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rchitectur Invers
Lessons from homegrown neighbourhoods to sustainable architecture
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rchitectur Invers was created by :
AndrĂŠs SANCHEZ ARIAS In partnership with:
With the support of:
English Version 3.0 Credits: Alejandro Silva
ÂŤ The knowledge that apprehend each spontaneous creator it feeds from a common source of collective heritage within a culture. Each auto-builder faces the consolidation of his urban habitat with the help of collective knowledge. This postulate allows to start the identification of the common within the diverse which is the structural intention of the work. Âť Carvajalino 1
Homegrown Neighbourhoods
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Currently, in most of the developing countries a big percentage of population has developed its own living and infrastructure solutions; this leads to large self-built urban zones or homegrown neighborhoods located in on the outskirts of the cities or in their downtowns. During this process of creation and production, known by the authorities as “informal�, the inhabitants have developed a net between individuals and community obtaining the soil and its public services endowment, which makes possible housing. This process characterizes itself by having not regular and uniform periods of time.3 These practices allowed inhabitants of those areas to satisfy their basic needs and develop their cultural, social and economic activities Although these housing and building practices have satisfied the needs of the population and are the foundations for possible future interventions, the lack of resources, the environmental issues related with the location and the wrong management of the resources, have been the main factors responsible for the high levels of mortality 1. Carvajalino, 2000 In spite of hard conditions, these sectors have shown a strong social and cultural dynamism, providing the option of revealing knowledge in the search of new sustainable solutions oriented to improve the living conditions of population. 4
2. The term Homegrown Neighbourhoods is proposed for the first time by Matias Echevenoi 2013 3. Torres, 2010. 4. Chan, 2013
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Towards inverse sustainability The new worldwide schemes are oriented towards the use of green technologies and sustainable constructions; it is easy to find articles in magazines and newspapers and detailed information about sustainable materials and green buildings in specialized books. The use of leading technologies to enhance comfort in the houses and diminish energetic consumption is a trending topic nowadays, but for a big number of homegrown neighborhoods inhabitants those technologies are meaningless. Nevertheless, cutting-edge technology will keep developing in the market of those who can access to it; but is clear that basic technologies play a fundamental role in the improvement of the quality of life for low resources population and for many of them the impact of a simple rainwater harvesting system or sustainable low-cost strategies can be essential in the improvement of their living conditions.
Rainwater harvesting system Mumbai, Andres Sanchez 2014
Urban rebovation, Arqui 5, Caracas, Venezuela
Rainwater harvesting system in Bogota, Andres Sanchez 2013
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Bogotá, Colombia
Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India
In these sectors, inhabitants have developed innovative building and infrastructure practices which on many levels integrate sustainable aspects (utilization of local materials, effective utilization of space, construction handmade techniques). These practices vary according to the geographical, social and cultural context and they are organized trough a wide range of mechanisms and “inverse” strategies, often rooted to traditional practices strongly attached to spatial structure of public and private spaces.5 For instance, those practices are seen throughout modification of public/private spaces adapting themselves to the technical and social needs, being foundation for future interventions.6 In Mumbai, the inhabitants have developed selfmade infrastructures linked to the urban net of the city. In Bogotá. They use handmade devices for rainwater harvesting systemment. Those practices can be an essential tool in the development 5. Repi, Moretto of sustainable initiatives that might adapt themselves to these contexts and provide answers to environmental de- 6. Moretto mands and specific needs of the population. Architecture Inverse 07
ÂŤArchitecture Inverse : Lessons from homegrown neighbourhoods to sustainable architectureÂť explore a new sustainability. A sustainable architecture that takes into account building practices developed by inhabitants to reach the goal of proposing new sustainable solutions that adapt themselves to these contexts.
The project Architecture Inverse was born from the idea that is possible to develop new sustainable solutions from a research process and inverse design. Inverse, because the process is born from ideas, practices and needs and from the solutions created by homegrown neighborhoods inhabitants. Not like is conventional, from construction professionals, Architects and Engineers project and ideas. .
