The audit:

We have chosen the term 'audit' for the kind of quick workshops containing research and proposals
for change, although we know that we use it in a manner quite different from accountants or
economists, who probably invented the term.

For such an 'audit' a methodological approach can be helpful: a combination of observation (0),,'
description (D), analysis (A), programming (P) and improvement proposals (I) (= ODAPI) for one or
more specified topics or areas.

The audit ingredients of ODAPI can be useful for different types of areas, like e.g. problematic
existing residential districts.

In the case of observation (0) it is useful to choose different points of view, depending of the
role as e.g.-.

a first time visitor to the area

an user or inhabitant

an urban planner/architect/researcher a proprietor of the dwellings involved

The observations made and the preliminary information form the basis for the first common
description (D) of the area and its problems. This can be done in the form of words, drawings,
charts etc., using everybody's speciality. The fact that more disciplines (or city departments, and
districts) take part is a great advantage.

After this stage comes the more in depth analysis (A) of the area. For this, a so-called
SWOTanalysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) can be useful. lnterviewing
(key-)persons can be part of this stage, as well as studying the area over a longer period of the
day and perhaps evening and night. Present policy and design proposals, present and possible main
actors, larger context, objectives, margins should be discovered in this stage.

That stage has to be followed by making a preliminary brief or programme (P) for problemsolving,
interventions and alterations for each area involved. The multidisciplinary composition of the
audit teams can lead to a broad content to avoid a single-minded social or physical approach. To
make different scenarios or planconcepts (e.g. by stressing different possible objectives or
varying

themes) can be very usefui. After that one or more of these have to be selected for elaboration in
the next stage.

In the final stage, various improvement proposals (I) for interventions and alterations have to be
made, including design-sketches, recommendations etc.