Consensus Design offers a practical step by step guide to co-design; an increasingly important consideration for architects as they compete for work. The text moves from identifying the methodology of the process to developing a series of principles and practical steps which illustrate how consensus design can be established. For easy reference, flow charts show the process of achieving consensus design and include variations for different types of project and different groups of people. It gives clear timings so that agreements can be reached within a specific time frame, and also features a number of case studies to illustrate consensus design principles in practice. Case studies include projects in the UK, US, and Sweden. Consensus design isn't just a utopian ideal. It's the only meaningful way in which people can be involved in shaping where they live and work. It can have an influence on social stability, crime-reduction, personal health and building longevity, all of which in turn have monetary and environmental cost implications. Its consideration can also greatly help architects win work and commissions. Day argues that when places are designed by professionals for people, many things obvious to the residents are overlooked. When they are designed by lay people, the design can suffer from the lowest common denominator factor. When places are designed by both it tends to end up in conflict. However, Consensus Design shows that co-design is not doomed to either conflict or banality if it is managed correctly.

Christopher Day, Rosie Parnell

Part 1 Introduction; Chapter 1 Architecture as a social art: a journey; Part 2 Consensus Design: Why?; Chapter 2 Why: community design and place; Chapter 3 Why not: shouldn't professionals lead design?; Chapter 4 Consensus versus democracy; Chapter 5 Community & players; Chapter 6 Design process for sustainability; Part 3 Consensus Design: How?; Chapter 7 The principles behind the process; Chapter 8 How in practice: place-study; Chapter 9 How in practice: outline design; Chapter 10 How in practice: consensual building design; Part 4 Process development: two projects; Chapter 11 From experimental method to built project: Goethean Science Centre, Scotland; Chapter 12 Socially shaped process: eco-village, Sweden; Part 5 Making it work; Chapter 13 Leadership and teamship; Chapter 14 Social technique; Chapter 15 Technique and non-technique; Chapter 16 What can go wrong? What can go right?; Part 6 Projects; Chapter 17 Reversing moods: lunatic asylum to Steiner school, Brighton; Chapter 18 Redeeming buildings: East Bay Waldorf School, California; Chapter 19 Future growth: East Bay Waldorf School, California; Chapter 20 Working with a developer: mixed-use urban development, California; Chapter 21 Multiple viewpoints: multi-cultural, multi-faith centre, London; Chapter 22 Desert ranch: single-family house, Arizona; Chapter 23 Science Centre revisited: Goethean Science Centre, Scotland; Part 7 Broader implications; Chapter 24 Social process as artistic method; Part 8 Useful practicalities; Chapter 25 What you need; Chapter 26 Sample timetables; Chapter 27 Sample; Part icipation structure; Chapter 28 Assessment matrix;