Phase 1
Sharing of experiences and communication Connecting Ideas Context
Constructive practices Inhabitants
Phase 2
Phase 3 Solutions and Evaluation
Comprehension
Design and Development
Understanding the context through research and involvement with projects of different organizations
Development of new solutions with the participation of different actors
New sustainable solutions
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A sustainable architecture, local and participatory Architecture Inverse proposes an inverse sustainability, based on the philosophic idea that is possible to generate sustainable solutions taking into account the existing conditions and integrating the practices that have been developed by inhabitants, the urban and architectural local structure, the technical limitations and the participation of population in all stages. Architecture Inverse wants to integrate these solutions and these practices in order to develop strategies of sustainable improvement in homegrown neighborhoods.
Bogotรก, Colombia
Mumbai, India
Under these premises, Architecture Inverse explores homegrown neighborhoods from three continents and four countries with the goal of demonstrate the potential of working an inverse sustainable Architecture. Hanoi, Vietnam
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The destinations Architecture Inverse explores four geographical contexts with the objective of revealing innovative practices developed by homegrown neighborhoods inhabitants.
Europe
ASIE
Dhaka
America
Bngladesh
Manila
Phillipines
Africa
Sao Paulo Brazil
Port Elizabeth South Africa
Oceania
These destinations have been picked in assorted geographical, social and cultural contexts, with the goal of discovering different ways how inhabitants have responded to different factors such as weather conditions, utilization of available resources, socio-economic factors and the develop of their daily activities. Architecture Inverse 13
Joe Slovo
South Africa - Port Elizabeth
Joe Slovo Township is located out of the urban area of Port Elizabeth. There we can find sel-made houses built by the inhabitants with tiles and recycled materials. Like in others homegrown neighborhoods in South Africa, there is neither energy supply nor sewage system and water supply is limited to some mechanical pumping systems around the neighborhood. Architecture Inverse 14
Paraisopolis Brazil - Sao Paulo
Located in Morumbi area, Paraisopolis or “Paradise City” has about 80.000 inhabitants. Paraisopolis is the second homegrown neighborhood of São Paulo in terms of population. It represents an interesting characteristic as it is a “city inside a city” due to it is located in the formal downtown of the city (which is rare in São Paulo). The contrast between Paraisopolis and its surroundings is pretty strong as it is also inside one of the richest neighborhood in the city.
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Korail
Bangladesh - Dhaka
Korail Bosti is the biggest homegrown neighborhood in Dhaka, it has a population of 120.000 inhabitants. Korail is surrounded by one of the richest neighborhood in Daca and in Gulshan lake. Korail is accessible by different routes o by small boats on the lake. The two main areas in korail are known as Jamaibazar (unit 1) and Boubazar (unit 2). The high density of population and constructions have limited the use of public space, whih has generated that Korail increases its territory by filling the lake with soil and wastes. Architecture Inverse 16
Tondo Philippines - Manila Tondo is located in the heart of Manila in front of the international port. The neighborhood regroup the inhabitants of different Philippines provinces that live in hard conditions. Tondo is one of the zones with the highest population density in the world. The housing is compound of wooden cabins expose to frequent floodings. The community is exposed to constant natural catastrophes such as typhoons, tsunamis and fires. Community does not give up facing this catastrophes because its desire is to rebuild its homes is always present.
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“If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don’t bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking.” Richard Buckminster Fuller
The Questions In each destination and throughout research and participation in projects developed by different organizations implicated in the improvement of homegrown neighborhoods, Architecture Inverse wants to answer the following ques¿Which are the constructive practices developed by inhabitants in these areas? ¿How do these practices answer to the needs of inhabitants, weather conditions and each specific context? ¿It does exist an interdependence between these practices and social and cultural activities? ¿Are these practices efficient and save? ¿Until which level do these solutions are sustainable? ¿How it is possible to integrate these practices and propose new sustainable solutions assembling research process and project execution?
