In the prevailing construction many walls were built with brick or concrete block.  The standard practice had been to build the wall with brick or block and then cover it with stucco.  The result was that the brick and concrete block buildings looked the same as the prefab concrete buildings.  I suggested, that since we were using brick and block, we might use them exposed to take advantage of  their special character and texture and give variety to our buildings.  The architects  replied that the brick was of low quality.  When I told them that in the U.S. people paid extra for old used brick, they burst into uncontrollable laughter.  Nevertheless, we explored the possibilities.

We wanted the active participation of the construction workers in the creative process.  We wanted architects, builders, engineers and planners working together  in an integrated, interactive process.  

Early on, in a meeting with the architects and builders, we were discussing the use of brick and concrete block.    I asked everyone to think of the best or most interesting example of the use of brick or block they knew of.  We then organized a trip to go to each of these places and at each spot ask the question, "What can we learn from this example?  What can we use?"  It was significant that this meeting and trip included both construction workers and design professionals.  This was not usual.  More conventionally it would be taken that the designers were the authority.  They would give instructions and the workers would carry them out.  This impacted that social standard and to some degree everybody initially felt uncomfortable.  However, as soon as we started looking at examples, everybody's thoughts started racing and soon we were brainstorming together.  The result was that many creative ideas came from the construction workers and many of the construction details were worked out by them.  Another result was more creative ideas from the designers and more respect and interest from the workers in carrying them out.