Abstract:

The education of students in the fields related to design of built environment or deciding on changes in the urban environment requires multidimensional education. On one hand it’s a task to shape the ability of creative solving the design problems and creating spatial solutions for the social activities. On the other hand social responsibility of all stakeholders in investment’s processes puts an additional tasks for modern education related to the spatial design: emphasizing its social impact and creating a framework for participation of representatives of all users group in social life, including knowledge in the field of universal design.

Students’ design workshop "Garden of Experiences” took place in the Saint Francis De Sales Almshouse in Warsaw as a result of cooperation between two scientific circles: Students’ Scientific Circle LAB 60+ (operating by Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice) and Scientific Circle of Landscape Architects (by the Warsaw University of Life Science). In fact the design workshop "Garden of Experiences”, described in the article, are the example of two types of activities: both - the effect of cooperation between the university and social environment, as well as the exchange of experiences between students of architecture and landscape architecture. Both groups of students undertook to design a garden with therapeutic and social dimension. The project task was to develop a strategy for spatial and social activities and the conception of revitalization of the garden by the Almshouse. The project assumptions defined that the garden not only should be the space for the elderly’s various activities, moreover, it should be the place for integration of older residents of Almshouse with local community.

Furthermore, the assumptions of the workshop determined the nature of student’s work, with an emphasis on acquiring the ability to work in a group and also on learning the design process based on the pre-design user research. The specific assumptions have been determined by the residents and Almshouse staff at the early stage of the work: in the case of therapeutic garden for the elderly their specific functional ability and limited cognitive and motion ability are crucial in creating a space that is friendly to older people. The following assumptions have been applied as the model of work:
• learning practical skills against architectural discrimination - application of knowledge in the field of universal design,
• formula of education by experience – developing conceptual assumptions based on the identification of users’ needs (user-centred design), application of pre-research studies (for example observational study of space using by the older residents),
• acquiring competences to work in a team,
• building awareness of social responsibility in the profession of architect and landscape architect.

The possibility of direct sensory experience of the designed space and observation of its use had a significant impact on the results of the design work. The effect developed during the workshop (project guidelines, preliminary concepts developed in 2 variants) will be used as a starting point for the development of a garden landscape project for residents and staff of Saint Francis De Sales Almshouse.

Keywords:

Participation, universal design, garden for the elderly, garden with therapeutic and social dimension.