SHAPE NEWHAM - CO-DESIGN THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND RADIO MAKING
COMMISSIONED BY AOC/NEWHAM COUNCIL MARCH 19 -MARCH 20
As part of an ambitious 3 year place-making project ‘Shape Newham’ initiated by Newham Council and led by architecture practice AOC to revitalise 8 areas of Newham through co-designed public realm and art initiatives, Social Broadcast’s role was to connect with, listen to and reflect residents, organisations and businesses in these areas to understand local needs and potential collaboration. '
Social Broadcasts works alongside design teams who work in areas undergoing change, working at a human scale, developing projects in collaboration with local people to create opportunities for those often unrepresented to see themselves reflected in the spaces they inhabit.
In order to do this, we employ a methodology that looks at the physical, social and cultural characteristics of a place. This involves a process of deep listening, looking and observing. Conversation is at the heart of our research process, using audio recording, production and broadcasting as a tool to understand what is there, who is there, and what are the possibilities. Listening is a critical part of the process of developing projects in partnership with others.
The outcome was a series of 40 one on one interviews celebrating voices from Maryland, Forest Gate, East Ham, Plaistow, Green Street, Beckton, Manor Park and Little Ilford accessible online via a ‘portrait wall’.
Facilitation of a series of radio making workshops with adults and young people in different areas of the borough. Participants were trained in oral history style interviewing and given the tools and agency to conduct their own interviews to be included in a final community podcast.
Public listening events.
Hearing other community members’ voicing their ideas, hopes, concerns and descriptions via these audio pieces became an important and valuable part of the Assembly process. There was also an emotional value, creating connection and empathy through the shared listening experience. Shorter versions and exerts of the final community podcasts were broadcast at each assembly event throughout the engagement period of the project.
Final podcasts and audio portraits all available via Shape Newham website
Producer: Lucia Scazzocchio
With additional audio recording by Mae-Li Evans and event facilitation by Melanie Berard.