Finding Home: Opportunities for Placemaking in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract

This paper examines the process of placemaking. It examines the differences between placemaking strategies in single family detached houses and multiple residential buildings, i.e. apartments, condominiums, townhomes, etc. The transient nature of rental properties makes the process of placemaking more difficult. After considering these differences and the difficulties they create in the residents' placemaking ability, considerations are offered to aid in designing spaces that nurture a resident's placemaking process. These design considerations are context, memory, and pause. The issue of context includes addressing communal spaces within the building on one scale as well as the area immediately surrounding the building and the larger neighborhood on another scale. Memory is addressed in the personal and collective sense. Memory is considered in the objects and cultural biases and traditions that a resident will bring with them to a new space. Memory is also considered from the view of the cultural/historical memory of area in which a building is located. Pause is described as a place to be still and is an important consideration when designing spaces that may become places. An area of respite where a resident can be at peace is critical for them to develop a relationship with a space. The paper concludes with suggestions as to how these factors should be considered when designing spaces that other people may eventually call home, for however brief a time.