materia urbana

A hospital with an attitude: the new Royal Children Hospital in Melbourne, Australia

2012-01-09T21:19:00.000+11:00

I recently visited the new building for Royal Children Hospital in Melbourne, Australia which, as I hope these images capture, manages to successfully create a friendly and stimulating environment for children.

Hospital's main façade

The Creature by Alexander Knox

The building is welcoming and fun to be in—and this is not only true for the children! A luminous central atrium, or main street as it is called, housing a myriad of practical functions, distributing and connecting to different parts of the building (including emergency), is highly legible, convivial and also exciting (not a term often associated with hospitals).

The atrium contains an enormous sculpture (the Creature, by Alexander Knox), a cylindrical aquarium that extends over two floors and a well used interactive wall/screen where children can play music or games.

From the ‘main street’ one can also enjoy views of the playground, surrounding gardens, the Royal Park and cafés. Fortunately McDonalds is not the only and main feature this time.

interactive screen

Aquarium spanning over two floors

Aquarium

Murals depicting children themes delicately decorate columns, walls and the inside of lifts. Wards are given names such as Mountain Top, Koala and Tree Tops.While hues of white are still the dominant colour palette, other colours stand out and enliven the rooms. Adding to this, nurses also exhibit bright coloured printed coats. Children rooms have plenty of natural light and from here it is possible to enjoy extensive views of the Royal Park. A comfortable and dedicated space for parents within the rooms assist them to remain with the child all the time.

View of playground below

Murals frame access to different wards

Murals enliven the access to different parts of the building

A hospital of this type (just focusing on the building) would come at an elevated cost that would make it unfeasible in poorer countries. However, what I consider important in this case is that more than building and objects, this hospital reflects an attitude to health and children, one that avoid the seriousness and intimidating aspects of health and conceives a hospital as an opportunity to make a child—who may be undergoing stressful circumstances—happy. It is the approach, which can be assumed involved comprehensive consultation with hospital staff and interdisciplinary collaboration that may be replicable by less costly means.

Hospital's main access

Client: Bovis Lend Lease
Completion: 2011
BLP and Bates Smart with HKS Inc. Architects of Dallas, Texas and consulting engineers Norman Disney & Young

Find more:
ArtsHub
The Royal Children Hospital (its history)

Text and photographs by Beatriz C. Maturana

Occupy the streets: highlighting the subversive need for a shared reality of values and demands

2011-11-23T12:32:00.001+11:00

Following the latest demonstrations around the'Occupy the Streets' movement, I will explore some of the ideas and questionsthat have emerged in connection with the Occupy Melbourne. For many reasonsthat I hope will become apparent as the article unfolds, the following commentsdo not refer to the actions that took place in other parts of the world.

Poster by Occupy Melbourne,
http://occupymelbourne.org/media/posters-flyers

A few days ago I watched a documentary on Gene Sharp’s worksand the alleged role of his book, “From Dictatorship toDemocracy” in the success of national struggles for democracy around theworld. Sharp discussed the “power of people to change the world” usingnonviolent methods. Crucial in Sharp’s message was the key role of planning,strategy and carefully selected demands without which, he claims, nonviolentstruggles cannot succeed. The notion that “improvisation will bring greatersuccess is nonsense,” according to Sharp.[1]However, planning, organisation, supported by a clear purpose, were not salientfeatures of the Melbourne Occupy the Streets demonstrations.[2] Accordingto some, a level of organisation took place spontaneously.But, why do I think of Gene Sharp’s ideas in the light of the Occupy movement?

Thesentiments of dissatisfaction and impotence for example, towards corporationsthat abuse the environment and threaten people’s wellbeing,were captured by the Occupy movement. The dissatisfaction is real and the needto express it legitimate—this much came across. The movement in Melbournesucceeded in attracting attention and in gaining the support and sympathy of the general public. However, it lacked the strategy, planning and purpose that Sharp is talking about.

When I asked some of the occupiers about the reasons why they rallied, most expressed different views and described their own aspirations—their little piece of paradise, which varied from, down with capitalism to legalising gay-marriage. All very good, but (as many others from all sides of politics expressed) I found it difficult to find theconnecting thread among all that. The question then is: should there be aconnecting thread or shared demand? According to the occupiers, it was the diversityof views that made this movement important. The Occupy Melbourne movementdescribed their aspirations in an ‘unofficial’ statement as, a just an equitable society.

Consequently, one should not have been too puzzled by a purpose(s) that seemed to have been deliberately chosen to remain vague and generally summarised as an opposition to greed. Greed, a too nebulous a notion to be definitely shared, or opposed by anyone. Certainly, the demonstration was free and inclusive; presented as a dislike of something that most are happy to dislike—something like being too cold. Yes, most people do oppose greed, even if only in theory. Besides, when the price of a fancy water bottle, a trendy bicycle, or those many gadgets constantly popping up could feed a family somewhere else for a month, where does greed begin or end?

As I tried to write my concerns and suggest that the deliberate vagueness may actually be symptomatic of the system that Occupy the Streets was opposing—a system that makes of the role of analysis and critique a sophisticated form of entertainment—I came across an article by Prof. G. Hage and Dr G. Hoffstaedter about Occupy Melbourne. Coincidentally, the article described and then rejected many of my concerns by saying that:

What needs to be appreciated above all is that the very idea of formulating a 'demand', of saying what one 'wants' orexpressing what one 'is on about' involves shared values, shared perspectivesand a shared language which really amounts to saying a shared reality. But itis precisely the non-existence of this shared reality that the moresophisticated movement is emphasizing through its mythical 1 per cent/99 percent divide.

