Scoring the Participatory City: Lawrence (& Anna) Halprin's Take Part Process

In response to the disorienting effects of urban renewal and a broader public demand for participation in the 1960s and 1970s, Lawrence Halprin & Associates developed a public planning process called Taking Part. The following essay situates the process in its historical context and in the context of Halprin's life and career-particularly as it developed out of the artistic symbiosis that existed between him and his wife, the avant-garde dancer and choreographer Anna Halprin. A case study of the Take Part Process applied in Charlottesville, Virginia is presented to criticize its shortcomings and strengths, while arguing for the potentials of certain aspects in public process planning today.