Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design

Our rapidly changing world, current environmental crisis and calls for regenerative approaches to development evidences the need for change. To achieve sustainable change a transformation in the way we understand and conduct relationships in and with the world is required. The environment is not som...

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Main Authors: MackIntosh, Lara, Creagh, Robyn, McGann, Sarah
Format: Conference Paper
Published: The Architectural Science Association 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67756
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author MackIntosh, Lara
Creagh, Robyn
McGann, Sarah
author_facet MackIntosh, Lara
Creagh, Robyn
McGann, Sarah
author_sort MackIntosh, Lara
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Our rapidly changing world, current environmental crisis and calls for regenerative approaches to development evidences the need for change. To achieve sustainable change a transformation in the way we understand and conduct relationships in and with the world is required. The environment is not something at arm’s length, but rather a complex system, of which built, natural, and social systems, among others, are all part. As a profession architecture must have approaches that are reflexive, responsive, longitudinal and inclusive. This paper draws together two illustrative case studies to demonstrate such approaches. These case studies underscore the potential to facilitate continued transformation within approaches to the design of space and the discipline of architecture. The two workshops discussed in this paper enabled architects, teachers, policy-makers and others, to look at their own roles within the broader systems that shape the built environment of schools. Transformative learning is taken as a theoretical model through which to reflect on the two case studies. Transformative learning experiences are those that are most likely to prompt, support and sustain change in worldview and behaviour. They can be catalyst events that are uncommon, unusual or uncomfortable, and challenge assumptions and beliefs. This paper focuses on three aspects that modified the participants’ ability to engage more or less fully in the workshops as a transformative event. These aspects are discussed here as key factors which those seeking to develop events to help provoke change could use to guide workshop development and reflection. These three aspects are the role of unfamiliar context as provocation; agency as capacity and ability to change, and making connections to the everyday. These three aspects are discussed for their potential to contribute to transformation as part of the continuing development of the architecture profession.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-677562018-05-18T07:59:39Z Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design MackIntosh, Lara Creagh, Robyn McGann, Sarah Our rapidly changing world, current environmental crisis and calls for regenerative approaches to development evidences the need for change. To achieve sustainable change a transformation in the way we understand and conduct relationships in and with the world is required. The environment is not something at arm’s length, but rather a complex system, of which built, natural, and social systems, among others, are all part. As a profession architecture must have approaches that are reflexive, responsive, longitudinal and inclusive. This paper draws together two illustrative case studies to demonstrate such approaches. These case studies underscore the potential to facilitate continued transformation within approaches to the design of space and the discipline of architecture. The two workshops discussed in this paper enabled architects, teachers, policy-makers and others, to look at their own roles within the broader systems that shape the built environment of schools. Transformative learning is taken as a theoretical model through which to reflect on the two case studies. Transformative learning experiences are those that are most likely to prompt, support and sustain change in worldview and behaviour. They can be catalyst events that are uncommon, unusual or uncomfortable, and challenge assumptions and beliefs. This paper focuses on three aspects that modified the participants’ ability to engage more or less fully in the workshops as a transformative event. These aspects are discussed here as key factors which those seeking to develop events to help provoke change could use to guide workshop development and reflection. These three aspects are the role of unfamiliar context as provocation; agency as capacity and ability to change, and making connections to the everyday. These three aspects are discussed for their potential to contribute to transformation as part of the continuing development of the architecture profession. 2017 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67756 The Architectural Science Association restricted
spellingShingle MackIntosh, Lara
Creagh, Robyn
McGann, Sarah
Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design
title Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design
title_full Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design
title_fullStr Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design
title_full_unstemmed Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design
title_short Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design
title_sort facilitating transformative experiences: case studies for school design
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67756