Design Matters – What is a well-designed city?

By : OPPORTUS

Design (v.) in its definition is a process of planning and deciding how something will look and function. Generally, it often aims to solve a particular problem.

Good design may be described as a process of planning and decision-making to address the problems of people and that context. Therefore, good design that work in one context may not be good design for another context. The crucial essence and starting point of good design usually comes from identifying specific challenges addressed to people and context.

Hence, a well-designed city would likely be a city that employs the design process to address the quality of life for people in that city, creating an environment conducive to comfortable living, promoting well-being, and providing satisfaction to people in the community.

The challenge of urban design requires an understanding of emotions and desires of people in society, unlike architectural design that caters to the needs of a single customer. Therefore, urban design has various design approaches ranging from adapting basic human need theory to designing an environment that responds to human behaviour (Sociogenic Environment), to establishing urban design processes.

Example of a city design challenge

Taking the example of the needs expressed by a group of people participating in a workshop in the Phra Nakhon district and analyse it based on the theory of basic human needs. We can summarise a city design challenge as follows:

Every group requires things that are essential on a Physiological level, such as comfort in travelling, sufficient parking space. Particularly, residents require safety and privacy. Business owners need accessibility to enhance trade opportunities and community acceptance (Affiliation needs). As for tourists, they seek learning and creating new experiences (Cognitive needs). All of these are examples of considerations when designing an urban environment to cater to the needs of every group of people.

The key to develop creative spaces, communities, and economy.

Starting from a profound understanding of the people and their context, interpreting problems and needs, analysing data, and being able to identify design challenges and objectives for urban design. This can be regarded as the initial phase of the design process and the core of urban development. The process of developing concepts to generate solutions or alternatives for problems will align with societal needs.

Then, how can we ascertain that a city has been well-designed? We would need an evaluation, whether after the design, the city meets the needs of its residents. If it does, should we continue or if not, where should improvements be made?

Bangkok Design Week could be seen as an opportunity to invite everyone to participate in transforming Bangkok into a city that is ‘livable,’ ‘investment-worthy,’ ‘tourist-friendly,’ and ‘lovable’ for all. Whether it be the city’s residents, investors, or visitors, let’s go beyond theory and put it into action. Everyone is welcomed to participate in this process because the more people engage, the more attractive the city becomes, resulting in a better quality of life for all.

References

1) กำธร กุลชล (2545) การออกแบบชุมชนเมืองคืออะไร- การติดตามหาคำตอบในรอบ 40 ปี. กรุงเทพฯ: มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร.

2) Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary England (2000) : Oxford University Press.

3) Lang, J. (1994) Urban Design; The American Experience. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.

4) The Stanford d.school Bootcamp Bootleg (HPI). (2010). An Introduction to Design Thinking. Retrieve from https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/design-thinking-bootleg

Bangkok Design Week 2024

Livable Scape

hard matters . heart matters . design matters

27 Jan – 4 Feb 2024

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