28 mei 2014

A spatial planning participation game for 5 to 55 participants from 8 to 88 years old
This is how THE MAKING OF WORKS

“The Making Of” is a method of empowerment; it is a mind-opener not only for lay people but also for experts and professionals. It aims to simplify complex situations to reveal the wishes and interests of parties involved in decision-making; and to embrace curiosity, insight and enthusiasm throughout the uncertain processes of change.

Game Urbanism “The Making Of”

Whether people grew up with board games, video games, sports or role-playing, most are familiar with the simple act of play. Mainly all childhood games share a common structure: there are players, there are rules, and there is the objective to “win”. Hans Venhuizen’s “The Making Of” examines the well-known structure of game playing – and applies it to spatial planning and collective decision-making processes. Spatial planning can involve anything from changes to a public space, to the restructuring of a neighborhood, to an urban area’s search for identity.

Turn Current Problems Into Future Possibilities

In contrast to today’s typical spatial planning process, in which ideas are framed around an attractive “end-picture,” “The Making Of” seeks to initiate a discussion around changes that takes into account all parties and all possible solutions. Participants of “The Making Of” workshops learn how games can bring people together as they explore avenues to change. And most important output: the understanding of how to turn current problems into future possibilities.

Method of Empowerment

Participants of the workshops are challenged to analyze current planning issues and to propose ideas, raise objections, debate and lobby for solutions. They playfully learn to approach and comprehend a serious public matter through a game. Using a game matrix, well-designed process and concept manager, the project aims to simplify complex situations; to reveal the wishes and interests of parties involved in decision-making; and to embrace curiosity, insight and enthusiasm throughout uncertain processes of change.

After one or more rounds of The Making Of have been played, Bureau Venhuizen is able to process all of the proposals and objections into a coherent design brief, which can now serve as a motor for the process of change. This plan for change (i.e., the design brief) can in turn be recognized and supported by numerous interested parties.

Link naar pdf van TMO brochure