Deniz Hasirci
Dr. Deniz Hasirci is Ass. Prof. at Izmir University of Economics, Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design
presentation: Public Spaces for Children in Cities
category: Cultural Planning + Kids' Guernica Exhibition at the Zappeion Megaron Athens
download the presentation "Public Spaces for Children in Cities"
download the presentation "Kids' Guernica: the Chios - Izmir painting"
abstract
Involving the child in the design process
The aim of this paper is to create an awareness of the possibilities participatory design with children can open up, means by which one can work with children on architectural projects, and the realization of those projects. It is not only important for children to be involved in the design of a space for themselves, but also in all stages of a design process such as, goal setting, facility programming, site exploration, design, and even construction of a space of which they are the primary users of. Urban environments for children are typically designed according to previous models and rely heavily on the adult perception of what a child may need and want in his or her surrounding. The lack of participatory design projects in general, and in particular, for children results in spaces which are uncomfortable in use. Various projects in Turkey in which learning environments and attraction centers have been designed with children will be discussed with a focus on methodology of organizing participatory workshops. These projects aim to fulfill the need to involve the users in the planning process, to show ways to realize processes that are educational for children as well as the designers, and to provide insight into upcoming projects of similar nature.
Keywords: participatory design, space as a social product, representation of child, urban spaces.
Website: Dr. Deniz Hasirci is Ass. Prof. at Izmir University of Economics, Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design
CV
Born in London, she graduated from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Bilkent University in 1997. She worked in various architectural firms after graduation, and received her master’s degree in 2000, and PhD in 2005 from Bilkent University. As a Fulbright scholar, between 2001 and 2002, she worked on several projects, took classes, gave seminars and made several presentations in conferences, and worked with world famous Prof. Henry Sanoff on the topics of “learning environments and creativity” at North Carolina State University. Her articles have been published in The Journal of Creative Behavior and Creativity Research Journal. In 2005, she began working on the “Child Attraction Center” project supported by the World Bank (program for social progress) with academicians from Bilkent University. In the scope of this project, in addition to the issues related to the ongoing construction of the center, she prepared various workshops (model, logo etc.) with the children involved in the research study, which have resulted in various publications and conference presentations with the project members. The center’s completion is planned to take place within 2007. She has taught Basic Design, Human Factors, Art and Design Studio, Drawing and Representation, History of Art and Design, Project Preparation Techniques, and Model Making courses. She began working at Izmir University of Economics in June 2006 as an Asst. Professor, and currently teaches Design Semiotics, Design Studio I and II, and Applied Workshop in IAED I and II. Her articles have also been published in magazines such as Arkitekt, Geceyarısı Sineması, Düşe-Yazma, and Patika, and she is on the editorial board of Koridor where she continues to write. She is a member of The Chamber of Interior Architects of Turkey, Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), and TED Ankara College Alumni Society.
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