`YAY Weaving Dreams into Existence
Preface
PREFACE
Until recently, most discussions about urban development have solely been concerned with the quality of the built environment. Today, planners and politicians are becoming aware of the need for a grown environment. Understanding the connection between nature and our social and physical wellbeing has become crucial for cities that favour sustainable life quality. Thus Nature is the focal point of everything Q`YAY develops, draws or thinks, is the means by which we solve some of today's hardest urban challenges while adding new social and cultural meaning to the cities and communities of the region of San Martin, Peru.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to empower people living in the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture and support them, to identify their unique needs in their development. To encourage them to start weaving again... Weaving Dreams into existence!
WEAVING DREAMS INTO EXISTENCE
With these communities, Q`YAY wants to co-create • public food forests, • permaculture gardens and • aquaponics installations to ensure their sustainability in the basic needs and also empower them to start up • small businesses, producing local products, for domestic purposes and distributed to foreign countries, without the use of endless middlemen. Setting up virtual schools where normal schools are too far to access. And much more...
CO-PARTNERSHIP
To reach the sustainability needed in these communities, research and analysing the current situation is imminent. UrbanEmerge* will add value in accomplishing the academic side of the process, while the hands-on projects, (QYAY) will contribute to weave these dreams and data into existence. *UrbanEmerge is a purpose-driven self-managed development consultancy that enables their consultants to conduct state-of-the-art research and create partnerships that contribute to a more just and sustainable world.
IMPACT
Using insights gained from this work, UrbanEmerge* will analyse and process this data, so that Q`YAY and other organizations can use this educational tools and inspiration for individuals especially in communities in South America and Africa and then eventually everywhere to bring forth thriving, just sustainable and therefore, conscious cities.
COLABORATION UNIVERSITY OF TARAPOTO & UCL LONDON For the moment, QYAY has planned together with UCL London to start an international cooperation between the University of Tarapoto and UCL, that will last 4 years. Both Universities will maintain a close exchange of data and information and every year the students of London will be visiting Tarapoto region, to follow the urban development in the field. In this manner, UrbanEmerge and QYAY will be able to set up the foundations of a long term collaboration in San Martin, Peru and will have UCL London supporting them with academic inside of Urban development in this region for many years to come. This collaboration in the field, through QYAY, will build a social-economical brand for UrbanEmerge and a local Practice will be founded in Tarapoto city. Working with UrbanEmerge as co-partner will offer QYAY a more in detail plan for all the projects that are in mind.
RAINFORESTS & CONSCIOUS CITIES
A conscious city in the Rainforest of Peru is a collective of communities, aware, that Nature is the Source of Life and honour, respect and guard her in sustainability and maintenance. Citizens in such a city take their pride and responsibility as guardians of the forest and make it a part of their lifestyle, maintaining animals and the general habitat of the forest in an optimal state. Concessions for conservation are a modality of access to the forest that has as purpose the development of conservation-related projects, prioritizing scientific research activities, environmental education, protection of the area and the assurance of provision of ecosystem services. This model represents a perfect interaction of humans and their habitat. They are aware that they belong to the Earth and live in perfect harmony with it. Meeting this way all contemporary demands of Rainforest conservation, climate change, reducing poverty and sustainability in their communities and their cities.
RAINFOREST CONCESSIONS EL QUINILLAL for Rain Forest Conservation and Development is an autonomous non-profit institution established by Idelso Isuiza a local of San Rafael in the San Martin region of Peru. It exists to promote the conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of tropical rain forests in a manner that leads to lasting ecological, economic, and social benefits to the people of San Martin and to the world in general, by undertaking research, training, and the development and dissemination of technologies. The Centre manages the Quinllal Forest in close to the town of Nueva Lima, San Martin, to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used to provide ecological, social and economic benefits to local, national and international communities. The forest has an area of 10000 ha. El Quinillal builds partnerships with local communities and the private sector. These partnerships combine traditional knowledge, science and business to develop "green", socially responsible and sustainable forest products and services, like low-impact timber harvesting, eco0tourism, training forest rangers and guides, and harvesting aquarium fish. Businesses provide local and national benefits, and so help maintain international biodiversity and climate. El Quinillal evaluates the social, economic and ecological changes that occur as a result of business development. The objective is to become a model for business development that results in the worldwide conservation of tropical forests. Q`YAY also collaborates with YAKU KAWSANAPA, a Rain Forest Conservation managed by Jaime Marcial Oliva Garcia , that is located in Aguano Muyuna, a small village close to Chazuta town, 20 minutes drive from Tarapoto.
THE RESORT PROPOSAL
This proposal consists in a resort with 20 bungalows, 30 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, swimming pool, an auditorium for 300 people, 2 multi-purpose rooms, a museum, sports grounds, administrative offices, and services. It will be part of the Forest concession as the resort to receive the scientists that will do research in this nature reserve and also a beautiful oasis for families and tourists enjoying some days in the jungle. The proposal is based on a modular system that allows flexibility to be built in stages, the standardization of its components and the prefabrication of the same. 6m long hexagonal modules are made of local materials, which collect rainwater through its funnel shape and generate energy through solar panels on the roof. This achieves a permeable and self-sufficient project that mimics the existing landscape.
CHENG + FRANCO Architects, Lima
THE KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
The Knowledge Centre is integrated in the Rainforest Concession. It offers space for many activities as conferences, education, school recordings for the surrounding villages, meetings and much more.
