Regional Design: S, M, L. A Multi-level Perspective on Designing a Region

Abstract

The concept of regional design has often been discussed in the context of the emergence of design competitions and temporary design studios as informal regional arrangements that aim to foster joint strategy-making and coordinated action at a regional scale. This chapter highlights the importance of understanding effective design interventions in metropolitan regions. To assist in this, it presents and discusses a set of interrelated levels for spatial transformation: ‘S’ denoting lifestyles, ‘M’ denoting neighbourhoods and ‘L’ networks. All three levels take effect in existing environments and thereby operate as agents of change. They can be conceived as categories for regional projects that bring the region’s ‘producers’ and ‘users’ into productive interaction. In such projects, regional design has both a product and a process dimension. Concrete projects add to longer-term processes of cooperation and co-production among regional actors. The skilful combination of all three levels of intervention may create effective leverage for a functional, habitable region.