Community Participation in Architectural Design (Evaluation of Al-Maageen Housing in Nablus)

This work explores the issue of participation in architectural design process. Participatory design, user participation, citizen control, making decision process and other approaches are discussed to be reflected the implication for practice when the design process involves many parties. As more and more actors are being called to participate in the design process, the roles of the participants and the boundaries of their contributions are being re framed and negotiated. What design strategies and tactics are needed to be brought up into the design process to allow fruitful participation of the users? How designers can facilitate the involvement of the users? The issue of participation seems to imply new positions that require designers to design not only the end product, but also the process that will help more people to become involved in the design process. The work presents a case study about participation in Al-Maageen housing in Nablus city, Palestine. This case study investigates the current practice of the participation process in our Palestinian community. The founding concentrates on the level of participation in this community. It was clear that the residents try to participate in their housing but it was not as they want as it began lately.