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Objectives The main objective of Architecture Inverse is to discover innovative practices developed by the inhabitants of different homegrown neighborhoods and to propose a new sustainable architecture that takes into account those practices as foundations in the development of new solutions. In order to achieve this, we propose the following objectives:
Exploration To discover building practices developed by inhaComprehension bitants in several geographic contexts Analysis Design Evaluation
To evaluate those practices from the point of view of sustainability to develop new solutions that adopt themselves to each specific context and the needs of the population
Broadcasting To disclose the results at scientific level and to share the project trought a serie of documentaNew acteurs ries with the goal of finding new actors and share ideas.
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Methodology In order to achieve these goals, Architecture Inverse develops itself though a methodology that integrates research and participation in current projects in each country. At a scientific level Architecture Inverse will make an onsite job, with the goal of recognize actors and rules that represent each level of urban space. Throughout different methods such as observing participation, interviews with different actors, cartographies, photos and videos, it will be possible to expose the processes and building practices developed by the inhabitants in each country. At a participation level in current projects, Architecture Inverse wants to evaluate methods that allow to assemble research job and design process arranged by different organizations. It is about showing co-existence of different kind of demands, rejects, alliances and internal conflicts.
Calendar March-April Nantes - Bogotรก
Project preparation and logistic
May Port Elizabeth
June
July
August
September-October Nantes - Bogotรก
Sao Paulo
Dhaka
Fieldwork Edition and Production in Bogotรก
Manila Presentation of results Post-production
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Actors presentation Architecture Inverse promotes a sustainable Architecture, local and participative that prays for new sustainable solutions oriented to improve living conditions of inhabitants from homegrown neighborhoods, and to expose the knowledge about these sectors. We are in the search of new actors that can involve in this project and want to participate intellectually, technically or financially. So far Architecture Inverse has four actors:
Andrés Sánchez
Creator of the project, Colombian Architect specialized in sustainable architecture and urbanism in homegrown neighborhoods. He has made researches in Bogotá and Mumbai with CRENAU laboratory. Currently works as an independent Architect and researcher developing strategies for sustainable enhancements, oriented to improve living conditions of the population.
Laboratiore CRENAU
The Centre de Recherche Nantais Architectures Urbanités is a laboratory of the schools of Architecture of Nantes and CNRS that works on research thematics related with habitat and public space, in a wide range of disciplinary competences in Architecture, urban planning, sociology, anthropology, physics, informatics, history and arts.
www.cerma.archi.fr.
Capacités
CAPACITÉS is the private subsidiary of Nantes University, dedicated to the valorization on investigation. Capacites is the permanent interface between the needs in innovation of socio-economic actors and laboratory resources.
New Black Digital
http://www.capacites.fr/
New Black Digital, is a young Colombian company producer of digital content that has taken internet to show the world through an audiovisual language. NBD is in charge of communication, production and edition of the documentaries.
https://vimeo.com/newblackdigital Architecture Inverse 23
References Carvajalino, Hernando. Espacialidad de la periferia. Bourse Ministère de la Culture, Colombia, BARRIO TALLER. 2000 Chen, Y., Clifton, M., Kasun, P., Muraida, L., Stiphany, K., Derpic, J., … Gerami, R. (2011). The Rehabilitation and Retrofitting of Consolidated Self-Built Housing , and the Regeneration of the Innerburbs in Latin America : Towards a Policy Agenda for the Next Decade Pr actices and Housing Policies in Latin America ” 20011 Spring Semester Class . (p. 90). Echanove, M. (2013). Beyond the Informal: Reconceptualizing Mumbai‘s urban development. Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, 43. Moretto, L. (2010). Coproduction du service d ’ eau et recomposition de l ’ espace intra-urbain dans la périphérie sud de Caracas L a croissance sans précédent de la population urbaine dans les pays en. ERES | Espaces et Sociétés 143, 81 – 99. Repi, J. (2011). Appropriation of space and water in informal urban settlements of Port. Anthropological Notebooks 17, 17(3), 73–87. Torres Tovar, C. A. (2009). Ciudad informal colombiana Barrios construidos por la gente (Grupo de I., pp. 19–320). Universidad Nacional.
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