Design as Democracy by David de la Pena

Author:David de la Pena
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Island Press
Published: 2017-03-12T05:00:00+00:00

Case Story

When the Master Plan for Parque Natural in Los Angeles was approved, subcommittees formed to resolve contested details. Community member Ms. Lopez had successfully argued that a zócalo, a Mexican plaza, usually the central gathering place, and paseo, a public passageway designed for strolling, were essential as the soul of Parque Natural. Now she focused on “Mexican picnicking.” One upside down drawing I did of picnic tables that spread out the tables for privacy drew gentle laughter from the group. Ms. Chavez corrected me, “No, Randy. Put all those tables together. My whole family, all 50 of us, is coming for that picnic.” She didn’t want to draw at first, but she produced an elegant plan with axonometric drawings of tables, coolers, grills, ovens, extra chairs and tables, “all brought from home.” Her husband then moved trees around, “to hang the piñata.”

Recalling a park nearby, I upside down drew picnic tables adjacent to a flat grassy area and added old men playing soccer with children. Applause followed. When everyone had added their ideas, Ms. Lopez interrupted, “The parking’s got to be closer to the tables.” In response, I upside down drew what I thought she meant. “No, no, not so close.” I handed her the sketchbook, but her neighbor took it, drawing an alternative. We were off to a good start. After back-and-forth drawing the group settled on a revision, largely reflected in the park today.

When we turned our attention to designing the peripheral fencing, I upside down drew an egret gate arising from Aztec ground, a cultural landscape theme previously approved. A man who seldom spoke grabbed my sketchbook, exclaiming in Spanish. He redrew the egrets, telling everyone that my design was impossible to fabricate in metal. When I countered with more graceful lines, he nodded. Soon we had a culturally sacred design to be produced locally (he is a metal fabricator). English and Spanish had been replaced by a pictorial language we all “spoke.”

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