PASW Regional Newsletter: Autumn 2002
Current Projects - What are the perceived benefits of art in urban design?
The use of art in urban design is decoration at best or detrimental in the worst scenario. This is usually due to art being tacked on to projects or looked at in isolation to the grand scheme. The 'Art' or process of creation should be fused into the overall vision seamlessly from the very inception of projects. Otherwise you usually get a nondescript entity which has little or no relevance to the surroundings, that is tripped over or is quietly stuffed into the nearest shrub bed and forgotten.
What artists and art do need is a more equal chair at the table of urban design projects to have a more valid input in the design process. Knowing and defining what you want from an artist, without tying the creative wings too tightly and stifling inspiration. So a clear brief, sound management, targeted short list, clear understanding of the artists' processes and excellent communication are the facets which make available the endless creative benefits art has to offer in Urban Design.
Govan Hill - A fruitful collaboration between landscape architect: DEP Landscape Initiatives, Artist: Clare Barclay, Architect: Chris Platt and Client: Govan Hill Housing Association. One of the 5 Spaces, Glasgow City of Architecture 1999. Photo: DEP Landscape Initiatives.
Examples of how art can flower in urban design were highlighted in Glasgow City of Architecture, where the Five Spaces project took on board these ideals with strong arts management and generated a group of innovative contemporary areas combining the best urban design, art and client collaboration.
Dan Hutchinson, Urban Designer, Devon County Council
e.mail: [email protected]