Community architecture emerged in response to issues like the growth of slums and poor urban planning. It aims to directly involve community members in designing and building housing and neighborhoods. The movement began in the late 18th century during industrialization and gained prominence in the post-WWII period in the UK and US. Key figures like Rod Hackney and Charles Knevitt advocated for community participation in planning and the right to have a say in one's living environment. Community architecture stands in contrast to conventional or top-down approaches by actively engaging end-users throughout the entire design and development process.

1. PLANNING 2
C O M M U N I T Y A R C H I T E C T U R E
Lesson 4.0 - Historical Background

2. I. Historical Background
Community Architecture became prominent in the different parts of
the world, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom,
who were the frontrunners of such movement.
Misfortune turn of events:
1. Slums and the destruction of homes and environments.
2. Improper planning and wrong assumptions.
3. People learned to assert their rights and voice out their opinions.

3. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)
Development of urban areas so rapid that the
people and their voices were neglected by the
responsible people and the regulation.

4. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
United Kingdom - Urban renewal
Post-war (WWII) period (1939-1945) when the attention turned
to the improvement of the living conditions in poor
neighborhoods.

5. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
Modern Movement (1925 – 1950)
Architects like Le Corbusier propagated the notion of
high-rise buildings employing industrial construction
techniques as the future of urban development.
High-rise buildings consisting of apartments in US.

6. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
1960 - Debate on community participation in planning
and decision-making was the concept of Advocacy
Planning in the US.
Paul Davidoff, an Urban Planning professor. He
believes that advocacy and pluralism in planning is a
good thing and works in favor of everyone involved,
including governments and communities.

7. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
1970 - Rod Hackney, the first community architect in
Britain. Hackney achieved major feat by attracting the
attention of Prince Charles in 1984.
Black Road Area Improvement
Project in Macclesfield, Cheshire

8. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
Democratic system of decision-making that advocates
the inclusion of community members in issues
concerning their built environment.
Advocates to claim that community architecture is
“apolitical.”

9. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
Community Architect - architect working in consultation with
local inhabitants in designing housing and other amenities.
Involves the study of social condition and condition of people.
work directly with architects in the design and building of their
own homes and neighborhoods.
Rod Hackney, the first community architect.

10. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
Charles Knevitt with Prince Charles at a community
architecture project in Manchester in 1987.
Charles Knevitt who coined the term in his article in
Building Design. (1975) To band together and self-build to
rejuvenate city centers around Britain.

11. II. Evolution of Community Architecture
Community Architecture by Knevitt and Wates
1. Embraces community planning, community design, community
development and other forms of community technical aid.
2. More on functional solutions that benefit the users.
3. Design process, involves the community and/or end users
works well/is functional, is of human scale, recognizable and
understandable, and nevertheless, looks good.

12. 1986 - Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA),
described the aim of community architecture as
“To improve the quality of environment by involving
people in the design and management of the building
spaces they inhabit.”
II. Evolution of Community Architecture

13. II. Conclusion
Community Architecture
1. The same as community planning and community development.
2. United Kingdom “community architecture movement” have gained easier
acceptance due to the support of his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
3. United States some of the efforts for the advancement of community
architecture had been unsuccessful and fruitless due to lack of funding and
support from the government as well as from the people.
4. Success of the community architecture will greatly depend upon the support
and commitment of the people, the government, and the professionals.

14. II. Conclusion
Community Architecture
Important lesson of this movement is that participation is a better process
than anticipation about the users and their environmental needs.

15. PLANNING 2
C O M M U N I T Y A R C H I T E C T U R E
Lesson 4.1 - Introduction and Background

16. What is the difference
between Conventional and
Community Architecture?

17. I. Definition
Differences of Conventional and Community Architecture
Differences Conventional Community
Status of user Users are passive recipients Users are active recipients.
They are offered (or take)
control of commissioning,
designing, developing,
managing, and evaluating their
environment, and may
sometimes be physically
involved in construction.
User/expert relationship Little if any direct contact. Creative alliance and working
partnership.

18. I. Definition
Differences of Conventional and Community Architecture
Differences Conventional Community
Expert’s role Remote and inaccessible. Locally based and accessible.
Scale of project Determined by pattern of land
ownership and the need for
efficient mass production and
simple management.
Large sites generally broken
down into manageable
packages.
Location of project A greenfield site with
infrastructure and sometimes
constraints.
Most likely to be urban, or
periphery of urban areas; area
of single or multiple
deprivation; derelict or
decaying environment.

19. I. Definition
Differences of Conventional and Community Architecture
Differences Conventional Community
Use of project Likely to be a single function or two or
three complimentary activities.
Likely to be muti-functional.
Design style Self-conscious about style. Unselfconscious about style.
Technology/resources Tendency towards mass production,
prefabrication, repetition, global
supply of materials, machine intensive
and capital intensive.
Tendency toward: small scale
production, on-site construction,
individuality, local supply of materials,
user-friendly technology, re-use,
recycling and conservation, labor and
time intensive.

20. Community Architecture can be simply defined as,
“architecture carried out with the active participation
of the end-users” (Wates, Handbook 184)
I. Definition

21. Understanding the civic framework of a place
the agencies, organizations, institutions, and
residents that shape places.
I. Definition

22. “Bring the community
into the process”
-Alejandro Aravena

23. bbcstories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLGaPdi7zWg