COMMUNITY PROJECT: STAGE 02

Through addressing and evaluating the findings of Stage 1, we aim to produce a temporary built form for the summer of 2010. The design for this structure will be made public throughout the design process. A series of workshop events and pin-up opportunities will allow the public to react, critique and suggest during the design process. The built form will fulfil the following criteria:

• It will address a true need or desire of the public highlighted in Stage 1
• It will be designed and built in collaboration with the public
• It will be site-specific and reflect something unique to the community that it serves
• It will utilise an underused or vacant space within the community
• It will evolve over the project duration due to user interaction which will encourage visitors to return to see how it has changed

Here are some examples of the kind of work we want to achieve in Southend-on-Sea:

Southend Soapbox’ by Cassion Castle Architects in collaboration with Fleet Architects, Southend-on-Sea, at Metal’s Village Green festival last summer.

‘Frank’s Café’ by Paloma Gormley and Lettice Drake, Peckham, London.

‘The Dalston Mill’ by EXYZT.

‘Le 56’ by Atelier d’Architecture Autogeree, Paris.

You’ll notice from all the examples that they use cheap, low-tech materials and were temporary and make shift in nature.  However, for their short-lived lives they were a valuable contribution to the community and their short-term nature created a buzz and sense of event around the project.

However, it is fundamental to the ethos of We ♥ the Suburbs, that we do not predetermine or dictate the form that Stage 2 will take.

So where are we now with We ♥ the Suburbs?  We're applying for funding to make this happen and we have every confidence we will be on our way soon.  Keep checking this site for news on the project's start date and how you can get involved!

COMMUNITY PROJECT: STAGE 01

The first stage will engage with local suburbanites in three areas of Southend-on-Sea – St. Luke’s, Milton and Victoria. In each area there will be an interactive exhibition that asks locals to participate through sharing ideas, desires and memories. The exhibition will work as a form of ‘blank canvas’ that the public add to and manipulate to gain a true picture of suburban lifestyles and attitudes. Interactive maps, models, films and photography will enable the local public to create the content of their own exhibition, both highlighting the needs and desires of the local public, and celebrating its existing culture. The main themes addressed will be:

• Suburban memories and stories (Memory)
• Recording, mapping and analysing the ‘everyday’ of Suburbanites (The Everyday)
• The future of suburbia in reaction to contemporary, global issues, i.e. climate change and energy usage (Prospects)

The exhibitions will not only help to generate public engagement, but will also affirm creative networks in the areas. We will achieve this through delegating sections of the exhibitions to local young or non-established designers, architects or artists, through issuing a ‘competition’ 6 weeks prior to the event.

A fourth exhibition will be held in a more central location that will collate, analyse and conclude the information and knowledge gained from the local exhibitions. This will allow all members of the wider community to attend and see how their reactions compare with other areas. This is proposed in an effort to maximise public awareness of the project.

Some examples of work we admire:

CUP’s ‘Green Information Centre’, New York.  They worked with local young people to produce a roaming booth to engage with the local community.  It contained information to answer the local’s green questions.

Public Works’ ‘Park Products’, London.  The project worked with local park users, gardeners, rangers and students to help design the park products.

PROJECT ORGANISATION- THE WIDER CONTEXT

We ♥ the Suburbs is a project that aims to run for approximately one year. Within this time frame there are two major threads to the project. Firstly, a community based project that aims to benefit the suburban environment. Secondly a research project that aims to shed light on the much overlooked territory of Suburbia within the architectural profession.

'THREE PORTRAITS OF SUBURBIA' UNVEILED AT SHEFFIELD SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

The Ecology Theory Forum at the University of Sheffield was a great success and we want to say a big thank you to our friends that gave us this opportunity to display our first exhibition!  Sarah and I are really excited about it and anyone who is interested in what we are doing, please get in touch.

WE ♥ THE SUBURBS QUESTIONNAIRE

If you haven’t already seen the ‘We ♥ the Suburbs’ team on your local street corner, why not send us your opinions, ideas and stories online? Simply check out the questionnaire below and email us your response to weheartthesuburbs@gmail.com 

We want to hear from YOU!

Introducing a new and improved questionnaire for any of you wanting to fill out online:

WHERE WE WILL BE IN SOUTHEND

Have you seen these posters around and wondered what they're about? We ♥ the Suburbs is a project that believes that there is a great potential in your local area. We think that while the suburbs have a lot to offer, they also leave a lot to be desired. Suburbia needs to adapt in response to contemporary issues like climate change, peak oil, ever-increasing populations and corporate take-over, like huge out-of-town Tescos and a Starbucks on every street corner. We believe that a better suburbia can be achieved through design that brings together people like you who care about where you live.

We’re looking for people who want to be involved in improving their community.  If you’re interested in the potential of your hometown and the suburbs, come along to find out how you can get involved or to tell us your ideas and stories:

Sunday 1st November

12pm – 6pm - Beach Hut 529 along the Promenade by Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Monday 2nd November

11am – 2pm – Thorpe Bay Broadway.

3pm – 4pm – Bournes Green School, Ladram Road.

6pm – 7pm – Thorpe Bay Station (platform returning from London).