Abstract

During four years directing an architecture consultancy that focused on user participation in the design process, I observed, researched, developed, designed and implemented a range of playful participation strategies to engage a diverse range of people in the design of public spaces and buildings for a variety of public and private sector clients. Although the focus was on spatial design, the pioneering participatory processes resulted in a range of outputs including service design briefs, products and publications as well as built spaces. The body of knowledge presented in the paper responds to a gap in knowledge regarding how play and games can enhance the design process and increase participation and how such playful processes can yield more strategically effective outcomes. The paper will therefore present three action-based case studies, and seek to illustrate how particular playful techniques or ‘tools’ can facilitate playful and creative participation in architecture. The paper will reflect upon the importance to architects (and designers in general) of how play can enable us to share our knowledge and insights amongst ourselves, our clients and our end-users more efficiently and allow us to facilitate better option generation and solution modeling. Finally, the paper will broadly conclude that ‘ludic’ or playful consultation techniques can result in better, more sustainable, more co-owned social, cultural and even commercially viable public buildings and spaces.