Improving the language of electronic dialogue in participatory projects

Abstract

Residents affected by urban interventions and development projects have in South Africa's recent history, frequently challenged the legitimacy of development decisions. In a South African context, the process of intervention is itself often a primary factor in rediscovering social, cultural and spatial identity. A subsequent polarization between the professionals' and publics' roles is detrimental to the participatory process. Formative communication between participants, for example architects, residents and planning authorities, contributes to consensual decision-making, empowerment of residents, and a sustainable improvement of living environments. The objective of relating architectural design to context therefore invites a closer inquiry into the nature ofthe residents' everyday experience of their environment, that is to say the identity of place, and consequently into the nature of emerging information and communication tools used in that inquiry. This paper looks at examples of participatory projects where digital information and communication tools have been used and indicates areas of current and future research to improve the dialogue between 'experts' and 'users'.