With the government undertaking a scheme to redevelop major squares across London, our application was selected by Southwark council for the community redesign of Peckham square. This research project looks to understand the users being designed for.
Spheron Architects
Team:
Architectural Assistant, Public Engagement Assistant
Role in Team:
Problem
Peckham has been subjected to gentrification over the recent years, catering public spaces more to the newer communities than the existing ones. This research project aims to engage both groups in the heart of Peckham whilst celebrating its true roots.
Limitations
The demographics of the area varied significantly, where a lot of the community have English as their second language and are not IT fluent.
Solution
Different posters were created to reach different groups. The image on the left, being more professional, was suitable for emailing to stakeholders. The second is friendlier and easier to absorb by the local community, hence shared across social platforms.
The use of post-it notes provided a non-tech alternative to contribute responses. Additionally, focus groups with different demographics were held using online meetings to make adjustments for time.
Posters of consultation were advertised across newspapers with different audiences with a QR code linking to an online survey. This scannable image was also placed on the window of the consultation hub, situated on the site, to reach out to passers-by.
An email copy was written to convince schools and religious institutions to engage in public consultation. Speeches were given at sermons and workshops with school children were carried out.
Lessons Learned
• Making improvements to update the survey interface based on feedback from users
• Approaching different groups with different sensitivities
• Taking extra steps to include people (improving accessibility) provides empowerment
• People have different needs but all share a common goal for safety and comfort
