Triangulated Design Process: Building Community for Springwood Public Housing Apartments

by Trent Stephens Lloyd

Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee:
Asst. Professor Julie Johnson , Department of Landscape Architecture


2003

With the ease of travel, open economies, and advances in media and communication technologies, people increasingly find themselves living in a transient, multicultural place. As a result, people are challenged with feeling a sense of belonging or finding a sense of community. For that reason, this thesis attempts to create a design process with the aim of strengthening community. The paper begins with the discussion of Henri Lefebvre's The Production of Space where he explores the qualities of space which provide individuals with a sense of belonging. He describes a triangulated understanding of space which includes the conceptual, the practical, and the symbolic space. The paper then moves to the manifestation of the design theory with the critique of Danny Woo Community Gardens and Boston's Government Center. And last, a triangulated design process is developed and tested with the design of open spaces for an existing public housing community called Springwood in Kent, Washington.