ENVDES 202: Advanced Urban Design Studio–Salinas Valley, 2022
Instructors
Margaret Crawford, Director of Urban Design, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design
Ettore Santi, PhD student in Architecture
About the Studio
Designing the countryside requires us to move beyond abstract analyses and get “down to earth,” jumping into the reality of the actors, politics, and materials that co-produce the region. Students promote the region and boost tourism, aiming to generate more revenue for essential social services in the area. During an initial research trip, students explored the valley and were guided by local stakeholders including: the Monterey County Farm Bureau staff, the National Steinbeck Center, the National Park Service, local planners, farmers, and historians.
Over the semester, students collaborated with local actors, residents, and experts who offered their feedback throughout the development of the projects. Encouraged to think of themselves as real stakeholders, students mobilized the action tools of design representation, testing new visual languages, storytelling formats, and persuasion strategies for the region. Developing a close exchange with select stakeholders deepened an understanding of local politics and the dynamics of place.
The resulting six projects tackled various issues including: fair economic development, environmental rehabilitation, activation of public spaces, housing, community unity, and the utilization of education to involve people in the valley.
