Hello Oliver, Open Space has been used in community development efforts since its beginning and I think there are good stories in some of Harrison's books and of course others might have their own stories to contribute here. One of the things I don't think we do well as "an Open Space community" is to record our stories so good for you that you are getting something published. I hope you will share it with us.
As for writing this for a landscape publication, I will simply mention our own interest here in combining Open Space with landscape architecture. Virginia Burt, landscape architect specializing in spiritual healing gardens here in Ontario, Canada and I (working with Open Space Technology) have combined our passions with some exciting results. We have recently presented our stories to the Canadian Institute of Planners annual conference because the profession of planners in general are hoping for better ways of public consultation and engagement than they have used to date. At their request, we have written our stories to be published in their journal I think in November. We'll share that once it is out too. Anyhow, our stories to date are not many although we have intention to create many, many more together. Last October, in Oberlin Ohio USA we conducted an OST meeting for the stakeholders (about 75) of a spiritual retreat centre for the purpose of informing Virginia about the issues and opportunities for a twenty acre piece of land. I facilitated the meeting. Virginia was a resource person at the meeting, sitting at a table with a map of the landscape and answering questions throughout the weekend as well as making notations on the map as issues and opportunities were identified. We came away from the meeting with enough information for Virginia to do an incredible design and she was able to fulfill our promise of having the design ready for them within 40 days of their meeting (a real reduction in the amount of time usually taken for such matters). They loved the design and are currently implementing it. We have just received notice that the design (which highlights the process we used to achieve it) is receiving an award of merit in Boston USA in September from the American Society of Landscape Architects. In May of this year, Virginia and I used Open Space with the military here in Canada to enable Virginia to do a design for 102 acres of land at the Royal Military College. We presented the design at the end of June and 95% of it was immediately approved. Within minutes of the approval, the plan was being shared with potential funders and being greatly praised. Because of Open Space, several very difficult and conflicted issues were resolved and the group that gathered were surprised that they had agreement on what was to be done with their landscape. At the beginning we were given fair warning that this likely would not happen because there was great attachment to different viewpoints. We are doing stakeholder presentations of this landscape design in September. Using OST worked well with stakeholder community input to the master plans that Virginia then created. The success is also attributed to Virginia for listening to the outcomes of the Open Space discussions and incorporating them into the plans. OST would not have worked if she had not listened and designed in accordance with what she heard. Both stakeholder groups commented on how wonderful and refreshing it was to have had the chance to explore what mattered and to be heard and to see their topics of passion reflected in the design so well. I hope this helps you a little in making your case of using OST with landscape architecture. Warmest regards, Birgitt Birgitt Bolton of Dalar Associates www.openspacetechnology.com 55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada L9G 2E8 phone: 905-648-5775 fax: 905-648-2262 -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Oliver Schrader Sent: Sunday, August 22, 1999 1:08 PM To: [email protected] Subject: OS in community development Hi, Im searching for material about OS used in community development processes for an article in a landscape planning magazine. Especially interesting would be information on projects that have already happened sometime ago, where there is some information about the long term outcomes available, too. Thanks for answers in advance. Oliver Oliver Schrader Lustkandlgasse 39/36 A-1090 Wien Tel. ++431 3107018
