DRS2012 Bangkok Proceedings Vol 4 - Design Research Society

Making Sense of Interventions in Public Places as Drivers of Urban Renewal
Figure 6 Design intervention in Espoo, Finlnad Figure 7 Design Idea
Source: Sandra Viña (2011) Source: Sandra Viña (2011)
The design intervention functioned as an artifact and open space that drove ideas,
opinions and inspirational material about the neighborhood. It also created an event in
which designers and researcher could empathize and work together with local residents.
The design intervention and research program also highlight the importance of locality
and identity in the neighborhood renewal. The material gathered during the design
intervention was interpreted and developed further. It helped to map a set of identities
and places, which were the platform for concept design. Figure 7 is a concept idea
originated and inspired by the material gathered during the design intervention.
Another design intervention was also carried out in Finland during wintertime. The design
intervention, shown in figure 8, aimed to introduce an alternative solution to winterinduced
problems and, develop awareness on the utilization of public places and
everyday city life as spaces for social interaction and well-being. The average opinion
and feeling about Finnish winter is the lack of light and thus energy to cope during long
dark days. The concept of the design intervention is situated in the local context of
Finnish winter, as it carries an often depressing, dark, distant and tiring connotation.
Thus, the design intervention transforms the space by adding a way out to the arctic
character. The momentary place in the urban public space of Helsinki offered bright lights
to residents and a place to discuss about the potential or not of the design idea. The
participation occurred through the interaction between the public and the design
researcher. The opinions gathered during the event were considered and thus, the idea
was further develop into a design concept where bring lights are brought to daily use in
city places. For example, it was suggested to metro environments as people can feel at
ease under the bright lights while using the railway transportation system.
Figure 8 Design intervention in Helsinki, Finland
Source: Sandra Viña (2009)
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