Elantha Evans
Architecture, education and the empathic imaginatio
Located in the physical, mental, and conceptual space of the ‘architecture design studio’, this project explores wider ideas and potential applications of empathy, communicative empathy, and of the empathic imagination. These are put forward as skills and places that can be accessed, enabled, nurtured, and embedded as part of learning, teaching, and design practices. In the context of a drive for social and environmental justice, amplifying the learner voice and expanding inclusion of diverse cultural values ultimately impacts our future built environment and its making. Using participatory, action-oriented research methods rooted in strong theoretical understandings and grounded in lived experiences, the project makes connections between design, pedagogical practices, and learning environments.