community architecture. English housing movement involving participation in design of users of buildings. The term was probably coined by Charles Knevitt (1952– ), in an article in Building Design in 1975. Walter Segal pioneered the movement with his system of timber-framed housing in the 1970s, followed by several instances of rehabilitation of older dwellings as well as new buildings in the 1980s. Christopher Alexander's arguments for relatively simple labour-intensive housing have been associated with community architecture, as have concepts of public participation in the design process. Ralph Erskine's Byker housing in Newcastle upon Tyne (1969–80) was built after close consultation with residents. Community architecture was endorsed by the Prince of Wales in the 1980s.

Bibliography

Building Design (11 July 1975) 8;
Hackney (1990);
Lozand (1991);
J. McKean (1989);
Towers (1995);
Wates & and Knevitt (1987)

community architecture Schemes, mainly for housing, that involve a study of the prevailing social conditions and consultation with the people who are going to use them. In Britain, the idea developed during the 1970s as a reaction to mass housing developments. Its most famous supporter is Charles, Prince of Wales, who, with his architectural advisor, Rod Hackney, created a new but traditional village based on the principles.