Every new settlement/development brings hope for resurrection for its surroundings in many cases; or at least that is the intention of many urban planners and Architects in recent years. Even through successful community engagement practices it is a challenge to wipe out the fears of 'Gentrification' that has been deeply rooted into the community. Architect Liz Ogbu works are based on spatial justice through which she questions " what if gentrification was about healing communities instead of displacing them?".
In her ted talk she discusses about the historically African American community residing in Bayview hunters point in San Francisco. A 30 acres in the community once occupied by a utility company was removed with the efforts of the community members and ultimately the community ended up with 30 acres of asphalt in their backyard. While working with the community and listening to them for four years Liz Ogbu raises the question " Why is it that we treat culture erasure and economical displacement as inevitable?" She believes it is possible for Architects to be healers and bring a change to this fear by making a commitment to improve communities for themselves.
With Chicago's rising proposals to resurrect communities by increasing green spaces on abandoned rail roads, trails proposals, river line development, it is important to understand the history and the pain the communities has gone through due to spatial injustice. This helps us to design for the community and not in the community. In her ted talk Liz Ogbu also talks about the industrial corridors that lose their functional capacity and face closure and abandonment.
Designing for the community can have a start by rejuvenating these spaces and designing them for the needs of the communities that are abutting them. Studying Lawndale and the adjacent neighborhoods in the studio this semester, it is easy to relate to these concepts than looking at them just as discussions or articles or data. Being in the neighborhood will help us realize we have a potential to be a healer for the community than an Architect. I believe the ultimate goal of providing health care to a community can be reached when we play the role of the healer.
The most interesting part of working towards spatial justice is that each neighborhood/community has its own history and background. This makes each solution an unique Architecture yet connecting each community with one another. Like Jean Nouvel's words, there are numerous new situations out there, it is our time to solve them with Architecture.
Reference:
https://www.ted.com/talks/liz_ogbu_what_if_gentrification_was_about_healing_communities_instead_of_displacing_them
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