Streets can be perceived as permanent solutions — they are not.

Gator har alltid varit i förändring. Processen att förändra gator kan se ut på olika sätt. Centralt i Street Moves är att designprocessen är inkluderande, tvärdisciplinär, platsspecifik och utforskande. Det är även viktigt att personer med designkompetens driver förändringsarbetet tillsammans med kommunen och lokala aktörer. För att driva en inkluderande, tvärdisciplinär, platsspecifik och utforskande process finns vissa hållpunkter som Street Moves utgår från. Nedan följer en beskrivning i fyra steg av hur designprocessen kan se ut:

Streets have always been in flux. The process of changing streets can take many different forms. An inclusive, cross-disciplinary, site-specific, and exploratory process is central to Street Moves. It is also important that design competence is running the change together with the municipality and local actors. To ensure that the process is inclusive, cross-disciplinary, site-specific, and exploratory, Street Moves departs from certain support points or pillars. Below is a description of what the design process can look like:

Step 1 – analysis of needs

ArkDes and the design consultant visit the site together with the municipality. Together, measurements and observations are made based on the impact goals developed by the municipality. At the end of the project, follow-up measurements are made to compare the results of the design. The measurements can be both quantitative and qualitative. It can include, for example, flow measurements or measurements of greenery and biodiversity, and be measured through surveys, interviews, observations, etc.

The municipality’s vision, impact objectives and the findings from the site visit provide a framework for inviting citizens, private stakeholders, municipal representatives and others affected by the site to a workshop. In order to engage and find out what the community needs, it is important that several different people are invited into the process at an early stage. A close dialog with those concerned and regular feedback to them is essential for the process and the result.

Step 2 – Sketch process and feedback

Based on the dialog, the overall needs analysis and lessons learned from Street Moves, sketch proposals are developed. The first sketch proposal provides a common understanding of the target image, and forms the basis for feedback and continued dialogue between the municipality, design team, residents, and involved actors and a network of experts in areas such as mobility, universal design, biodiversity, urban greenery, children’s perspective, etc.

Based on sketch proposals and discussion, several design proposals are developed, which can take the form of concepts, 3D visualizations, volume sketches, hand-drawn sketches or other ways that clearly show the function and form of the proposals. After a possible final round of feedback, depending on the design, the process can then proceed to technical drawings or the preparation of construction documents, permit approval and production.

Step 3 – the prototype is tested on the street

The design is installed on the street. The effects are then measured through, for example, flow measurements, pedestrian activity, greenery, biodiversity, survey interviews and analysis of other data and compared with the measurements from the beginning of the project. What can we do differently? What lessons do we take with us into future work? What can we share nationally?

Step 4 – next step

The knowledge generated is shared within the municipality, with other Street Moves partners and with the rest of the world! And so the process continues – now with more voices, lessons, needs and functions as a starting point. It is not more difficult than that!