This is perhaps where the most radical and innovative dimension of the Occupy movement lies. It points critically tocapitalism, but for all that, it is not formulating a demand within it oragainst it. Rather than being anti-capitalist the core of the movement can becharacterised as a-capitalist.[3]

While the article points out to the idea that the occupiers are, in fact, expressing within the parameters and in a manner established by the system they are opposing—the capitalist system—Hage and Hoffstaedter’s argument focused on the appropriateness of the idea of multiple ‘realities’. I share their interest in ‘reality.’ Indeed, I have recently explored this notion with regards to architectural education. However, it is their conclusions that worry me as they claim that,

…this alternative reality [that of the occupiers] does not propose itself asprimarily an anti-capitalist reality. It is not aiming to replace or to fightit. It is merely aiming to come into existence.[4]

What I found both interesting and disturbingis the claim that what the occupiers are asking for is ‘a new reality’, notnecessarily a shared reality, arguingalso that “A reality does not make a demand. Nor does it say what it wants.”[5]

Yes, the realities discussed by Hage andHoffstaedter are complex perceptionsof things.[6] Thesystem that the demonstrators oppose (some at least), has created some appallingconditions—real conditions that we alknow too well. So, why are we not demanding to change those conditions? Rightnow, locally, people in detentioncentres are being administered sedatives to combat the depression resultingfrom sometimes years of incarceration, this situation involves children. Thisis one of many concrete expression of a regime that has lost its humanity—a goodreason to oppose the system and to demand tangible change.

Issues such as these do not needsuperimposition of ‘many realities.’ While different perspectives may assist to understand the problem, I tend to agreewith Bruno Latour when he suggests that the breaking up of reality intoindividual perceptions of it interferes with our ability to act. This he calls “TheCrisis of the Critical Stance.”[7]

The lack of a unifying demand—or inother words, the multitude of ideas and aspirations that would not amount to anunifying purpose—reminded me of what Sharp referred to as atomising. Atomising(not different from the ancient tactic of dividing to conquer) is a strategyused by antidemocratic regimes all over the world in order to subdue theiropposition. Results are achieved through repression, censorship discrimination,fear and also physical mechanisms, such as apartheid (schools, buses, publicspaces) and walls to separate communities. Today, as we have seen in China,this can be somewhat achieved by controlling the Internet. But, in countriessuch as Australia, these conditions are subtly imposed by other means.

Poster by Occupy Melbourne,
http://occupymelbourne.org/media/posters-flyers

Insocieties enduring direct repression, the demise of opportunities for dialogue(media control, illegality of gatherings and political parties), consequently ofcollective accord and agreed demands, are symptomatic of the oppression. We, inMelbourne, gladly and paradoxically see this lack of collective accord andagreed demands as an expression of freedom. In both cases, the result ofatomising is to prevent consorted action that would see change of the existingconditions.

Gilles Deleuze make an interestingassertion, whereby spatial control, associated to production, has beenrelegated to the Third World and financial forms of control are now theprincipal instrument of control in affluent societies, “Man is no longer manenclosed, but man in debt,” he claims.[8]

Not only our views of the presentconditions—of what really matters and of the purpose of our complaints—are internalisedand undiscussed, but so are its reasons, even if these are the same reasons foreach one of us. It follows then that, as Hage and Hoffstaedter claim, theoccupiers’ main drive was the “rejection of the idea that it is normal to livein a social system that is so unresponsive to one’s needs and that induces somuch daily tension if not suffering.”[9] Iwould again like to push the boundaries here a bit to say that our sufferingmay not be as great as someone else’s, and I would exemplify this by repeatingthe case of those children in detention centres in Australia. As a society, weare all at fault because we are allowing this to happen in our own, allegedly democratic, law obeying, affluent andcivilised country.

Concrete issues such as these—as opposed toopen-ended ones (greed)—require us to take a stance, to know who we are andwhat we want to change. Stances force us to take responsibility. They arehumbling because we may be wrong and we may have to accept the consequences of it.

Taking a clear stance would indeed bechallenging for any regime, particularly for a system that relies on creating theconditions that ensure our perpetual state of disengagement and of adolescence—egocentricand uncritical.[10]Entertainment, shopping, casinos (including playing Monopoly with the ‘stockmarket’), an obsessive focus on food, restaurants, hero chefs, travel and the‘right’ to afford all we want—all keep us too busy to reflect, toevaluate, commit and take a position—too busy to grow-up. In this, architecturetakes on an active role by creating the settings:

At children'shospitals, patients become explorers, ''embarking on a journey to recovery,''while new housing developments imitate historic or imagined small-town life (ifat quadruple the density). In short, every place, every product, every serviceand event in the experience economy becomes themed, as though it were part ofan endless carnival.[11]

It should not be regarded as a coincidencethat we have one of the highest C02emissions per capita in the world—the carnival comes at a cost.

How can we bring all this fantasy, these‘realities’ down to earthly concerns? How is it that the real needs of the 90% (locallyand globally) are not directly addressed in the Occupy demands. Where were the detentioncentres, the poverty ridden indigenous communities, with little access to decenthousing, health clinics or schools? Why cannot we articulate these demands? Arethese too concrete, or too real for comfort?

In sum, there are at least two possible consequencesto the lack of planning in a nonviolent movement. We may loose the battle—thatis almost certain if we are to trust Sharp’s experience. Another possibility isthat we may succeed, because a sector within (or outside) has done the planningand adopted a strategy—their purpose, we can assume, is clear. This is dangerous, we may find ourselves under conditionsthat we never aspired to, or imagined. Back to Gene Sharp, he cites historicalevidence showing that unplanned change can lead to worse forms of tyranny.[12] Sadly, some of the most current struggles arealso offering examples of this.

