Acts of benevolent vandalism

I've started looking for urban objects and infrastructures that need to be 'socialized'. What are the points in our environment that isolate and control us? Is this something forceful and political or is it something gentle and subtle - the little things: the systems and structures that remove a little bit of our humanity?

Two mini projects have come to mind- both maybe shit and the wrong sort of thing, but here goes:


First, is the 'Gated Community'... last week I tried to ride the Thames pathway, it's a beautiful ride that gives you a new sectional view of London, except for the fact I had to steer off course to avoid the dreaded Gated Community. How can we design things to socialize the anti-social? How could we integrate the isolated?


Next is my Lost Winter Garments project... It's a stupid thing that I do, but the thing I like best is the invisible acts of consideration. People place gloves and hats in obvious places to draw peoples attention- the thing to draw out of this Is the idea that some people do care- how do we highlight and promote these acts of social consideration?