New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 30/12 | Page 44

SECTOR REPORT MASTERPLANNING TACTICAL URBANISM Trialling designs for public feedback may enhance our urban spaces. Jasmax senior landscape architect Gary Marshall puts the case for tactical urbanism While Henry Ford and creativity aren’t words often used in the same sentence, there might be something to be learned about the creative process from his response when asked about the invention of the motor vehicle. On the subject Ford said, “If I’d stopped to ask people, they would’ve told me they wanted a faster horse”. As designers, our role is to create something new, but new is different, and difficult for many of us to imagine, particularly for those who don’t understand what is and isn’t possible. To combat this problem, historically we’ve used sketches, models and renders to help us communicate our ideas. But while these can be visually strong, they don’t account for all the things that make a place real; there’s no sound, no smell, nothing to touch and no atmosphere to feel. In this sense, clients and users of a space are asked to make vital decisions that will impact the design without all the information they actually need. Tactical Urbanism, while sounding a bit like a branch of a SWAT team, is a new design methodology that might be able to help. In its purest form, tactical urbanism involves a number of temporary ‘design experiments’ replicating, in a low-cost, low commitment way, the future change an urban environment could take. These experiments are measured for effectiveness, and those that work are either left in place, or implemented in a more permanent manner – it’s a bit like a ‘try before you buy’ approach to design. As an example, we recently put a proposal to Waterfront Auckland for the redesign of Waitemata Plaza. We suggested six themes for temporary installations, including picnic areas, sports fields, gardens and pools. The intention was that structured research would be undertaken to review each theme, which would then inform the final desi gn, giving the design team confidence that they were truly designing for the public. While our proposal was not the successful one, Waterfront Auckland embraced tactical urbanism. During the summer months of 2013/14 they ran a series of trials to see how visitors engaged with 42 search | save | share at trendsideas.com each space. They trialled an urban beach, different kinds of seating, and an ice cream vendor. The feedback from these trials is currently being used to inform the permanent design of the plaza. Tactical Urbanism works particularly well with projects where there is a large and diverse group of stakeholders. The high energy and ever-changing nature of the trials helps to build momentum that will ultimately realise a site’s larger potential. Evaluation and measurement of each trial is important. Utilising social media can be a powerful way of gaining this public feedback. Globally we’re seeing this become a key part of public design. By giving the public something to trial, we not only gain richer feedback, but foster a sense of community, of collective ownership of a project. Temporary installations need to provide a realistic representation of what the space might become. For the Waitemata Plaza proposal, we utilised a young and energetic team; as recent grads, we figured they were best qualified in the art of creating something out of nothing. At Jasmax, we have a team increasingly focused on tactical urbanism projects. Landscape architecture grad John Allan has been heavily involved in the global ‘Park(ing) Day’ event, which transforms parking spaces to a public space, drawing attention to how public space is created and allocated. Architectural graduate Patrick Loo and Oh.no.sumo are building a reputation for innovative temporary architectural installations, while as senior landscape architect, I am currently teaching a paper at Unitec on the topic. More than just improving the design process, we see tactical urbanism as an opportunity to create change for the better. It gives us the power to start experimenting and utilise real feedback from the public, based not on perceptions but on experience. Because as Henry Ford discovered, the difference between what we think we want and what we actually want can be world-changing. save & share 46043 at trendsideas.com Above:Jasmax senior landscape architect Gary Marshall discusses the concept of tactical urbanism – a try-before-you-buy approach to urban design. Right:Jasmax produced several different ideas for the redesign of the Waitemata Plaza. Marshall suggests trialling aspects of such designs to gain public feedback before committing to a project may be the best approach.