2E: Interview Experts for Design Principles
Goal:
You'll interview people who can tell you what they think is important in a park design.
Activity
Steps:
Circle the design principles that are most important to your design team. Write interview questions that will give you information on those subjects. Set up interviews with people your team can learn design principles from.
Landscape
Designer/Architect
Site conditions and people's needs have been studied, and the design fits the site & people
Slope, entrances/exits, sun/shade, drainage, and nearby buildings have been studied
The design is beautiful to the people who will use it
Plants will fit the place as they grow over time
Seating and tables are spread all around the place, and social groups can have their turf
Custodian
The place is beautiful and has a positive impact on nearby buildings, sidewalks, streets
The place is very easy to clean, maintain, and repair
All of the equipment and furniture will last a long time
People respect the place and help to keep it clean
Waste can be recycled and composted and the place won't attract rodents and roaches
Parks worker
The design fits community needs and doesn't duplicate the park next door
Different groups can do different things there at the same time
The place is very easy to clean, maintain, and repair
The place can take a lot of people, and people feel very welcome
People can help keep the place clean; garbage cans, maintenance supplies are available
Community
Gardener
The place can be used for many activities (barbecues, gardening, play, education)
People can gather in the place, and they feel welcome coming in
People can grow their own plants in their own beds, and help in common areas
The place looks good from outside the fence
The place is easy to keep clean; composting areas are clean and easy to use
The place improves the whole block, and builds community spirit
Professional
Gardener
Plants are well chosen for soil conditions, sun/shade, drainage
Maintenance of the plants is easy; water is available nearby
There is a good diversity of plants. Plants are chosen that work well together
The plants are beautiful in every season
Carpenter
Designs are clear and easy to build and materials chosen are appropriate to the design
Structures are very well built, strong, won't fall apart, and can be repaired
Planner
The block, neighborhood, city, region, and bioregion are considered in the design
Geologist
The layers of bedrock, sand, silt, and soil under the site support the design
Biologist
The needs of each organism are provided for in the design, now and long term
People can learn about biology by interacting with organisms in the place
Signs describe unseen biological processes
Surface water, groundwater and watershed are considered and protected in the design
Farmer
The place can produce a lot of food and other marketable products
The food produced on the site is of great quality and it's economical to produce
You can wash, pack and sell the food on site, or easily transport it from the site
Wilderness worker
Needs of wildlife (migratory birds, insects) are studied and accommodated in the design
The impact of the site on groundwater is studied; the site does not pollute groundwater
The place will evolve over time into a natural looking, sustainable ecosystem
Camper/hiker
The place provides peaceful areas to be alone with nature
The place is a good site to learn orienteering and camping skills (room for tents, cooking)
Teacher/childcare
worker/parent
The place is safe, and it's easy to see everyone in it from one or two spots
The place supports cognitive development, and fine motor and gross motor skills
There are places to eat, read, to sit quietly alone and in groups, and to play
Signs, labels, stories, and photos give information and show how the place was created
People can play with sand, water, soil, rocks, and other "moveable parts"
Participatory
Design Facilitator
The place allows for ongoing re-design and re-construction according to new ideas, needs
The participatory design process is documented and displayed so people can get involved
Ecologist/Permaculture
designer
The place is sustainable with very little effort, waste products are well used
The place uses resources wisely (water, human effort, construction materials, space)
The place attracts and supports a diversity of organisms (soil microbes, birds, humans)
Trees, vines, shrubs, and other perennial plants are the core of the design
Inputs (rain, activity, seeds) and outputs (plants, gasses, waste) are ecologically balanced