Crafting
Westport—How One Small Community Shaped Its Future |
| This paper discusses the ongoing participatory design effort in the small coastal community of Westport, California since May 2003. It opens with background information about the identity of its people and places, followed by detailed discussion of methods and results used during the process of designing its new town center. While the Westport community is, in many ways, representative of others of similar size and location, its idiosyncrasies led to unique results with regard to both methodology used and design outcome. The evolving needs of the community and their changing opinions regarding the location, functional relationships and views were incorporated in a community center design that was carefully crafted, adjusted and calibrated throughout the process. Moreover, the effects of a highly identifiable physical environment on residents’ perceptions of spatial form resulted in sophisticated design solutions. Additionally, the way of life in Westport defined the need for a flexible process that addressed the community’s remoteness and limited resources. |