Gathering in Landscape and in Practice

Image from Priyaparker.com

I came across this book as a part of my research to better understand people. As a neurodivergent landscape architecture professional, I find it difficult to navigate meetings and large events. I am unsure how to share my neurodivergent experience or meaningfully take part in conversation in these settings. Yet, they are a crucial part of the work we do. After reading, I felt better equipped to help create spaces that allow people to show up prepared and ready to participate.

• Recommended Reading: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

• Why should Landscape Architects read it: From 2 people on a bench to hundreds walking around a park, gathering is an essential part of our work. Ask yourself, how well do you understand gathering and what types of gathering do you design for? This book outlines scalable successful gathering practices and highlights how people gather differently. As landscape architects, we facilitate many gatherings throughout the design process and could greatly benefit from new perspectives on how we bring people together in space. This reading can inspire you curate kick-off meetings, community engagement, and project team meetings that deepen our connections to the work we are doing.

• A few takeaways with an Landscape Architecture lens:

  • The purpose of the gathering:

    • It is easy to generalize the reason for any meeting. Identifying the purpose allows for flexibility around how the gathering is held. Let’s use an example: a community meeting to get feedback on a design. A typical event format may look like this:  Arrive at a centrally located venue at the start time, sit for a presentation, walk around to boards with pictures and vote for elements you like, maybe ask questions, and leave. If the purpose is to get feedback, could this meeting format look different? 

  • The invitation to the gathering:

    • The quality of an invitation matters. Invitations set the tone and expectations for the invitee. Let’s use designing a park entrance as an example. This is a physical cue to the public on what to expect. /how does your design invite them in?

  • Excluding people from the gathering:

    • Inclusion and exclusion are a part of the same conversation and exist on a spectrum. Acknowledging where, when, and why exclusion happens is the first step towards inclusion. For example, the Autism Nature Trail provides short looping trails that are easy to navigate. Some community members think that the name is exclusionary and unwelcoming for those who are not autistic. Does this mean that the design should change? Perhaps not. However, we can acknowledge the nuance in inclusionary design efforts and prompt dialogue about the impact of exclusion. 

Before reading, look at how gathering influences your design process and decision-making. After reading, consider the changes you wish to make and how that will impact your work.