Futurescapes
"We will use Finsbury Park, a 110-acre park in London, as a test case to examine the commercial potential for using immersive experiences as a tool for collaborative placemaking for public spaces and integrated public services. Like many other public spaces, it has immense economic, social and natural value, yet there is a disconnect between the 'owners' of public space and the people that use (or should be) using them. Local councils have limited funds, the 'superdiverse' local population are not engaged in public consultations; and there are conflicts between park users and stakeholders. Beneath the park is a disused reservoir owned by Thames Water whose future is currently uncertain.
Immersive models can be used as a tool for engagement through co-design, to discover how the council, park stakeholders including nearby property developers, and park users imagine its future and their involvement with it. Placemaking is recognised as a core part of regeneration, requiring a foundation of strong partnerships cutting across the public and private sectors, where social, cultural and 'natural' capital interleave to create stronger bonds and local identity.
The business opportunity comes from the needs of local authorities (statutory duties to consult), property developers (need to consult/engage to secure support and reduce objections, and build valuable and marketable properties that fulfill people's needs), enterprises running events and services in and around the park (want to meet actual demand, and increase awareness of their offerings)
We aim to co-design an immersive platform to facilitate the co-design of development in and around public spaces. It will engage with and directly benefit a number of stakeholders:
* Consumers: members of the public/park users (special interest groups e.g. older women's group, gallery visitors, dog walkers, tourists...)
* Businesses: Thames Water, adjacent shops, cafes, local property developers, commercial fitness groups e.g. Military Fitness Group)
* Government (Haringey Council) as landowner, facility/service manager, adjacent authorities Islington and Hackney, planning authorities
* Creative industries professionals (architects, game designers, artists, filmmakers)
High-level objectives:
* Understand user/stakeholder needs around engaging with planning/development in and around pubic spaces
* Create a product/experience prototype using immersive technologies and 3D datasets that can be used to drive user-centred design in public spaces
Project collaborators are Furtherfield (digital arts gallery and lab based in Finsbury Park), Golant Media Ventures (innovation agency using co-design and service/experience design methods), and Wolf in Motion (innovation lab and AR+VR production studio)."