Participatory Design Process of a Recreational Area, in an Informal Area Community Development Center
The abandoned outdoor recreational area in one of community development centers in Helwan was totally renovated through a participatory process.
This site is a small enclosed open door area in one of the governmental housing projects in one of the informal areas in Cairo. The area was oftenly threatened by drug dealers and thugs. The factor that has helped - in addition to the lack of resources, in the ignorance of the outdoor area of children in the community development center. The site is relatively small, and that was the challenge ahead of the students. There were also fixed pergolas in the middle of the site. The management suggested to keep them. The students have conducted a complete participatory redesign process. From the socio-economic research of the users, to the site exploration, to designing the "working scenario" and designing their tools. Then was the observation, recording and investigation for the problem identification, then proposing the design guidelines and budgeting. This also required several focus group workshops for the discussion and approval of the design. Fun raising was a problem, because the site needed a lot of work. the budget demanded several evaluation of alternatives, until the project was successfully completed. The students have added several wall paints of colored patterns that have added a joyful atmosphere for the site.
Images and Plans
Technical Description
The site needed soil treatment from gravel and trash, before its preparation for the artificial grass. There were several problems concerning plumbing, as the site falls in the back of a low cost housing apartment building that lacks maintenance. There was another problem with the electricity and lighting. Then came the wooden pergolas that needed treatments, the seating areas, the play toys. all were treated then painted. Based on the research, the children avowed that they love mazes and playing hide and seek. Accordingly the new design offered a wooden maze. Vegetation was also part of the design and implementation.