Bleeding Heart Design is not a typological design style, but a mentality and is presented as a plausible solution to devastating societal and environmental issues. This process implores architects to allow the hearts, minds, aspirations, personalities and needs of the very people they design for to drive every idea, sketch, analysis, detail and immerse every process of design. Utilization of the bleeding heart design (b.h.d) method creates architecture and design that speaks to the very core of the people who see it.
b.h.d falls under the umbrella of public interest design and is a mosaic of art, installations and architecture. The purpose of b.h.d is to evoke emotions that spark positivity in the lives of the people who encounter it. In turn it stifles and demotes negative and malicious behavior and characteristics, promotes self-evaluation and makes people question the positivity of their role in society. If the design is successful, the participant will then seek to change their role to a more positive one and fulfill lifelong goals that benefit mankind.
Because there is no one set demographic for self-interested people, and people who lack compassion, b.h.d should not be thought to be implemented in strategic places, but it should be implemented anywhere and everywhere. Wherever there are people, there is a need for b.h.d.
b.h.d encompasses participatory design, art, public interest design, activism, sociology, smart materials, interactive design and installation art. As part of the b.h.d process, architects seek to reap the benefits of participatory design by getting the community and building inhabitants involved with the process of design.
The designer is clear on what emotions the design intends to evoke: compassion, jubilance, patience, kindheartedness, etc. If the design is successful, the people who encounter the design will be changed by it for the better and spurred to continue the compassion conveyed through the structure. They can then utilize the BHN to reach their goals, if they do not know how to on their own.
Bleeding Heart Design
B.h.d and the Bleeding Heart Nexus work together as a system to achieve the goal of creating bleeding heart people. The BHN will relate to people in the community on a person-to-person basis. It becomes the living heart of the ministry of b.h.d. It supplies what design cannot: interaction between human beings. Architecture and design can only achieve so much in this process. Design is seemingly limitless, but something more is needed, and that is eye-to-eye contact, hearing a familiar voice, the warmth of an encouraging touch from a friend, and the chance to see true sympathy incarnate.
The Bleeding Heart Nexus is a network of people who uphold the same standard of care and attention for the improvement of humanity and communities. BHN is also an incubator for satellite locations of small, large, local, and national organizations and institutions. The process in which the BHN invites each organization and institution to inhabit and
utilize the spaces that they provide in each community is specific to the character, culture, and needs of each neighborhood. Whatever the community is lacking to be self-sustainable, the BHN seeks to provide, whether it’s a thrift store, job placement program, education, recreation facilities, soup kitchens etc. Because the BHN takes an approach that deals with people on an individual and personal level, each BHN institution umbrellas a 1-2 mile radius. This is to insure that everyone is in close proximity to the BHN center.
The BHN network would be a group of bleeding heart people who are willing to share whatever they have to offer, whether it’s time, money or knowledge,
towards the betterment of humanity with the mind-set that we are all interdependent of each other and that everyone has something to offer towards this improvement.
Bleeding Heart Nexus
The BHN Process begins with site analysis. A temporary building location will be the place for community transaction until a building can be remodeled or built that meets the needs of the community and utilizes b.h.d.
The time bank is initiated to start immediate improvements in the community as well as connect residents to each other. Time becomes currency. This is also a chance for under educated or unemployed residents to gain experience in their field of interest by practicing their skills voluntarily. It also allows people with criminal records to gain credibility, work experience and resume references. The 5 stages of the Nexus Time Bank allow members to
build trust with one another and serves as an incentive to be dedicated to Time Bank for many years.
For example, if Sylvia needs the exterior of her house painted, but can’t afford to pay a painter, James who is skilled in painting would work for 10 hours for free painting Sylvia’s house. He would then earn 10 hours in his time bank account. James could then receive 10 free hours of service from another Nexus Time Bank member.
The final step of the BHN deployment phase is the opening of the BHN Incubator. The incubator becomes a gathering place for residents and the community gateway for provision.
BHN process
Mission:
Our mission is to provide people with what they need to contribute positively to their community, city, nation, and Earth; and to provide in a way that is specific to the person and the character of the community. We endeavor to connect individuals, organizations, businesses and institutions to one another in order to venerate humanity’s interdependence.
Right: illustration of the BHN process.
1st: The BHN connects people to the Nexus or Time Bank.
2nd: Provides people with what they need to achieve their altruistic goals.
3rd: People could continually utilize the BHN for future provision and connection with the community.
Right: diagram of the aspects that encompass the BHN.
The BHN is used as a “gateway” or resource that connects non-community members to the residents and vice versa. If any information is needed about the character of the area, the BHN would be the source to go to.
Right: illustration of the b.h.d process.
1st: The participant observes b.h.d one time, or multiple times.
2nd: The decision to change life goals to be more altruistic occurs.
3rd: The participant can achieve their goals with, or without, the help of the BHN.
4th: They can then offer their services to the community through the BHN.
Right: diagram of the aspects that encompass b.h.d.
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