Linking theory with practice and student projects with applied research:

case study in Detroit

Abstract

The Detroit Studio is a community outreach program of Lawrence Technological University's College of Architecture and Design. It offers students and faculty the opportunity to link theory with practice, academia with the profession, and student projects with applied research. Architecture students work with stakeholders, participating in environmental and behavioral research for design projects. The project discussed here involved seventh grade students in Detroit's underserved communities who worked with junior architecture students to develop master plans for the community. The paper argues that although children are certainly considered in underserved communities, they rarely actively influence revitalization. While literature suggests that urban design benefits architectural education, urban design is underutilized. Although there is research investigating children's involvement in small projects, it rarely addresses the role of children in placemaking in the large built environment. Therefore, children play an important role in this project. In this project, a multiphase approach to incorporating children in placemaking was applied with architecture students leading teams of about four children. Phase 1 consists of inquiry by impression through kids' video cameras, as they made observations through videos. Phase 2 examines formal pre-understandings, where children explore environmental variables and theoretical constructs. Phase 3 consists of therapeutic art exercises that help children transition to subsequent phases. Phase 4 includes exercises where children construct models of their ideal community. Phase 5 involves producing videos to educate the community about the emerging lessons. Phase 6 develops the children's ideas into master plan concepts. Research is conducted on several themes central to the children's ideas. Phase 7 incorporates the children's input and research outcomes into specific community master plan strategies. Social construction, as a primary theoretical base for our project, has guided our efforts through all phases in the project.