The document discusses the importance of understanding the problem that an architectural project aims to solve. It states that architects should start by thoroughly analyzing the problem, and that the goal of participation is cooperative learning between stakeholders. Successful architecture is described as solving problems through a participatory process that respects all viewpoints and tailors the approach to each situation.

1. Let me start by making a comparison. It is a general principle, that if you want
something and you are not going to
provide it for yourself, you will at the very
least be required to explain to the person
you’re asking to do it for you exactly what
it is you want. This notion is applicable to
any kind of order, and more specifically
also to architecture.
Imagine going to a bar and ordering a
meal. I mean: literally just telling the
waiter that you would like to eat
something. The waiter will be at a loss as
to what is expected of him.
In fact, you haven’t told him anything
useful.
By architecture, I mean any and all spatial
interventions undertaken by man, each
project starts with a clear description of
what is needed. Or, even better, a precise
description of the problem.
The waiter will start asking you questions,
in order to translate your statement, into a
more specific request for a dish that will
suit you
Finding solutions to solve the
accommodation problems of today’s ever
growing society is much more complex,
and growing even more complex every
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.1-9

2. day. existing situation. The new intervention
will restructure the environment and will
either make the old location more or less
attractive.
Any building project, will to some extent
determine social life and the relations
between those within the boundaries of
any given territory and those on the
outside.
The end result of any spatial intervention
is, moreover, nothing like a daily
occurrence that is digested in a matter of
hours
If this territory concerns only the living
arrangements of just one person, and is
being arranged according to the
instructions of this sole occupant, the
responsibility for the result will be shared
by this person
It will, on the contrary, always have
irrevocable consequences to society and
may have an impact that will be felt for
years, for centuries even.
No matter what kind of structure a
commission for a new architectural project
may be for, the space or surface it will
occupy already has a designated function
and fortunately by now in democratic
societies we are aware,
who should clearly inform the architect of
his wishes and the architect, who should
do anything in his power to make sure he
understands what it is this one person
requires.
Dom Van Der laan has stated that
‘providing shelter’ is architecture’s primal
mission.
that whatever we undertake to do, the
new destination will have an impact on the
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.2-9

3. In other words: this is about the relation Regarding urban planning, the same
between outside and inside. ground rules apply. In these cases,
Whoever says ‘outside’,
the client will often be someone
also says other people. designated by the system. By ‘system’, I
This indicates that mean any form of administrative authority
a society has decided to delegate as its
representative. The way the system
addresses the architect
will determine the end result.
even the most highly individual
commission will entail a relation with the
outside world. The way the architect
shapes this relation may become decisive
in terms of the relation the user will have How does the system address the
with this outside world. architect?
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.3-9

4. Is the architect presented with a problem All too often, just the thinnest slice of
and expected to respond by proposing an society is involved:
analysis of all the possibilities?
Just a couple of political tenors, who either
Or is he presented with a solution or a lend their ear to a whispered solution or
model, and expected only to design a restrict the arena for the creative process
stylish decoration? So the real question is: to the safety of their office. All too often,
solutions are conceived
how do we, as a society, tackle problems
and put our community’s knowhow and as a matter of treating symptoms instead
knowledge, as well as the specialist skills of focusing on the causes of the disease,
of its technicians to good use in order to the real problems. Treating symptoms is
solve them? by definition a short-term solution
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.4-9

5. Any architectural process that does not has an obligation to gather the elements
start from an analysis of the problem will that influence a design.
by definition come up with an answer that Adopting a diagnostician's approach to his
is insufficiently clear. This is why a real patient, the architect should cultivate an
architect will, as soon as he receives a inquisitive attitude and look beyond the
commission, start making a correct, obvious, thereby avoiding a seemingly
comprehensive assessment of the "heroic" treatment of symptoms.
problem.
I’d be the last to contend that good design
The system, often doesn’t operate starting cannot help create a more agreeable
from the objective of seeking to solve organization of society.
problems. At the same time we should never allow
From a political point of view, it may be ourselves to become blinded by the beauty
interesting to concentrate on symptoms of an attractive design. Decorative design
because political power is linked with the does not reflect the quality or the ethical
existence of a problem aspects of function.
In some cases, just one solution to a
complex question is selected, one solution,
regarded by just one target group as the
best one, and then the architect
A prosthetic leg may be beautifully made
but however beautiful it may be it will
never lead us to think that using land
mines is not such a bad thing…
In other words: If the functional solution is
have to make sure it looks good enough to useless, the design will only cause
distract attention from the content of the confusion.
problem and direct it to the form of the Imagine a function like Guantanamo Bay
solution. detention camp.
In my opinion the architect
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.5-9

