Abstract:

Architecture and urban design deal with the planning and design of urban space, living and working environment and it influences people who live and work there. Through involvement and active collaboration we would like to teach public about urban space, urban design, quality living and working environment, etc. The article is focused on lifelong learning process of public (how to teach architecture and urban design public, everyone who uses and influences urban environment) on one side and profession (students and AEC- Architecture, Engineering and Construction- profession in architecture/urban design projects) on another side.

The research topic is explored through different case studies, which were conducted in the years 2010-2015:
• Case study 1 – teaching KIDS: Urban design workshops for kids at Bratovseva platform in the neighborhood in Ljubljana, where kids were involved in the design of their public space by drawing their proposals and building 1:1 installations.
• Case study 2 – teaching PUPILS: Architectural design studio at Gymnasium Sentvid, teaching architecture and urban design pupils: involving pupils in designing their school, from corridors to classrooms.
• Case study 3 – teaching STUDENTS: International workshop and urban intervention Kamfest 2010, where part of the street was closed for the traffic in order to give a new purpose to the street and devote it to the pedestrians; an invaluable tool for students to shape their personal vision, and a way to encourage their social involvement, also a good tool to teach public about urban space.
• Case study 4 – teaching COMMUNITY: Street day at Hodosckova street in Ljubljana, where neighbors were involved in different games, learning methods, experiments, workshops; raising awareness of the urban space.
• Case study 5 – teaching PUBLIC, AEC PROFESSION, GOVERNMENT: Project UR Terf, where digital and traditional tools for public involvement through all stages of urban planning process were combined, based on virtual world; by involving people in designing their environment we raise their awareness and make them think more about their living and working environment and its qualities.

Based on these case studies and analysis the article proposes new approaches/methods for teaching architecture and urban design (public and profession). Moreover the article explores different tools for lifelong learning, where we focus mostly on new media, digital tools:
(a) mobile applications for lifelong learning on architecture and urban design (for example Hygeia app, eTHNo app, ArchiMent, Wave app);
(b) webpage (for public involvement in urban design process, for lifelong learning on architecture);
(c) virtual worlds (combination of different tools for communication, collaboration and the opportunity to do walk-troughs of the 3D models of urban design proposals);
(d) combination of different digital tools.

In discussion the new approaches and methods are presented. The conclusion of this paper offers guidelines for future development of the digital tools for lifelong learning in architecture and urban design.

Keywords:

Lifelong learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, virtual collaboration, workshops, learning by doing, project based learning, digital tools.