THE PROTOTYPE HOUSE
The proposal is based on a modular system that allows flexibility to be built in stages, the standardization of its components and the prefabrication of the same. 6m long hexagonal modules are made of local materials, which collect rainwater through its funnel shape and generate energy through solar panels on the roof. This achieves a permeable and self-sufficient project that mimics the existing landscape.
THE RESORT
THE PROTOTYPE HOUSING
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN ARCHITECTURE AS A SYSTEM: THIS SYSTEM IS COMPOSED BY A SERIES OF MODULES THAT ACCORDING TO DEFINED DESIGN PARAMETERS MAY CHANGE, GROUP OR TRANSFORM AND RESPOND TO VARIABLE CONDITIONS. THIS SYSTEM PREVENTS AN UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION AND WELL PROVIDES THE OPTION TO ACHIEVE DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS AND RESULTS. THIS ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION MAY BE COMPOSED BY 3 OR MORE MODULES, DEPENDING ON THE CUSTOMER'S REQUIREMENTS.
LANDSCAPPING
SPORT FACILITIES
Sustainable Agriculture in the Peruvian Rainforest
PERMACULTURE & ACUAPONICS
Permaculture design emphasizes patterns of landscape, function, and species assemblies. It determines where these elements should be placed so they can provide maximum benefit to the local environment. The central concept of permaculture is maximizing useful connections between components and synergy of the final design. The focus of permaculture, therefore, is not on each separate element, but rather on the relationships created among elements by the way they are placed together; the whole becoming greater than the sum of its parts. Permaculture design therefore seeks to minimize waste, human labour, and energy input by building systems with maximal benefits between
PERMACULTURE design elements to achieve a high level of synergy. Permaculture designs evolve over time by taking into account these relationships and elements and can become extremely complex systems that produce a high density of food and materials with minimal input. The design principles which are the conceptual foundation of permaculturewere derived from the science of systems ecology and study of pre-industrial examples of sustainable land use. Permaculture draws from several disciplines including organic farming, agro forestry, integrated farming, sustainable development, and applied ecology. Permaculture has been applied most commonly to the design of housing and landscaping, integrating techniques such as agro forestry, natural building, and rainwater harvesting within the context of permaculture design principles and theory.
Are you wondering “what is aquaponics?� The most simple definition is that it is the marriage of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the growing plants and the plants provide a natural filter for the water the fish live in.
ACUAPONICS The third participants are the microbes (nitrifying bacteria) and composting red worms that thrive in the growing media. They do the job of converting the ammonia from the fish waste first into nitrites, then into nitrates and the solids into vermi-compost these are food for the plants. In combining both systems aquaponics capitalizes on the benefits and eliminates the drawbacks of
each.
Building a network of City and Community Embassies
Building a network of City, Communities Embassies Nuevo San Martin – Ciudades en Transicion is an initiative of the NGO Q`YAY, Tarapoto. In co-partnership of UrbanEmerge, consultancy bureau, the University of Tarapoto and UCL London. Between 2017 and 2019 we will be building an online network of the several cities and villages in the region of San Martin, online. This network will be supported by, as we like to call them City Transformers; from residents, to (creative) entrepreneurs, urban professionals, civil servants, scientists, citizens` initiatives, NGO`S, government, research and educational institutions. In short: Anyone who is actively engaged in their urban surroundings and is shaping the city in transition. Every capital will have a City Embassy, an organisation or local platform that will fulfil a networking role among the City Transformers within their own city. The city Embassies are our local partners and the main vehicle in establishing and maintaining the network. Nuevo San Martin – Ciudades en Transicion will be an open platform that focuses on exchanging and sharing knowledge
and experiences between City Transformers.
Based on the experience with “New Europe – Cities in Transition”, our goal is to build a network of Peruvian Cities and Villages under the name of NUEVO SAN MARTIN – CIUDADES EN TRANSICION. The following activities will be part of our programme: 1. Build an Online Platform Ciudadesentransicion.pe will be an online platform where City Makers through out Peru, (starting with San Martin) exchange experience and practice. This website works as an open source community where initiators from the participating cities add content and reports from their local communities and put best practices on an interactive Peruvian map. 2. Engage local reporters In each city and village, we work with local reporters, who report about what is going on in the transition movement in their cities and towns. They will scout and monitor local initiatives.
3. Organise Metropolitan field trips. The network will frequently meet offline during Metropolitan Field Trips. City Makers from all over Peru are invited to participate. The hosting City Embassy develops a program with tours along bottom up initiatives, agencies involved in urban development, the local university and municipality. Each trip will entail on-site visits and a local conference. 4. Conduct Research Through engaging academics and students a research project will be conducted in the participating cities. The central question in each city, town and village will evolve around the relation between the local authorities and its citizens. To what extend is local initiative supported and facilitated in each city? And against which economic, social, political,
ideological backdrop does it evolve?
Tarapoto, May 2020 In 2017 the NGO Q`YAY and the consultancy agency UrbanEmerge initiated the cross-sectoral platform for experimentation by City Transformers, giving visibility to innovative projects and enhanced the exchange of knowledge and practice among initiators. We looked for successful modi-operandi and initiated productive cooperation of the bottom-up movement and the top-down system. We organised debates, workshops, design sessions, excursions and online activities. Also, we published a quarterly magazine showcasing new initiatives and expertise. Since 2017 the Nuevo San Martin- Ciudades en Transicion further developed a network of City Embassies within Peru, resulting in a frequent exchange among many cities all over Peru, with the ambition to engage the total of Peru by the end of 2020. And here we are, May 2020 enjoying a thriving urban reality, that we could not have imagined in 2017.
Greetings!