Locked away is one of the macabre Angels-Demons sculptures, symbolic of the city's carnival state. The city square is now orderly empty after the Occupy Melbourne demonstrations. Photo by me.

I anticipate that this article might raisequestions about my own stance. I will try to briefly address them here. Isupport the opposition to the current state of affairs; I support ‘occupy thestreets’, locally and globally. I think that lack of clarity, strategy, andpurpose in the movement denotes lack of reflection and commitment to the issuesat hand and I suggest that in this regards, we are a product of the system weoppose—a condition whereby we feel unable or unwilling to judge, decide andmost importantly, to take responsibility. I suggest that in order to achievechange we need to step out of the state we are in. That as professionals of thebuilt environment we have a great deal to contribute and to do this, we will needto articulate our demands.

I have often being faced with the samequestions I have posed here in regards to Architects for Peace. Peace—what aterm! What does it really mean? I understand the reasons for that question—a questionthat I often asks myself. Except that when Architects for Peace wasestablished, peace was considered aconcrete, if not a subversive demand.

Naturally, the urban professions have anarrower set of concerns when compared to those prompted by the Occupy movement.However, these demonstrations and occupations have taken place in the evershrinking and increasingly controlled public domain—our professional domain.There is much that we can say about the struggle for change, about the stancesthat we need to take and defend. I will finish by citing Benedikt who saysthat, “To revive architecture’s value, we, asarchitects, need to identify publicly and quite specifically which irreduciblehuman needs architecture serves and how it does so.”[13]

Beatriz C. Maturana
Architects for Peace, November 2011

Notes

[1] RuaridhArrow, "How To Start A Revolution," (TVF International, 2011). Documentary shown on SBS Australia, 15 November 2011.

[2] GhassanHage and Gerhard Hoffstaedter, "Occupy wants what Occupy is: anotherreality," The Drum on ABC News 24 (14 November 2011),www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3665204.html#.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] I am aware that the authors may not agree with my simplifieddescription of ‘realities’, which on top, uses the term perception—but that iswhat I think. From an architectural perspective, Michael Benedikt has suggestedthat ambivalence with respect to realityis the result of the market and its economics rules. Here, the experience ofreality, of significance (which is the quality that underpins and connectsarchitecture to people’s lives) and authenticity (“which is the authority thatcomes with being real in just this way”)—are under threat. MichaelBenedikt, "Reality and Authenticity in the Experience Economy: The NewExperience Economy Challenges How We Judge What is Real," Architectural Record 189, no. 11(November 2001): 1.

[7] BrunoLatour and Catherine Porter, We HaveNever Been Modern, trans. Catherine Porter (New York; London: HarvesterWheatsheaf, 1993), 1-10.

[8] GillesDeleuze, "Postscript on the Societies of Control," October 59 (1992). Thanks to Soledad Maldonado for pointing out this article to me.

[9] Hageand Hoffstaedter, "Occupy wants what Occupy is: another reality."

[10] Observing pre-school children and their depiction of the worldaround them, Piaget asserts that as children grow, they become more aware of a‘common reality’, and their “the egocentric shells that formerly definedtheir world begin to break.” Yi-FuTuan, "Realism and Fantasy in Art, History, and Geography," Annals of the Association of AmericanGeographers 80, no. 3 (1990): 436.

[11] Benedikt,"Reality and Authenticity in the Experience Economy," 2.

[12] GeneSharp and Albert Einstein Institution (Cambridge Mass.), From dictatorship to democracy : a conceptual framework for liberation,2nd printing. ed. (Boston, Mass.: Albert Einstein Institution, 2003), 73-75.

[13] See MichaelBenedikt, "The Ghost of Gresham: Economics, Architecture and theProgressive Loss of Designed Value," in TAKE 5: Looking ahead: defining the terms of a sustainablearchitectural profession, ed. Paolo Tombesi, Blair Gardiner, and TonyMussen, TAKE (Manuka, ACT: The RoyalAustralian Institute of Architects, 2007), 77.

Resetting agendas: a conference in a climate of change

2011-06-01T12:42:00.004+10:00

Reflections on the Oxford Conference 2008

This article discusses ‘The Oxford Conference 2008: 50 Years on – Resetting the Agenda for Architectural Education’ aimed to influence architectural education. With delegates from forty-two countries representing every continent there was a manifest change in the composition of the delegates as compared to 50 years ago. On the face of it this would suggest that a more diverse attendance made a difference in the spectrum of issues coming to the forefront: but did it?

Resetting agendas: a conference in a climate of change

This article was first published by Cambridge Journals, ARQ. How to cite the article: Beatriz Maturana (2008). Resetting agendas a conference in a climate of change. Architectural Research Quarterly, 12, pp 209-212 doi:10.1017/S1359135508001127

The original article can be downloaded from: Architectural Research Quarterly

Pritzker Prize 2011 to Eduardo Souto de Moura: acknowledging local context

2011-04-25T00:12:00.017+10:00

By Beatriz C. Maturana

According to the words of the Pritzker Prize jury, in the 80’s and at the height of post-modernism, Souto de Moura's buildings were “intensely out of fashion”.[1] Souto de Moura deliberately did not give in to the pressure to conform to architectural fashion or fads. Working with and within his own architectural national context has provided Souto de Moura with an abundance of meaningful references to build upon. The jury referred to Souto de Moura’s architectural work in terms of the “echoes of architectural traditions”, “mindful of its context” that reinforces history while, “expanding the range of contemporary expression”.[1] His most challenging, innovative and unconventional trait is that Souto de Moura’s architecture is bravely local.