6. In 2005 in Flanders,
Would the ethical question it raises be less
urgent if the compound was an example of stRaten-generaal opposed a huge highway
‘cool’ architecture? I know I’m pushing it a project that would encourage international
bit, but I want to be very clear on this: traffic to drive right through the centre of
Building design is good design only if it the town of Antwerp.
supports an ethically function.
Sometimes
Afterwards, when the project was put on
hold, the members of the architectural jury
the architect is far removed from the initial admitted that they never liked the
problem definition. For instance in the functional project either, but just selected
case of a public private partnership, when the best-looking design solution. After all,
a large building consortium will often hire that was what the government,
architects just to design the building
decoration.
the system, had commissioned them to
do: just to judge the gift-wrapping.
In such cases, the advisory committees
surveying the projects on behalf of the
authorities are decisive.
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.6-9

7. between all these disciplines to allow
every team member to fulfil his role, in
order to contribute to the best possible
end result. You are always building in this
world, in a community.
Society, has authorised those architects to
decide not just on form but because
society puts its trust in their authority on
functionality as well as form.
Real architecture is never restricting itself
to just designing a space for a client. it will
always endeavour to add something
positive to the public space.
I remind myself that within the word
aesthetic, the word ethic resounds. Or that
without the word ethic you can’t write the
word aesthetic. Given the degree of
complexity we’re having to contend with
today, in most cases finding a solution is Consultation between people who
teamwork. approach public space from several
different points of view is essential to
You need the best designers but also achieve a successful, widely supported
those people who are best able to listen project goal.
for what society wants. In this team
The community in general, and even the
next-door neighbours all are partners in
this process.
a real architect will be the director of an
orchestra able to create an equilibrium
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.7-9

8. and the creative process intended to deal
with this complexity that leads to unique,
new solutions which succeed in making
this one place special in comparison with
all others.
A participation procedure is essentially
about people,
Dependent on the nature of the problem,
And the nature of the potential solutions,
it is advisable to allow these partners to
participate in the thinking at the start,
during, or at the end of the procedure.
This participation can take many forms.
so it is also about human contact.
Participation on paper is only a reflection
of what you have understood, translated
into words you hope your reader will
understand as you intended.
In a real dialogue, consisting of words and
nods, winks, explanations and
comprehension, partners will reach
understanding much sooner and there is a
higher probability that each partner’s
Fundamental to successful participation in empathy with all the other partners’
each and every case are transparency and objectives will rapidly increase.
the ensuing trust.
Trust means that all partners accept that “Peter”, you are thinking, You will never
they each have their own viewpoint be able to do this for large projects with
regarding the problem and also accept thousands of participants.
that their objectives may differ. Well, no, obviously in such cases you will
have to meet with a limited number of
I may be putting it strongly, but it is the people.
complexity
That’s why each participation process is
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.8-9

9. tailor-made. You can work with sub- project is executed by means of a
groups. And continuous direct constructive procedure, the concept of
communication isn’t always necessary. equality of opinions is respected, and the
Each project has its own participation procedural scenario is tailor-made to fit
trajectory. Recognising this will only the problem and its potential solutions.
enhance the research process.
Cooperative architecture is spatial planning
To me, by way of a learning participation process.
the essence of participation is learning. Sometimes the result will look spectacular
Learning skills and being prepared to learn and sometimes
All participants, I stress, all the
participants including the system’s
representatives, must be prepared to
recognise in the course of any
participation process that it is a process in
which, as knowledge keeps progressing, to
an ever growing number of participants it
will become clear which is the most
obvious solution.
In conclusion: in my opinion architecture is
successful only if it is also cooperative. I
mean it will provide a modest solution
that effaces itself to blend into its
surroundings, perfecting the art of being
inconspicuous by its sheer simplicity.
architecture which flows from an analysis
of the problems,
which have to be submitted to broad
research, as should the relevant
opportunities. Also, that the consequences
of a project are never underestimated, the
www.stratengeneraal.be – Pan European eParticipation Network 2012 –p.9-9