This book provides literature of the social movements that led to the rise of alternative design methods. It also critically examines the methodologies used and how they contribute to best practice in place-making; and it suggests universal application that may be incorporated in the use of the urban design laboratory model as a tool for educating future architecture & urban designers.
Since the Boyer of 1996 of ‘Building Communities: A New future for Architectural Education and Practice’ there has been some movements in architectural and design schools and practitioners exploring ways to inculcate a concern for larger social issues in the design process. Several alternative approaches to the education, practice of architecture and urban design have emerged rooted in the Social Architecture based on four groups of participants; the private visionary; the public professional with a vision; the professional based at non-profit organizations and the activist university. The urban laboratory model is one such model housed in the activist university. One of the arguments for this methodology is that it would lead to a better place-making process.