Braga Municipal Stadium. Photograph by Luís Ferreira Alves. Image source: The Pritzker Architecture Prize. © The Hyatt Foundation

Souto Moura’ sense of aesthetic is mixed with an elegant expression of traditions that emerge effortlessly through his buildings, whether monumental, as the Braga Municipal Stadium, or modest in scale as his many residential buildings to which both low and high income housing projects attest. Souto de Moura’s buildings display a tranquil aesthetic eloquence built upon knowledge of the crafts, the logical articulation of spaces and functions and a cultural immersion.[2]

Burgo Tower. Photograph by Luís Ferreira Alves. The Pritzker Architecture Prize. © The Hyatt Foundation

House in "Bom Jesus", Braga. Photograph by Luís Ferreira Alves. The Pritzker Architecture Prize. © The Hyatt Foundation

Souto de Moura’s architecture is certainly not conceived to join in the race for achieving ‘global’ post-modern architectural iconic status—a contemptible race that more often than not strips architecture from its cultural identity and reduces it to mere imagery. The post-modern idea of multiple perspectives, which Souto de Moura explains as the view that flies have, compels us to resist.

It is like that, and we have to adapt to this factual atomisation of cultural messages. It is so irresistible and devouring of our own time, the one in which we think, in which we receive, that it is a message without a subject— pure flow of everybody and nobody at the same time. Halting that flow, recovering our ability to judge it, is not only a way to resist our dissolution in it, but also of being free. That is going to be increasingly difficult, and so being an architect is going to be increasingly enthralling.[3]

His approach to architecture is the opposite of the self-referentiality characterising much of what is produced in the name of post-modern architecture in a globalised world. An approach that renders contemporary architectural referents as socially, culturally and ecologically meaningless in their lack of substance and social purpose. Souto de Moura’s architecture deals with real people, that is, not transient visions applied to a few. Recognition of local cultural assets, being materials, technologies, history and context, provide the strength and calm confidence that Souto de Moura’s architecture exhibits.

Conversion of Santa Maria do Bouro monastery. Photograph by Luís Ferreira Alves. Image source: The Pritzker Architecture Prize. © The Hyatt Foundation

In another challenge to current architectural preoccupations, Souto Moura, declares that,

There is no ecological architecture, no intelligent architecture and no sustainable architecture — there is only good architecture. There are always problems we must not neglect. For example, energy, resources, costs, social aspects — one must always pay attention to all these.[4]

Cinema House Manoel de Oliveira. Photograph by Luís Ferreira Alves. Image source: © The Hyatt Foundation

A visit to Portugal’s main cities shows that both contemporary and traditional architecture can co-exist in a manner of convivial and fluent engagement with its cultural and natural context. This is a rich and complex notion of the contemporary that does not involved the utilisation of a fixed set of mainly stylistic trends repeated time and again all over the world.

This year’s award might signify a departure from the coercion to abdicate to global architectural patterns, in favour of a more responsive and responsible architecture, with a sense of beauty and meaning that emanates from within its context and because within is important when designing for people.

Notes:

[1] The Pritzker Architecture Prize, "Announcing the 2011 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate: Eduardo Souto de Moura," (Los Angeles, CA: The Hyatt Foundation, 2011), 6.

[2] For a list of projects and images see “Eduardo Souto de Moura: 1995-2005” El Croquis, no. 124, http://www.elcroquis.es/MagazineDetail.aspx?magazinesId=23&lang=en

[3] Eduardo Souto de Moura. Gustavo Gili, Barcelona 2004. P. 365. In Eduardo Souto de Moura, Eduardo Souto de Moura : 1995-2005 : la naturalidad de las cosas (the naturalness of things), vol. 124 (Madrid, España: El Croquis Editorial, 2005), 19.

[4] Holcim Forum, 2004

Changing panorama: a reflection on Tahrir Square and WikiLeaks

2011-02-22T22:20:00.001+11:00

The political demonstrations that began in Tunisia and spread to Egypt and to other countries in the region, appear to have instilled a new sense of possibility, solidarity and optimism in large parts of the world—citizens might be able shape their history after all. This also poses many questions that need discussing, for instance, the role of the public realm (Tahrir Square), the role of social media and of citizens, local and across the other side of the world—and our role.

Tahrir Square. Photograph by Monasosh

Are we witnessing a new stage of political evolution? And if this is the case, what is our responsibility as professionals? To what degree has the social and public space facilitated these events? And, are these special types of public spaces? What are the characteristics of, say, Tahrir Square, that could assist public civic expression?

A short video named “A Tent City 'Freedom Motel' in Tahrir Square”, managed to give us a glimpse of the more personal side of the citizens’ uprising in Egypt. These were citizens that without prior warning and equipped with conviction, organised themselves to provide others with the basic facilities needed to maintain the vigil in the Tahrir Square. Amidst the turmoil, they established a neat system—a tent city—that allowed them to persist in their dissent while servicing the needs of a sudden community. First aid, meals, security, internet, sanitary services and resting, and wedding services, all was there. The sense of purpose of those interviewed and filmed was evident and their optimism contagious (this in spite of the many deaths)—they appeared collectively motivated by the prospect of changing their destiny for the better. As ‘Freedom Motel’ showed us, tent cities are not always bad news.

"Live from Tahrir Square". Photograph by Monasosh

Perhaps what I valued the most was the information captured outside the traditional media corporations (the twitter, Facebook impressions, the images), that gave us the opportunity to look closely to a different dimension of the political conflict, to zoom into the space and events that citizens can actually influence. Far away from Egypt, in Melbourne, I witness the spontaneous, the convivial and essential—people and their social space. The square, that as our colleague Orhan Ayyuce suggested, became the de facto democratic Parliament.

Tahrir Square. Photograph by Monasosh

It is perhaps no coincidence that these events in Egypt took place at almost the same time when the delivery of incriminating information, involving corrupted regimes and multinationals, was being obstructed by the most rich and powerful governments.

