Bridging the gap; exploring participatory design in cooperation with a church community in Hässleholmen

Abstract

To bridge the gap is “to make two groups, people, ideas, etc. less separate or less different” (Cambridge dictionary, n.d.). Involving the users in the design process is a way of bridging the gap and is referred to as participatory design. This project aims to explore participatory design within a church community in Hässleholmen, Borås. It begins by taking a look at the history behind modern participation but also the key features in the early free church movement that still impact free church construction today. The project, furthermore, takes inspiration from recent research in the field of participatory design workshops from which three workshop prototypes are created. The process then sets the ground work for a design proposal for a new church. Based on the information gathered from the work - shops, the church is designed to accommodate a few key features, including the zoning which is done in such a way to allow the different areas to function separately. The proposal strives to give answers to a lot of the questions the reference group posed but is simultane - ously just one interpretation. Further workshops and discussion would be needed to fine-tune the project. The process of this thesis has also led to a greater understanding of the role of the architect as a complex problem solver in community based projects