The thesis investigates participation in architecture. It understands it as an alternative way of designing, which is mostly defined by the in-depth cooperation of various design participants. Participation brings the design process and the environment created in it closer to the user of this environment. The thesis, at the same time, offers a critical insight into participation and the possibilities of its use (abuse) for other purposes, especially to give a false impression of joint decision-making. Therefore, the assignment pays special attention to reducing the possibility of such participation.
The first part of the thesis explores the problem of the lack of connection between architecture and the needs and wishes of the users. It approaches the problem from several aspects, both from the point of view of architecture as well as from the point of view of sociology and politics, thereby providing a comprehensive insight into it. With such an approach, it examines why we need participation in architecture and it defines more precisely what is (and what is not) participation. There are different interpretations of participation in the architectural profession.
Based on the researched material, we define, in the second part of the assignment, three main aspects of participatory design. Together, they form the basis for the successful realisation of participation. The first aspect is the design process itself, which adapts to the cooperation and learning of users on practical examples, and extends to the building and use processes. The other two aspects, communication and change in the participant roles, both focus on ways to empower the user. Thesis proves that for the successful realisation of participation, a comprehensive approach in dealing with all elements of the basis for its realisation is especially important.
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