Bordon Town Centre Community Engagement
In line with our continued commitment as design champions for the regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon, when tasked by our clients to ‘bring the project to life’ we discounted the industry norms of CGI and computer-fly-throughs, instead constructing a 5,000 sqft walk-through exhibition of almost every building, elevation and public space that comprised the reserved matters application. An almost 1:10 scale replica of the town centre was constructed, using façades of all the main buildings and a unique ‘carpet’ of the full public realm design details with paving design, planting and integrated wayfinding.
The town park was topped off with picnic tables and benches, with live planting, and a pop-up coffee shop installed on the town square with complementary artisan teas and coffees for all 1,300+ attending members of the public.
To extend the ‘imagineering’ of the event, it was connected to a temporary indoor street market, outdoor food market, classic car show, and for the evening, a fancy dress (optional) drive-in movie showing the musical-classic ‘Grease’.
Commenting on the event, UK Board Director Lee Bishop of Taylor Wimpey emailed Urban Place Lab:
“Wow! What a day! Without doubt the best Stakeholder Engagement event I have either attended or sponsored”
Residents events were held at key stages of the town centre design evolution. Making change visible, fun and believable has been the ambition of every engagement event. At Urban Place Lab we bring change to the public at a meaningful scale and trigger dialogue and debate through accessible media, taking plans off the wall and to the people!