Photograph by Monasosh

WikiLeaks, an organisation that claims to defend “freedom of speech and media publishing, the improvement of our common historical record and the support of the rights of all people to create new history,” is under attack by corrupted political regimes preaching but not practicing transparency and accountability (or what some call “good governance”). This has prompt Architects for Peace to reinstate that:

Tyrannical regimes of any persuasion and from anywhere (North, South, East and West) need to be made accountable for their lies, crimes, abuses, occupations, for stealing natural resources and polluting the environment. We citizens, need to know the truth if we are going to embrace or dismiss those who govern in our name. And this is why Architects for Peace supports the work of WikiLeaks and acknowledges the need for its existence. We are ‘friends’ of WikiLeaks.

If the events of the last two months offer any indication of what this year will bring, well, let’s prepare ourselves for many challenges and hopefully for advances and more civic engagement of our professions.

Beatriz C. Maturana
Architects for Peace, Feb.2011

Note: all photographs in this article are the property of Monasosh and have been used under Creative Commons (Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Originally published in Architects for Peace

CALLE DIECIOCHO (en sepia)

2011-01-18T01:15:00.003+11:00

SANTIAGO, CHILE
21 November 2010

Calle Dieciocho is located close to the centre of Santiago, Chile, in an area of historical and architectural value. However, unlike other streets close by, such as, República and Avenida Brasil, calle Dieciocho has not received a similar level of attention or recognition.

Sadly, important historical areas of Santiago, such as this, were badly damaged during the February 26, 2010 earthquake. In some cases, only the façade of some of these buildings stand as testimony of their architectural value.

Calle Dieciocho (en sepia) from beatriz maturana on Vimeo.

Modelos de desarrollo urbano

2010-11-24T01:57:00.002+11:00

Modelos de desarrollo urbano y paisaje se abordarán en charlas convocadas en la U. Central
Source: Seconstruye.com

Se trata de encuentros abiertos y gratuitos dirigidos a estudiantes y docentes relacionadas con la arquitectura y disciplinas afines.

Dos actividades de conversación con expertos invitados se han programado para el miércoles 24 de noviembre en la Facultad de Arquitectura, urbanismo y Paisaje de la Universidad Central de Chile. La primera de éstas partirá a las 09.00 con “Evaluación y Panel. Modelos de Desarrollo y Proyecto Urbano”, organizado por el taller Urbanismo V de Escuela de Arquitectura, dirigido por el docente y geógrafo Ricardo Jordán y el ayudante Daniel González.

Find the article here.

Architectural Biennale Chile 2010

2010-11-22T16:19:00.009+11:00

"XVII Bienal de Arquitectura: 8.8 RE-CONSTRUCCIÓN"
Reports Beatriz C. Maturana

After the 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile in February 27—a year in which Chile celebrates it bicentenary of independence—this biennale is not surprisingly characterized by a focus on reconstruction projects; among them, housing, public buildings, and infrastructure. In spite of the enormous reconstruction task, the overall mood of the display is optimistic and confident.

Many of these projects are proposals by various faculties of architecture located in cities representing the most devastated areas. Thus, often these projects are located in small coastal and country towns that would have seldom been featured at earlier biennales. This is one of the many important aspects of this biennale worth carrying into the future.

Generally, each faculty has focused on their local projects where they are able to demonstrate through their responses, their knowledge of the local conditions and needs. The scale of these proposals varies, yet whether large or small, these consider broader urban reconstruction strategies. These proposals speak of a dialogue between universities and society. It is this positive relationship that clearly permeates this biennale and that makes it significant.

Also present are some designs for memorial parks and public sculptures. These designs prompt in my mind questions regarding the appropriateness of ‘designing’ the spatial manifestation of a collective memory. By this, I mean that there is a difference between building a functional piece of infrastructure named in commemoration of an event or person and designing a space to make us reflect on such event.

Link: "XVII Bienal de Arquitectura (Chile): 8.8 RE-CONSTRUCCIÓN"
Find all images here

'Inés of my Soul': another review

2010-10-24T00:10:00.006+11:00

In this book Isabel Allende sets upon the difficult task of creating a narrative that strings together the pieces of history and distant records from the 1530’s conquest of Chile. The book is written in first person giving a voice to Inés de Suárez, a genuine female ‘conquistador’. Allende brings to us fleshed out characters who, through Inés de Suárez, are introduced to us as if we were part of an intimate conversation—Inés is in this way trusting her story to us. This book presents a superb insight on those gruesome and treacherous wars of conquest.

In her narration of the events, Allende has meticulously played with that fine line that separates her voice as the author and the voice of Inés de Suárez. That is not an easy task, particularly because Inés de Suárez, as a conquistador is herself part and occasionally the perpetrator of violent acts to save her life and the lives of those living in the recently established settlement, later known as “Santiago de la Nueva Extremadura”, or today, simply Santiago, the capital of Chile. Allende places herself in Inés’ shoes with an extraordinary ability that allows to suspend judgment (although sporadically we hear the author through Inés regrets) in order to be respectful of Inés de Suárez version of history—Inés’ own voice.

Independently of our contemporary view of the history of the conquest, Inés de Suárez—as a woman of her time caught in an unusual situation—is not repentant, on the contrary, she, is proud of her achievements and although somehow repulsed by violence, she is not completely condemning of it, nor of the atrocious behaviour of men towards women in general and indigenous women in particular.

Inés’ story adds an important dimension to our knowledge of the events—a Spaniard female version of history. While history has passed little and relatively unsavoury facts of the life of Inés de Suárez, history on the other hand, has been benevolent enough and much less judgmental of the character of Diego de Almagro, Francisco de Aguirre and Pedro de Valdivia among many others. This I believe is the important story within the story of this book.

