A method for introducing young people to the social art of architecture
Creators: name: King, Stanley
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2011

description: This thesis describes and illustrates a method for involving young people of ages nine to eighteen years in the Social Art of Architecture. It aims to develop an awareness of the various environments in which we live; aims to develop personal values in the young people of the way they wish to live; and to develop abilities in them so that they can express their values and direct the design of their future environment. It aims thereby to assist the reversal of the present trends in which as Lewis Mumford declares in The City in History "the increasingly automatic processes of production and urban expansion have displaced the human goals they are supposed to serve." The word "architecture" here applies wherever people dwell, as in the words of Sir Kenneth Clarke, who in Civilisation refers to architecture as "a social art—an art by which men may be enabled to lead a fuller life—." The study, made under a Fellowship of Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, evolved in answer to questions from students and teachers, who, following my visits to classrooms asked for aid and guidance to continue the study of architecture and particularly for information on the future scene. The first part of the thesis describes the method as it is used in the classroom. It progresses from the historic past that led to the present scene, analyses the present in terms of life and perception, and invites suggestions in the light of future trends. Scenes of present day cities, suburbs, farms and wilderness guide the analysis and comparison of the kind of life that pertains to each environment. Scenes of eating, shopping, and other forms of providing food; scenes of work and play, offer a variety of choices from which students select their preferred ways of life and examine the values by a recall of all the total perception of the scene in all their senses. The exercise develops the awareness of the environment and acuity of perception and personal values which are next applied to their design of the future. Drawn as a place called Crown City, it contains within its boundaries wilderness, farm, suburb and city. It incorporates the classical future city forms and the probable trends of development known to architects, engineers and planners. It also incorporates the views of students made during the past eight years and it is designed to incorporate new ideas. The drawings of Crown City aim to encourage the students to contribute ideas on life not only from North American culture but from other cultures, and to define their ideas in terms of design requirements that relate to the senses. From this point, the social and technical questions that arise from the design requirements can be pursued closely associated with the students' personal set of values. The second part of the thesis recounts the studies and observations that led to the design of the method. The attitudes of young people, the communication aspects of group response, of images and drawings and cartoons, and the various audio-visual media channels of film and television, relate in a special way to the method. A drawing made on paper placed on the floor produces better results than drawing on the blackboard. A drawing board of thirty feet encourages discussion on the future way of life while a board of twenty feet in length produces discussion on overpopulation. Participation, which includes young people in the design process, acquires special qualities by emphasizing perception and the fertility of ideas.