Mapping techniques

Some interesting examples of data visualisation, both interactive maps and mapping of large swathes of data can be seen through the work of Radical Cartography. This is well worth having a look through for inspiration and also some quirky examples of mapping manipulation by an artist called Shannon Rankin, her Maps Series (of which this is only part) is well worth a visit and could prove interesting for visual representation.

Do we need a large format map for every member of the facility within a week to pin on where they have come from? Could be a form of invisible interaction with the buildings participants.

Stakeholder Diagram 01

First draft at a stakeholders diagram

Community interaction / participation

Candy Chang could prove very interesting for study as she continuously attempts to alter the urban citizens impression of a spaces, looking for ways of encouraging social and community interaction through non verbal means. She also documents her interpretations of signage throughout cities and making the city more navigable for its inhabitants through unconventional mapping technique. I would recommend 'Hello Neighbours' for ideas of social information that resulted from on the ground involvement and engagement with the community.

Post client meeting

Today we met as a group to discuss our interpretation of the client meeting, its outcomes, the questions it poses and the ways in which we should prepare for the subsequent meetings.

During the discussion we stated that the church required more interaction within the local residential community, community centres and the reconfiguration of peoples impressions of the building as it currently seems to have no presence within the mindset of the locale. We wished not to frivolously make comments without a factual basis so decided to divide the group into three subgroups focussing on the documentation and analysis of the existing and historical - environmental - physical - social issues at the scale of the city and the parish boundary for group discussion and sharing of knowledge. The mapping process begins.

Client meting 01

Church approach

Our first meeting with the client (All Hallow's Church) took place today giving us a great opportunity to find out more about the organisation, its values and to develop an understanding of what was expected of us within the 6 week deadline.

During this visit we had the chance to speak directly to the Parish Council Committee (Steve, Paul, Nick, Mike, Sarah, Andrea and Pippa), listening to their personal interpretation of what they thought the building required in terms of a broader community context and the technical issues requiring attention, along with a quick tour of the building which highlighted such issues.

Entrance hall to cafe relationship Basement storage area

Building threshold Blocked access to the garden

Observations from the meeting were;

1. a strategic and focused understanding of the building and its relationship to the community is required
2. maintenance costs of the building was diminishing the possibility of community engagement
3. those who engage with the building are not from the local community (within the parish boundary) whilst the local students seem to ignore the resourcing provided by the church
4. the building is rigidly divided between secular uses from Monday - Saturday and religious uses on Sundays
5. they are in need of funding and would like some research into possible government or local grant available to them
6. wish to provide access to the garden area behind the church to avail of the views of the city
7. clutter within the building was seen as undesirable and some form of storage area or more efficient storage methods were required

Future meetings have been organised with both the Parish Council Committee and the resident artists (Trish and Simon)

Group meeting

The first group meeting was a chance to get to know each other, our personal skills, architectural and personal backgrounds, proving astoundingly eclectic. After pleasantries we gradually turned our minds to the live project and the impending client meeting and discussed with Carolyn the issues surrounding the project and the reasons as to why we are now involved with All Hallows Church. From this discussion, we have ascertained that;

1. the project should not be considered as an individual intervention, but rather one which may form a national precedent for the future reconfiguration of community centres
2. the client wishes to form new connections with the local community inside the parish boundary
3. we have been asked to bring fresh ideas and new ways of approaching the community, possibly participatory events, publications or branding

The brief

All Hallows Church is a small inclusive radical Anglican Church in the inner city area of Hyde Park close to the universities and city centre of Leeds.We intend to explore the possibilities provided to the church by social engagement, through considering the project in both a strategic and physical manner, thus contemplating the implications of a multiplicity of issues, from altering the social networking of the church and built fabric to focussing the functionality of the building and highlighting its presence within the community. All of this work intends to extend upon the existing social networks of the church thus maintaining the warm and welcoming nature of the resources members.