Participatory Design in Architecture

Participatory design in architecture has been defined as a revolutionary attempt to redefine the building process since through a specific dialogue between the architect and user, additional factors which would manipulate, direct and reshape the final design, are also implemented into the building process. In practical terms, participation of the user is naturally expected since users are the authoritative agents, especially in small scaled and personal environments. However, in the framework of participatory design in architecture, this exchange of ideas are prioritized and highlighted as the fundamental driving force behind the process itself.

In relation with this idea, Luck (2003, p.535) points out that “[e]xplicit knowledge is readily available to designers in design codes and guides but the ability to reveal tacit knowledge is of particular value to the designer, knowledge that would otherwise not be available”. Considering this idea, participatory design can be conceptualize as a process which reveals the desires and demands of the user. The acknowledgment of such demands by the architecture does not only increase his or her effectiveness to response such demands, but also increases his or her ability to deliver the end-product of the building process in a more precise way.

Therefore, participatory design can be defined as a set of mutual exchange between the user and the architect in order to produce a more specifically created environments and buildings which emphasizes the authority of the user and his or her demands and knowledge while prioritizes this authority over the architects ‘technical mastery’.

Luck, R. (2003). Dialogue in participatory design. Design Studies, 24(6), pp.523-535.