Participatory Framework for Architectural Practice in Indonesian Humanitarian Urban Context
Prastyatama, Budianastas
2024
Abstract
In Indonesian humanitarian settings, many residential buildings are low-cost, self-built structures located in high-density urban informal settlements or kampungs. These areas are particularly vulnerable to geotectonic hazards, and the buildings are often substandard. The potential losses from structural failures in these environments highlight the need for appropriate, low-cost, and accessible building technologies. This necessity has driven research in architecture and building technologies, but implementing these innovations has yielded mixed results, with some being underutilized or even entirely unused. This suggests a significant gap in the knowledge surrounding the effective implementation of novel building technologies. Critiques have emerged regarding kampung redevelopment as a means of disaster mitigation, pointing to the resulting injustices faced by low-income groups who are meant to benefit from such projects. With their agency to transform concepts into tangible designs, architects find themselves at the intersection of two intentions: hazard mitigation and the protection of dwelling rights. There is a call for a more just and effective practice of architectural humanitarian service. This approach emphasizes involving laypeople or non-expert communities in the planning and design process. It is argued that their inclusion, traditionally the exclusive domain of experts, empowers communities to influence the decisions shaping their built environment significantly. This inclusive approach has been described using various terms, such as participatory community problem-solving, participatory design approach, and participatory design. These concepts all advocate for the inclusion of the community as the end-users of the built environment in the process of addressing shared concerns. However, despite adopting participatory methods, issues regarding acceptance and usability persist. Concerns arise that these projects may not genuinely reflect the needs or challenges of the communities they aim to serve. A project labeled as participatory might not achieve true participation, failing to deliver justice in the built environment. This dissertation explores the nuances of involving beneficiaries in hazard mitigation architectural design within a humanitarian context. It examines multiple aspects of the participatory architectural endeavor: 1) applying participatory principles from health, psychology, and social science as an analytical lens, 2) adapting conventional architectural workflows to integrate these principles, and 3) utilizing constructivist research methodologies that embrace a constructivist perspective, viewing reality as shaped by the interactions among various actors. The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing all participating groups or entities' diverse backgrounds and pre-existing positionalities. Understanding the different priorities and perspectives of various constituencies offers a complexity that can produce an architecturally sound, acceptable, and useful built environment that works for all. This awareness should form the basis for implementing other participatory principles, acknowledging that a group may comprise several subgroups with different identities and internal structures, including well-meaning architects. The dissertation proposes a framework for participatory architectural practice that modifies conventional workflows to accommodate participatory spectrums appropriate to the context. This framework aims to achieve a more equitable and effective integration of community participation in architectural design and disaster mitigation efforts, specifically in urban areas.Deep Blue DOI
Subjects
humanitarian settings urban kampung participatory architectural practice constructivist methodologies participatory spectrums
Types
Thesis
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
Remediation of Harmful Language
The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.
Accessibility
If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.