8 Tips for a Successful Charrette

nospam@example.com (Charrette Studio) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:24:00 -0600

Tips for successful charrette design and planning
By David E. Christensen, AIA, LEED AP

A charrette creates an environment of collaboration and consensus to develop an approved land development program that will help quicken the design process and gain faster approvals for entitlements. As an alternative to long-range city planning, this process can be used successfully for private projects to gain public programming consensus.

The following tips share how facilitators can execute a great charrette:

1) Create participant variety.
Include advocates, opponents, consultants, and regulatory officials, but do not exceed more than about 15 to 30 participants.

2) Do pre-charrette research.
Determine hidden agendas and pre-conceived ideas. Know the local history. Provide participants with a list of issues ahead of time.

3) Provide the facts.
Be prepared with important data regarding zoning, environmental issues, infrastructure, traffic, the market, competition, demographics, et cetera. Present reference maps and supporting graphics.

4) Encourage comparative thinking.
Provide an audio/visual presentation of relevant projects from around the country to get the creative juices flowing. Follow the show with images of the subject site.

5) Consider wild ideas.
Evaluate all ideas. No concept is too crazy. Go down the list of facts specific to the site, and put ideas in graphic form. Engage all participants for their point of view! Do this activity in the morning. The facilitator must be motivated and knowledgeable—and good at sketching.

6) Work to the deadline.
Summarize the program that would include all points of view, and determine a solution that is the best compromise. Listen.

7) Draw fast!
Facilitator and consultants create graphic design(s) for review by participants within one or two days at most. The master plan should reflect and/or acknowledge all points of view—both the “whys” and “why nots.”

Present the solution.
Frame the design in terms of comments from all participants. Listen to valid criticism, and revise the plan on the spot with new ideas.

Following the guidelines presented above will get your program on the fast track toward project completion.

How to Get Your Project Going in 3 Easy Steps

nospam@example.com (Charrette Studio) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 05:27:00 -0600

By David E. Christensen, AIA, LEED AP

1. Listen 2. Envision 3. Draw Fast...and Listen Again!
The design charrette creates an environment of collaboration and seeks consensus to quickly develop an approved land or building development program that will help speed up the design process and gain faster approvals for proponents.

1. Listen

The key is to listen. People want to be heard and recognized. The feeling of having been heard is empowering at all levels of an organization and community. New information is always learned when you listen well. The importance of this step cannot be overstated.

2. Envision

Anything goes. Wild, creative ideas are quickly aired out, sketched and gauged against project restrictions and program needs. All issues are openly discussed to determine the best compromise.

3. Draw Fast

A picture is worth a thousand words. The designs come quickly and easily when you have a clear program and goal. Final design concepts should acknowledge all participant ideas, whether they were used or not. So, you need to listen again, and revise as necessary. The final charrette design concept most always receives near unanimous approval from participants.

Charrette Studio WebBlog - For Architects

8 Tips for a Successful Charrette

How to Get Your Project Going in 3 Easy Steps