Because of my general knowledge of Chilean history, I know that at least ninety percent of the names cited in this book are of real people who played their part in the history of Chile. For instance, among the indigenous people, Michimalonko, Lautaro (Felipe), Vitacura (one of Santiago’s municipalities is named after him), the Spanish officers and soldiers and many if not most of the women mentioned. However, for a non Chilean reader this important aspect of the novel and which adds to its value cannot be appreciated. For this reason, I would have liked to see footnotes to assist the reader to discern historical facts.

Having read many of Allende’s books and having grown a little tired of her use of ‘magic realism’, this book was like a breathe of fresh air. This is to me one of Allende’s best, if not her best book and I value the fact that she undertook much historical research in order to bring us a reliable narrative of the life of Inés de Suárez.

How Spike and the slumdweller find reality in design studio handouts

2010-09-14T00:57:00.000+10:00

An exploration of reality in the design studio

Description:

"How Spike and the Slumdweller Find Reality in Design Studio Handouts: An Exploration of Reality in the Design Studio," in ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 4, issues 2/3 (2010).

To download this document please visit: ArchNet-IJAR
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How Spike and the slumdweller find reality in design studio handouts: an exploration of reality in the desi...

IntentCITY: the polical city

2010-07-24T13:39:00.000+10:00

IntentCity was the inaugural forum establishing many of the principles of the Architects for Peace. This publication launch will feature contributors to IntentCity and a discussion about social responsibility and the right to the city. Contributors to IntentCity include Dr Darko Radovic, Beatriz Maturana, Dr Kit Lazaroo and Liz Coleman, Marc Purcell, Geoff Hogg, Su Mellersh-Lucas and Mick Pearce.
Editors: Beatriz C. Maturana & Anthony McInneny

IntentCITY discusses the “political city” – the public space that affects us all – the built environment, ecology, citizens, and particularly our involvement in war and what can be done to prevent it. IntentCITY is about cities, citizenship, collaboration and friendship at local and international levels. It is about boundaries, social and spatial, about the social realities of cities.

Date: Wednesday July 21
Location: Level 2 Myer Bridge, Above Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Central. Cnr. of Latrobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne
Time: 7pm
Cost: Free

MORE DETAILS: STATE OF DESIGN
Department of Counter Culture

Introduction to the book:
IntentCity - the political city

In the fantasy world of reconstruction let’s try calling a spade a spade

2010-05-24T18:13:00.023+10:00

The notion of reconstruction is complex and involves careful planning of the stages that will comprise at least immediate emergency solutions and then permanent reconstruction. Planning involves a thorough knowledge of the areas in questions. The staging needs to be conceived in a manner that facilitates a smooth transition from one stage of the process to the next. Unfortunately this is not easy to achieve and as I saw in Managua, Nicaragua almost three decades after the earthquake, inappropriate planning can later prevent the implementation of permanent appropriate solutions. For instance, I am referring to one of the many cases in which a “temporary” market solution became a permanent ill conceived feature, which determined most of what later developed around. Reconstruction in some of the poorest regions of the world carries the danger that emergency solutions will become permanent features and we need to be aware of this.

Container solution for Haiti. Image source: Inhabitat [1]

Collapsed infrastructure in Santiago, Chile. Image source: AP Photo/David Lillo

Planning entails the big picture which is tied to cultural, social, economic, political, heritage, geographic and climate aspects. Furthermore, as we have seen in Chile (27 Feb. 2010, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded, 8.8 magnitude)—-where large numbers of psychologists, social workers and university students mobilised to the affected areas to support those people traumatised by the disaster—reconstruction also involves careful and long term consideration of the needs of those who were directly or indirectly affected by the disaster.

The point of this quick outline on reconstruction is to provide the context where architecture might play a positive role as part of a much large strategy.

When looking at some of the architectural solutions proposed in response to natural or man-made disasters, I wonder whether architects, authors of some of these proposals, have ever experienced or visited and engaged with people in need anywhere, including their own countries. If not, have they studied what reconstruction is really about? In view of their own sense of the importance of their architectural contributions, it may not be possible for them to consider that perhaps consultation is a good way to go about. Thus the following questions could be posed by others: who should decide what is to be done? Are there other reasons behind the apparent altruistic architectural works? Do the people designing for others consider the geography, climate, the social and economic conditions for which they are designing? Are local citizens and among them their own professionals better positioned to design and decide on the terms of their own reconstruction?

Designers have the power to make things worse as much as better, and are most effective for good when operating within a context prescribed by their abilities and influence. If there was a genuine programme to help Haiti, it would have been initiated years ago, in concert with an organisation with the resources to carry out a focused, effective (and therefore probably small-scale) intervention. It might have saved a few dozen lives. But architects were too busy drawing houses on stilts in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.[2]

These questions emerge once more after having seen too many stylistically focused and at many levels inadequate (design, cultural and cost terms) proposals for the Victorian bushfires reconstruction (Australia) and a similar abysmal number of inapt architectural “solutions” proposed for earthquake affected areas in Haiti and Chile. Note that the same container solution was suggested for Chile and Haiti (countries diametrically opposed in almost every single aspect)—a solution tested earlier with Bosnian refugees.[3]

In the fantasy world of some architects and the architectural media that promotes them, their misplaced dreams make them unable to distinguish between different climatic, economic and cultural conditions. People from all different parts of the world, under the spell of these architectural creations, supported by a great deal of imagery, can make those affected by a disaster appear as if strolling along the beach (refer to this link and image below).

