Community architects in Fiji

I've been rather slack in updating this blog recently, but I do have a few things to post about soon. I'm just back from a trip to Kenya for a Young Planning Professionals Workshop organised by the ISOCARP (International Society of City and Regional Planners), where our task was to develop possible projects to integrate Kibera into the wider city. More on that, and photos of Kibera, very soon.

In the meantime, I want to highlight an interesting blog about the work of three community architects, Hugo, Anna and Heidi, in Fiji. They are working on the upgrading of informal settlements with the local residents, and the blog provides a great overview of the steps required in this upgrading, from community surveying to mapping to holding city-wide meetings. Check it out here: http://suva-projects.blogspot.com/

"Be the change you want to see in chumchon"

"Be the change you want to see in chumchon" (chumchon = community) was the theme for the recent Regional Community Architects Workshop organised by ACHR and held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Gathering community architects and community members from all over Asia (and even some representatives from South Africa), there were about 120 participants who started off the workshop with a 17 hour drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, stopping to visit Sam Chuk market (an example of conserving heritage in a living form), a Baan Mankong project in Nakorn Sawan town, and a recently restored temple in Lampang.

Then followed three days of panels on topics ranging from small-scale and large-scale upgrading, disaster, heritage, and comprehensive upgrading, as well as field visits in Chiang Mai of Wat Doi Suthep, a Baan Mankong project inolving a community located on the old city walls, and the Wat Ket community, a project of restoration and conservation involving buildings of different faiths.

Though this meeting had powerpoint presentations and group discussions, the atmosphere was unlike any academic conference (except perhaps for things running behind schedule). There was a jovial and warm atmosphere, and I really got the impression that it was a real platform for exchange. We learnt about projects in different countries and cities, the challenges people faced, the successes, the similarities and differences. Having community members there in partnership with the community architects added depth, though I would have liked to have heard more from them, language issues notwithstanding.

All in all, a great experience. I was very glad to be able to meet all these people who are working hard across Asia, from reviving traditional craftsmanship in Tibet and Mongolia to post-tsunami projects in Thailand and Sri Lanka and community savings in Cambodia and Lao. Plans are underfoot for an in-depth publication relating to this meeting.

And to finish - a video by Maurice from ACHR, with images from the meeting, set to a song from Zimbabwe: "What shall we do?" - a pertinent question!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhxdnJHdqxM