| TMP Collection:
Charrettes Defined |
 | A charrette is the center of the urban design process.
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Jeff Schommer, CharretteCenter
Minneapolis, MN
February, 2003 | Click Here
to open the printable pdf
of this Article. (27kb) |
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A charrette is an intensive, multi-disciplinary week-long design workshop designed to facilitate an open discussion between stakeholders of a development project. A team of design experts meets with community groups, developers and neighbors over a period from 3-4 days to 2 weeks long, gathering information on the issues that face the community. The charrette team then works together to find design solutions that will result in a clear, detailed, realistic vision for future development.
The Charrette process is an exercise of transparency, where information is shared between the design professionals and the stakeholders of a project area. In this way, trust is built between the parties involved and the resulting vision can be based predominantly upon the issues that stakeholders feel are most crucial to them.
Charrettes are increasingly used by public and private sector groups and agencies as the chief design event in the urban design or town planning process.
Where does the word charrette come from? |
 | Charrette Timetable | |
INFO GATHERING
The design team listens to the views of the stakeholders and citizens while examining the project area & its context with the help of local experts. Issue Identification workshops are held to discuss issues that the stakeholders feel are important to the development. There is often a kickoff presentation and reception the first evening.
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DESIGN & REVIEW
The design team, armed with this information, proceeds to collaborate about the best uses for the area. Starting with general large-scale issues such as important natural features and development patterns, the debates & designs eventually evolve to fine grain issues such as landscape standards and appropriate mixes of building types. At regular intervals, the public is invited to review the team’s progress and then give comments on what they see.
These intervals are usually complete design loops in which the cycle of info gathering, design & presentation repeat over and over:
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PRESENTATION
The charrette ends with a final presentation of designs and findings. The presentation is highly graphic with lots of drawings that communicate the team's recommendations. A final report or design manual that summarizes and illustrates the plan and design is then assembled and delivered to the community and the charrette sponsors. This document is used to help restate the goals identified during the charrette and to supply a guiding vision during implementation.
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