Image used here to illustrate the point of "fantasy" when dealing with
reconstruction. Source: Green Container International Aid

According to their global ignorance, the world is all the same, particularly if referring to countries poorer than their own. Within that conception of a homogeneous world, their creativity (under the banner of ‘sustainability’, by way of getting rid-of some of their own trash) is contributing to the reconstruction process—but is it?

Many of these solutions are insensitive to populations' needs and to cultural differences, as they depart from the belief that one architectural idea fits all (the not very creative container idea for instance). Many of these solutions are also insensitive and “globally” ignorant of the diverse climatic conditions, seismic and economic conditions. For instance, to lock the containers in place in some of the most seismic regions of the world, the recycled container would need such an expensive and robust structural system that the structure alone could provide other more suitable and purposely designed housing solutions. As claimed by one of the many container emergency solutions designers, the containers housing worked well in Bosnia, but even if that was the case, wars and earthquakes are not the same thing.[4]

"Children walk past shipping containers washed up by a wave caused by an earthquake in Talcahuano Port, a city just outside Concepcion," Chile on February 27, 2010. (REUTERS/Jose Luis Saavedra)

Have any of these designers ever investigated local building codes and solutions? For instance, here is an article on la “Villa Portales”, a large social housing development built between 1955 y 1967 in Santiago Chile, which suffered no damage after the 2010, 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Local solutions such as the "mediaguas", have for many decades served as emergency housing in Chile—these are also sustainable and provide insulation from the very cold winters of Santiago. These 'mediaguas' are minimal and do not display “sexy” rococo or postmodern frills. They do the job while responding to local conditions, using local materials and labour—they are simply temporary emergency housing.

Social housing in Villa Portales, Santiago Chile. Plataforma Arquitectura

"Mediaguas", Local emergency housing by Elemental Chile

Much care is given to the positioning of these houses in a layout that resembles a neighbourhood and that can foster conviviality while maintaining the privacy of their occupants. This important work was not prompted by the earthquake. This work is supported by years of experimentation and testing and it represents one of the many examples from which architects willing to engage in reconstruction could learn from.

Image source: RedArquitectura

The combination of disaster and creative designers’ arrogance makes for a dangerous mix. Dangerous because the efforts are misplaced, so are the economic resources destined to reconstruction and worst of all, the perpetuation of unawareness and disregard for the accumulated local professional knowledge and the knowledge of those affected—characteristics that continue to pervade much of these reconstruction efforts.

Let’s “call a spade a spade”. While it is not my intention to upset any of these designers, it is on the other hand important to ‘mature’ as a profession, to step out of this egocentric and infantile state that allows some to uncritically present his/her fantasies to people who need real solutions. Perhaps only then, when we can critically assess these solutions and see beyond the imagery that invariably accompanies them, we will have a chance to contribute to and with the rest of the world. For now I propose that we interrogate these proposals to understand what is to be done if we are to engage with the real world at all.

Below I have pasted some links that can give the reader a glimpse of the issues here discussed.

Proposed solutions and discussions:
• Green Container International AID
• Puerto Rico 'Haha…bitat'
• Architectural responses to the Haitian earthquake reveal misplaced motives.
• Is Haiti a Laboratory for New Urbanists? What the Country Really Needs Is Old Urbanism | Aerotropoli

Articles on the earthquake in Chile:
• “Why did fewer die in Chile's earthquake than in Haiti's?”. BBC News, 1 March 2010.
• “Un Techo para Chile construirá 30 mil viviendas para damnificados por terremoto”. El Mercurio. 3 March 2010.
• Frank Bajak. “Chile was ready for quake, Haiti wasn’t”. Associated Press (AP), 27 February 2010.
• Sebastian Gray. “Santiago Stands Firm”. New York Times, 2 March 2010.
• “Ministra de Vivienda llama a propietarios a acogerse a Ley de Calidad por daños” (Minister call home owner to find protection for damages to their properties in the ‘Law of Quality’). El Mercurio, 3 March 2010.
• Beatriz Maturana. “Notes on the Earthquake in Chile”. Architects for Peace, 8 March 2010.

Author: Beatriz C. Maturana
The author would like to thank and acknowledge colleagues from ReCUA (Caribbean Network of Urbanism and Architecture) for the rigorous and stimulating conversations on many of these topics.

Notes

[1] Two days after this article was published, the post published in Inhabitat which this link refers to has been removed. A reference to this post, which includes some images, can still be found here (10.04.10): http://sigalonenvironment.soup.io/tag/Disaster-proof%20design; now (24.05.10) is back again: here

[2] Baldwin, Ian. "Architectural responses to the Haitian earthquake reveal misplaced motives." Custom Home Online (1 March 2010, originally published in Architectural Review), http://www.customhomeonline.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=275&articleID=1225348.

[3]+ [4] Since publishing this article, the webpage displaying one of the container solutions which I have referred to, has changed its content (http://green-container-intl-aid.com/home). It now (10.04.10) includes detailed information about the structural system that supports the containers.

* This article was updated on 10.04.2010

Global Pecha-Kucha for Haiti

2010-04-02T02:03:00.006+11:00

1/2 Pecha-Kucha presentation entitled: "The Shared Ground"
20TH February 2010
MELBOURNE: @1000 Pound Bend 361 Lt. Londsdale St, *all proceeds to Haiti*
1/2 PechaKucha Presentation for Haiti

arch-peace news and articles: Notes on the Earthquake in Chile

2010-03-09T01:28:00.002+11:00

arch-peace news and articles: Notes on the Earthquake in Chile
(one week after the 27 February 2010 earthquake)

The earthquake in Chile and consecutive three tidal waves of between 10 to 20m height (accounts vary), affected an area approximately 800 km long. In this long and narrow country defined by extreme climate and geographic conditions...

more here

Earthquake in Chile

2010-03-02T12:28:00.001+11:00

Earthquake in Chile

In this critical time for Chile, Architects for Peace would like to extend its deepest sympathy for the lives lost. We also lament the loss and damage of a considerable number of Chilean’s architectural and historical urban heritage.

