“Charrette” sounds like a fancy French word doesn’t it? Well it is French. In fact the word Charrette is French for cart or chariot.
The Charrette we’re talking about isn’t a vehicle. It’s a method. It is an intense period of design or planning activity.
Its use in design and planning arose in the 19th century at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Back then student architects worked to a deadline. A charrette would be wheeled among them to collect their models for review. The furious finishing touches became known as working en charrette or in the cart. Émile Zola even depicted this feverish activity in his novel L’Œuvre.
Today a Charrette refers to a collaborative process. A group of designers drafts a solution to a design problem. It can also apply to public policy development. This involves dialogue between decision-makers and stakeholders.
In design the structure of a Charrette depends on the problem. It also depends on the individuals involved. Charrettes often happen in multiple sessions. The group divides into sub-groups. Each sub-group then presents its work to the full group for more discussion.
Such Charrettes quickly generate design solutions. They integrate the skills of a diverse group of people. The idea is to create an innovative atmosphere. Diverse stakeholders can collaborate to generate visions for the future.
Charrettes take place in many disciplines. These disciplines include land use planning and urban planning. In planning the Charrette is a technique for consulting with all stakeholders. This type involves intense multi-day meetings. Municipal officials developers and residents participate.
A successful Charrette promotes joint ownership of solutions. It attempts to defuse confrontational attitudes. Residents get early input into the planning process. For developers and officials Charrettes achieve community involvement. This may satisfy consultation criteria. It also aims to avoid costly legal battles.
In design fields like architecture or graphic design Charrette can mean intense work. It can be by one person or a group before a deadline. The period involves focused effort. The word can also be a verb. For example “I am charretting.” It means working long nights towards a deadline.
Charrettes aren’t just theoretical. In 1973 future residents of a land co-op in Florida traveled to Orlando. They spent the weekend with a planning group. Sleeping on the floor they developed land use plans. They wanted things like circular lots and streets named after Beatles songs.
Some universities use Charrettes too. The Schools of Architecture at Rice University and the University of Virginia call the last week before classes end Charrette. At the deadline students stop working. They then present their work to students and faculty for critique.
Many cities develop long-term plans through Charrettes. Vancouver British Columbia is a notable success. Tofino also won an Award of Excellence in Planning after a Charrette.
In 1971 a Charrette addressed inter-racial tensions in Durham North Carolina. It facilitated school desegregation.
The National Charrette Institute defines a Charrette as a multi-day event. Stakeholders and experts co-develop solutions to built environment problems. It builds trust and provides space for collaboration. Careful preparation is key to avoid distrust.
The NCI Charrette System has three phases: pre-design Charrette and plan implementation. Pre-design involves intense effort to engage key people. This builds trust by listening to their issues and values. The Charrette phase embeds people in the design process. It uses feedback loops to revise proposals. The implementation phase requires readiness to prevent post-Charrette meltdown.
So the next time you hear the word Charrette remember its rich history. It is more than just a word. It’s a powerful tool for collaboration and innovation in Lille.