We are thrilled to announce the inauguration of the second temporary design in the Tactical Urbanism initiative in the Santa Ana neighbourhood. This milestone marks a significant step in our journey to transform public spaces through community engagement and co-creation.
Rooted in the residents’ goal to improve Santa Ana’s public spaces, this initiative is a testament to their shared vision for the neighbourhood’s future. By leveraging the structured approach of the Integrated Renovation Methodology (IRM), we aim to transform a parking space into a vibrant community area, fostering engagement and enhancing urban life.
Phase 1: Mapping and Initial Transformation
The journey began with a Mapathon event, where residents used a tailor-made digital app to geolocalise and select spaces for transformation. This was followed by an open co-design workshop to build a community vision for the space. The selected parking lot was then transformed into a pedestrian area with quick, temporary solutions to test its new use.
Phase 2: Refining the Design
In the second phase, we gathered feedback from residents through surveys to refine the initial transformation. An architectural studio developed a second temporary design based on these insights, ensuring it incorporated community preferences and addressed any issues. The inauguration of this design was a lively event, featuring local school children planting greenery and learning about the benefits of green public spaces and collective governance of public space.
Looking Ahead: Testing and Evaluation
Over the coming months, residents will pilot this new space, providing feedback through various methods, including public voting, surveys, observations, and sensor data. This evaluation will inform the final design proposal, ensuring it meets the community’s needs and preferences.
This initiative is more than just a design project; it’s a movement towards a more connected, sustainable community. By equipping residents with the knowledge and tools to self-organize and communicate their needs, we aim to inspire long-term, collective action for the transformation of Santa Ana.
Join us in celebrating this milestone and looking forward to the continued transformation of our pilot neighbourhood!
