Sunday, June 21, 2009

Studio Urban Emergencies Exhibition and Symposium

The studio Urban Emergencies, consisting of 18 Architecture Master students, presented their work in an exhibition and symposium. The exhibition opened on June 30th 2009 in the new Faculty of Architecture of Delft University of Technology. The symposium took place on July 2nd 2009, where the students presented their research to a number of professionals from various fields (NGOs, academics, UNOs, and architects). A discussion between the different experts and the students followed regarding their explorations.

click on image for more information.

Read More...

Monday, May 11, 2009

Brain Storm Bangladesh

Together with architecture and planning students from Brac University and BUET and geography and environment students from Jagannath University, we have done a full day workshop to explore the potentials in post-cyclone spatial redevelopment. The event took place in the conference room of IDB Bhaban (UNDP Building). In small groups, students discussed the spatial redevelopment in different time frames after the damage of a fictitious cyclone disaster. These groups then got the possibility to present their creative ideas to a number of professionals from various fields (NGOs, academics, UNOs, and architects). A discussion between the different experts and the students followed regarding their explorations. It was great to see the various fields of knowledge together in an enlightening workshop for all. Thank you!

click on image for more information.

Read More...

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Kuakata dreaming

After spending many weeks visiting the beneficiaries of homes designed by NGOs or local carpenters, we were interested to see what kind of dreams and desires people themselves might have. On yet another day of 43 degrees Celsius shade temperature, we set out (note that the amazon pose is not as easy to accomplish on the back of a motorcycle on a dirt road as it looks) to ask people about their futures. All the leaves were green and the sky was blue, we went for a ride on a summer's day. Kuakata dreaming.

Read More...

Friday, May 1, 2009

What's Next?

Education is the future. This mantra seems to have been adopted in this country where currently around 40% of the population is literate (50% literacy amongst men and 30% literacy amongst women). Many people bend over backwards to send their kids to school. Everyone is aware that education will determine your position in the Bangladeshi job market. During our stay in Kuakata (affected by supercyclone Sidr in 2007) we visited a small school built by the NGO Friendship. A beneficiary community of farmers had pulled together and asked Friendship to build a small school from their leftover building materials. This they gladly did and the result was a rather successful little school where we attended a morning session of class zero.

Read More...

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Reeling in the nets

"Yesterday I got a strange call from a local NGO, who built boats for us after the 2007 Sidr cyclone and now needed a favour in return. Apparently, three white skinned students wanted to take a boat ride with us to see how we pull the nets in offshore. We always set off at two o'clock, but they were still not there by then. I called the NGO person by 2:30, but he didn't pick up the phone, so we set off without them."

Read More...

Friday, April 24, 2009

Concerning cladding

This was to be Laura's happy birthday: we were going to help the local carpenter with the construction of Red Cross shelters. These shelters have a timber frame, with bracing and concrete foundation columns, which makes it sturdy but expensive. The cladding is made of tin sheeting. People love tin sheeting in Bangladesh, even though the climate inside becomes rather uncomfortable during the hot season (9 months of the year). The whole thing is put together by a group of carpenters who were trained by the Red Cross. We got to witness their excellent craftsmanship. This made us rather self-conscious about our own practical skills. Practice makes perfect...

Read More...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

101 Bangla traffic for dummies

Bangladesh is the country of hierarchies, and this is no different in the traffic situation. In the cacophony of tooting, no one will hear your engine coming, so you must toot too, and preferably louder than the rest. A beautiful example of this was a very clever bicycle rickshaw wallah who had three bells in a serial connection. He only needed one ringing motion of his finger to trigger an immense amount of annoying noise. Other (lazier) wallahs chose to opt for complete electronic bells, with automatic ringers, on their three-wheelers for the extra oomph.

Read More...