Co-create with Residents: Participatory Action Research Approach in Surface Decoration of Old Buildings

Abstract

In the process of old building regeneration, designers prefer to rebuild (redevelopment) and residents prefer to repair (rehabilitation). Residents spontaneously repair the facade of the old buildings, destroying the city’s aesthetics. This study aims to establish a co-creation method with residents in surface decoration of the old buildings. Specifically, the co-create with residents focuses on the art intervention in decoration. In this context, the co-creation with residents is defined as the decoration and beautification of the surface of old buildings with the assistance of designers through the expression of contemporary art.

To test the hypothesis that application of art intervention in building surface decoration, three workshops were carried out according to the action research. To select art form to realize co-creation, obtaining the expression of collage art; to develop art transform into a decoration for co-creation, obtaining the abstract expression to realize the transformation from art to design symbol; and to evaluate co-creation method with residents, obtaining the principles and methods of organization co-creation. The results showed co-create with residents requires the following three improvements: simplify the method; entertainment process; expand the depth.

These results suggest that providing different levels of residents’ co-creation, including design to residents, design from residents and local art for co-creation. On this basis, the concept of co-creation has been expanded to involve residents, designers and artists in “Participatory” with art, architectural technology and city culture in “Action Research”.

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