In Support of Community Development Through Urban Citizenship in Design

Abstract

The Unit for Urban Citizenship (UUC) in the Department of Architecture at the University of Pretoria undertakes trans-disicplinary engaged research and teaching in informal settlements in the City of Tshwane. The approach to engagement has evolved over time to interweave greater rigour and consistency in teaching and research methods, establishing longitudinal relationships with participant communities. The increased number of informal settlements is an indicator of the vast imbalances and a systemic failure within our cities, with municipal authorities unable to address these challenges alone. Post-graduate students in the UUC studios are introduced to the principles of Public Interest Design by way of Participatory Action Research, Community Action Planning, Spatial Agency and Co-Design through interactive community-based studios situated in various settlements. Over the course of a decade, it has become apparent that students and community participants provide significant and relevant insights into conditions on the ground, all of which could serve to address severe challenges of policy implementation. A reflection on these studios supports an argument for the intentional collaboration between anchor institutions such as Universities, the National Research Foundation and government bodies to propel development policies forward.