Politics Protest and Place:
The Role of Inclusive Urbanism in Civic Activism
This exhibition showcases work by winners of an ideas design competition hosted by the AIA|DC Urban Design Committee and AIA|DC Equity Committee by WIELD.
The word “civic” is inherently linked to space, place, urban design, and social justice. Designers need to expand their role beyond the traditional boundaries that have defined us and our industry. This will require stronger collaboration and cross-industry relationships and, more importantly, direct political and civic involvement where the policies affecting these issues can be influenced and defined.
The project illustrates the District of Columbia as a canvas for provocative conceptualization to facilitate social activism in our public realm in new and novel ways.
Introduction
Mayor Bowser commissions Black Lives Matter Plaza on June 5, 2020Background/Context
Societal Changes Bring New Life to Public SpacesThe Challenge/Competition
A Call to Rethink Public Space in the Nation’s CapitalWinner: The Mirror-Wall
Awarded to
Zhu Wenyi, Jiang Yaobeilong, Lee Min Hui, and Huai Zeyu
Honorable Mention: The Forum
Awarded to Scott McGheeJurors
- Kia
Weatherspoon, NCIDQ ASID | President + Design
Advocate of Determined By Design
-
Cecil Bakalor | Senior Urban Designer + Associate Principal of HKS, Inc.
- Joyce Hwang, AIA NOMA NCARB | Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Architecture, University of Buffalo and Founder of Ants of the Prairie
Acknowledgements
Politics, Protest, and Place is organized by the AIA|DC Urban Design Committee and AIA|DC Equity Committee by WIELD in cooperation with AIA|DC and exclusively online.
About AIA|DC Urban Design Committee
The mission of the AIA|DC Urban Design Committee (UD|DC) is to improve the quality of cities and people's lives through the engagement, promotion, and advocacy of urban design thinking across actors in city making. The Committee explores big ideas about cities: planning, transit, landscape, policy, architecture, and design are common themes of our lectures, panels, tours, and discussions.
About AIA|DC Equity Committee by WIELD
The mission of the AIA|DC Equity Committee by WIELD is to foster an inclusive environment that promotes equity within our industry through storytelling, advocacy, education, and mentorship. The Committeeseeks to provide a platform for visibility and engagement to further Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in the design community.
Support
Exhibitions are supported, in part, by our Sustaining Firm Affiliate Members