Participatory design, temporary structures and the appropriation of urban space by marginalized youth: the problem of the Odd Triangle

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the design and construction of a temporary structure in a neglected urban space. Researchers consulted and worked with members of a youth club in a deprived area of an English city to try to enable spatial appropriation through participatory design. It was found that age- and class-based relationships greatly constrained participants’ sense of appropriation. Participants did, however, appropriate the co-design process in enthusiastic ways centred on the transgression of adult norms. The paper concludes with reflections on how constraints on marginalized youth agency can inhibit participatory approaches.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This work supported by Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Portsmouth; Portsmouth City Council funded the construction of #HEARTPOMPEY.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Silvio Caputo for his comments on an earlier draft and the students and youth club members who participated.

Notes

1. In what follows the phrase ‘younger’ boys or girls refers to 11–15 and ‘older’ refers to 16–19. These are more precise than the club’s complicated peer-group relations, but with analytic brevity in mind they reflect the most salient friendship groups and some important differences in behaviour.

2. The Tardis is the time-travelling vessel of science-fiction character Doctor Who. It is famous for looking small from the outside but being large on the inside once entered.

3. ‘Pompey’ is a slang term for the city of Portsmouth.