit of place" (or genus loci for the architects out there). He posits this as a synthetic term describing the "building-up" of several ingredients including the physical facts of a place and the psychological and emotive effects of these physical conditions. He approaches design as something that should ultimately address a place's spirit. Through a process of group analysis he guides participants into agreeing on the fundamental character of a specific site as it currently exists. From there the group addresses what the spirit should be and (eventually) how this could be achieved. In this way, all specific proposals (the room should be THIS color) can be judged in regard to the already-agreed upon spirit-of-place intervention.
Following a brief history of socially inclusive design and experimentation, the book is divided into two sections- an explanation of Day's process and the theory behind it, and a series of case studies with a candid discussion of the successes and failures of the process in each case.
This is a great reference and potentially a powerful tool for all designers and potential clients who are concerned with the inherent power disparities of the traditional design process and their eventual societal effects.
Day also puts forth a well-developed and interesting description of "spirit of place" (or genus loci for the architects out there). He posits this as a synthetic term describing the "building-up" of several ingredients including the physical facts of a place and the psychological and emotive effects of these physical conditions. He approaches design as something that should ultimately address a place's spirit. Through a process of group analysis he guides participants into agreeing on the fundamental character of a specific site as it currently exists. From there the group addresses what the spirit should be and (eventually) how this could be achieved. In this way, all specific proposals (the room should be THIS color) can be judged in regard to the already-agreed upon spirit-of-place intervention.
Following a brief history of socially inclusive design and experimentation, the book is divided into two sections- an explanation of Day's process and the theory behind it, and a series of case studies with a candid discussion of the successes and failures of the process in each case.
This is a great reference and potentially a powerful tool for all designers and potential clients who are concerned with the inherent power disparities of the traditional design process and their eventual societal effects.
April 10, 2020
Great Read!!!
This book was recommended as reference material. But I enjoyed it so much that I'll be returning to this book again and again to draw inspiration.
My only complaint adding drawings for projects would have made it a 5-star rated book.
This book was recommended as reference material. But I enjoyed it so much that I'll be returning to this book again and again to draw inspiration.
My only complaint adding drawings for projects would have made it a 5-star rated book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews