DESIGNING

NEIGHBORHOODS
+
BUILDING
COMMUNITY
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1 How do we approach design for communities?

2 National immigration trends

3 Project examples
/ Spring 2011 Studio
/ Romanian Cultural Garden Charrette
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How do we approach odesign for communities?

Engage a wide range of stakeholders.

Recognize the need for multiple communication channels.

Listen. Allow ourselves to be surprised by what we hear.

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National immigration otrends

Immigrants are bypassing the major gateway states.

Largest percentage increases are in third-tier states.

Conflict between long-time residents and newcomers.

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“The biggest thing that drives immigration to specific

destinations is that the immigrant already knows
someone who is living there.”
Steven Camarota
Director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies
Census Shows Growth of Immigrants, NYTimes 08/16/06
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WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM

ETHNIC COMMUNITIES?
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Handball Court
BROOKLYN, NY
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DO ETHNIC COMMUNITIES
WANT MORE PLACES LIKE THIS?

Handball Court
BROOKLYN, NY
CAN WE MAKE THE PLACES WHERE
IMMIGRANTS CURRENTLY LIVE
BETTER + HEALTHIER?


CAN WE CREATE NEIGHBORHOODS

THEY LITERALLY WANT TO
WRITE HOME ABOUT?

 o Environmental
Determinants of
Health

EDH

Studio
RESEARCH TOPIC ONE
 o Environmental
Determinants of
Health

EDH

Studio
RESEARCH TOPIC ONE
 o Environmental
Determinants of
Health

EDH

Studio
RESEARCH TOPIC ONE
 Healthy o
Immigrant
Effect

HIE

Studio
RESEARCH TOPIC TWO
 Healthy o
Immigrant
Effect

HIE

Studio
RESEARCH TOPIC TWO
 Healthy o
Immigrant
Effect

HIE

Studio
RESEARCH TOPIC TWO
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EDH HIE

Studio
PROJECT
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Studio
SYLLABUS
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Studio
SITES
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ASIA TOWN
Chinese Immigrants

E. 38th Street &

Superior Avenue

Studio
SITES
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Bhutanese-Nepali
Refugees

W. 145th Street &

Lorain Avenue
ASIA TOWN
WEST PARK Chinese Immigrants

E. 38th Street &

Superior Avenue

Studio
SITES
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How regularly do you ride a bicycle?

o

Studio
ASIA TOWN | Survey
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How often are you physically active? (Ex. playing sports, long
walks, physically intenseowork, recreational activities, etc.)

Studio
WEST PARK | Survey
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How much longer do you plan to live in your current
neighborhood? o

Studio
ASIA TOWN + WEST PARK | Survey
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1. Do you perceive any barriers o to physical activity in your current neighborhood?

(Ex. Traffic is too fast, no sidewalks, destinations too far away to walk, weather, not feeling safe,
etc.)

2. What types of physical activity did you engage in and/or enjoy in your country of
origin? (Ex. Walking with friends, playing particular sports, riding bicycles, farming, etc.)

3. Are there any types of physical activities you would like to engage in now, but don’t
feel like you can? (Could be for any reason; lack of appropriate facilities or social barriers.
Ex. Culturally specific sports, walking to nearby stores, enjoying nature, etc.)

4. What places or features of your neighborhood do you like? What do you not like?
(Ex. Particular parks, stores, views, public art, festivals, etc.)

5. Do you feel that more culturally relevant surrounding environments would increase
your physical activity level? What particular recommendations would you make?
(Ex. Public space for dancing, tai chi, night markets, housing types, park amenities, etc.)

6. Where would you like to see these recommendations implemented in your

neighborhood?

Studio
FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS
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1. Do you perceive any barriers o to physical activity in your current neighborhood?

(Ex. Traffic is too fast, no sidewalks, destinations too far away to walk, weather, not feeling safe,
etc.)

2. What types of physical activity did you engage in and/or enjoy in your country of
origin? (Ex. Walking with friends, playing particular sports, riding bicycles, farming, etc.)

3. Are there any types of physical activities you would like to engage in now, but don’t
feel like you can? (Could be for any reason; lack of appropriate facilities or social barriers.
CHINESE
Ex. Culturally BHUTANESE-NEPALI
specific sports, walking to nearby stores, enjoying nature, etc.)

4. What places or features of your neighborhood do you like? What do you not like?
WALKING
(Ex. Particular IN THE
parks, stores, PARK
views, ORGANIC
public art, festivals, etc.) FARMING
RIDING BICYCLE GROUP YOGA
5. Do you feel that more culturally relevant surrounding
SHOPPING environments would increase
VOLLEYBALL
your physical activity level? What particular recommendations would you make?
DANCING BADMINTON
(Ex. Public space for dancing, tai chi, night markets, housing types, park amenities, etc.)
TAI CHI SOCCER
6. Where would you like to see these recommendations implemented in your
neighborhood?

Studio
FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS
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Studio
ASIA TOWN | Wade Kratzer
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Studio
ASIA TOWN | Wade Kratzer
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Studio
ASIA TOWN | Wade Kratzer
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Studio
WEST PARK | Michael Langelier
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New YMCA n Ave.

Lorai

Yoga Studio
Orchard

Urban farm

Studio
WEST PARK | Alex Johnson
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Studio
WEST PARK | Alex Johnson
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Romanian Cultural Garden

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Community Design Charrette

May 7, 2011
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OVER 30 PARTICIPANTS

4 LOCAL CHURCHES

+DETROIT
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THE PROJECT IS MORE

THAN DESIGNING A
GARDEN.
IT’S BUILDING A
COMMUNITY.