The paper will present the ongoing research for a Master’s Degree Final Project. This explores the role of the architect in participatory design methodologies and describes an experimental approach to a social neighbourhood - Bairro da Bela Vista, Portuguese city Setubal. In order to respond to the housing needs of the post-World War II, the Modern Movement brought, for the first time, an awareness of the everyday environment to architecture. However, the modern approach to this issue was later on criticised by those who believed to be essential, the involvement and empowering of the user in the housing process. In this context, emerges in the 60´s, architects committed to explore different ways of proceeding in the design process, particularly through participation in architecture. This desire is shared by architects as Giancarlo De Carlo, N. J. Habraken, John F. C. Turner or Lucien Kroll that understood, and materialized, the benefits of involving the user in the different stages of the design process: planning stage, construction and finally, its maintenance. Thereby, and taking for granted the user knowledge of his owns needs/desires, is possible to reach the real context of the problem and, consequently, a more concrete solution. Given this, and once the user’s role takes a more relevant place in the design development, the position in which the architect stands is questioned. Based on this background was possible to develop De Carlo’s urgent responsibility on the political and social role of the architect in society; Habraken’s Support Structure method that allows a naturally adaptable and flexible way to house; Turner’s empowering of the user through Freedom to Build; or Kroll’s Médicale Maison, a student accommodation project that counts on the participation of the future users. .Through the analysis of these, and other theoretical and practical case studies, is proposed an investigation about the role of the architect on participatory processes. This paper aims to understand how participatory processes can contribute to the establishment of the contemporary city by its inhabitants, restoring through alternative methodologies their right to dwell.

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Participatory design, Architectural design process, Bela Vista

This talk is associated with the following record:

• The role of the architect in participatory methodologies