Practicing together: designing with consent, towards a new theoretical approach to the professional-led participatory design of urban space : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University

Abstract

Local participation is now a mainstream practice within Landscape Architecture and Urban Design. The literature review considers ‘participation’ as the primary lens for democratising design practice and examines how it has enabled and limited participatory design practice - pinpointing the need for further theorisation at the intersection of design professionals and local people. This study addresses this intersection by developing an interpretative model that draws on interdisciplinary concepts of informed consent. A grounded, more-than-human empirical study interprets two case studies, Aro Park in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand and Grønne Park, Superkilen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The substantive findings are presented in the form of seven episodes that follow how participatory design enables and limits the formation of informed consent. In addition, this analysis both develops and applies the theoretical model, leading to a Framework of Informed Consent. Three key synthetic insights examine why the interrelationships between design professionals, local people and the sites led to the disruption of the participatory design process and designed landscape. Theoretical, methodological, and substantive conclusions are drawn detailing opportunities for future research and practice.