Chile is a country well prepared for emergency situations, with many response teams having just returned from Haiti. Yet, the magnitude of the earthquake has been unprecedented. Architects for Peace will be ready to do its best to assist in the long road to recovery and reconstruction.

We wish all our Chilean members the best in these difficult times.

Abrazos y fuerza,

The Architects for Peace Team

Some links:
National Chilean Television TVN: http://www.24horas.cl/videos.aspx?id=60951

Thinking of reconstruction: The Chilean Ministery of Urbanism and Housing (MINVU), together with the Chilean Institute of Architects are organising professional volunteers. National and international architects are invited to register--at this stage the focus is on national capacity. Link: http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/2010/02/28/pensando-en-la-reconstruccion/#cf7_field_6

arch-peace news and articles: arch-peace: Overview of the year that was 2009

2009-12-03T00:03:00.003+11:00

arch-peace news and articles: arch-peace: Overview of the year that was 2009

President’s Report

26 November 2009

Dear members of Architects for Peace,

It has been a pleasure for me to lead another successful year of this young organisation. The value of Architects for Peace (Arch-peace) rests in the work undertaken by its teams on the many tasks that we pursue. Peace and social justice in the realm of the built environment are our guiding principles, but the agenda is not set and Arch-peace offers an umbrella under which to create the conditions for a better future. Architecture and the professions of the built environment are not devices for the production of heroes. Architecture and the professions of the built environment represent our chosen means to service society while adding dignity and meaning to all our lives. Projects that benefit most people—particularly those who need it the most—is what Arch-peace is interested in facilitating, promoting and learning from...

Find here: arch-peace: Overview of the year that was 2009

Hard data for urban scenarios: UN Human Development Report '09

2009-10-06T10:37:00.003+11:00

As professionals of the built environment we are often confronted with questions and sometimes decisions regarding the future of our cities. Migration and uncontrolled flux of peoples across the globe—due to climate change, pollution, wars or poverty—are some of these ‘apocalyptic’ scenarios presented to us. These scenarios, usually used as topics for students’ projects (particularly in architecture), are frequently offered devoid of any form of tangible hard data.

Whether we have any input in determining the future of our cities or not is another question. However, a good grasp of what is really going on the ground can only assist our response.

The recently published UN "Human Development Report 2009" offers some insights on what is really happening around migration and it claims that:

Migration not infrequently gets a bad press. Negative stereotypes portraying migrants as ‘stealing our jobs’ or ‘scrounging off the taxpayer’ abound in sections of the media and public opinion, especially in times of recession. For others, the word ‘migrant’ may evoke images of people at their most vulnerable. This year’s Human Development Report, Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development, challenges such stereotypes. It seeks to broaden and rebalance perceptions of migration to reflect a more complex and highly variable reality

And,

The report suggests that the policy response to migration can be wanting. Many governments institute increasingly repressive entry regimes, turn a blind eye to health and safety violations by employers, or fail to take a lead in educating the public on the benefits of immigration.

Find the UN Human Development Report 2009: here

post: Beatriz C. Maturana

S. Schwartz: Should universities provide a moral education?

2009-09-20T19:35:00.026+10:00

It was refreshing to hear Vice Chancellor of Sydney’s Macquarie University Steven Schwartz on ABC BigIdeas, discussing issues of morality and ethics in higher education. Morality, ethics, judgment and other such notions have for long been avoided in our universities, most of which have followed with an almost evangelical fervour the line of relativism.

Schwartz argues that, in universities relativism has had many adverse consequences--often discussed as separated issues (e.g. reduction of scientific credibility by society, poor or unclear curricula, economic imperatives leading universities decisions...). Schwartz manages to articulate the links between them. For instance, market interests leading research and lack of public confidence in scientific knowledge—consequently in scientific methods. His proposition has wide implications not only in regards to the objectives and approach of universities to teaching, education and knowledge, but also implications for each disciplinary field within academia, within which similar questions can be posed. In the field of architecture, the vacuum left by scientific knowledge appears to have been filled by an emphasis on phenomenological experiences and expressions of inner thoughts detached from contextual knowledge. Many of these concepts, that fill the architectural design studio ‘discourse’ such as, ‘play’, ‘fun’, ‘scenarios’, ‘climate change’,[1] ‘sustainability’, ‘creativity’, ‘imagination’ among many others, are never explained, contextualised, measured or questioned.

Below I will be following this discussion and also counter arguments to Schwartz's contention.

"From its earliest classical origins, education's real purpose was to build 'character' so graduates could take up their role in their society and contribute to the good of everyone. But is that still the case or have financial imperatives had their way? After all, this year's budget papers did say that universities are here to grow the knowledge-based economy, that they are key contributors to economic progress. Commercial transactions have their own ethical imperatives and these are not always consistent...".

"...Publications are the coin of the realm in university scientific careers.
Some scientists agree to pose as authors just so they can add another paper to their CVs.
Clearly, we live in another time and another place from Salk.
The central ethical premise of universities has changed fundamentally.
The discovery and dissemination of knowledge has been replaced by the desire to exploit it.
Just think, can anyone today imagine a university giving a valuable vaccine away?
Hardly likely.
In fact, the government encourages universities to do just the opposite—to patent our discoveries and capitalise on our intellectual property.
One famous university has just spent a large amount of money on lawyers trying to prove to a court that it owned the rights to a successful drug.
The university lost the case and paid out a fortune in legal fees.
Was the institution sorry it took the matter to court?
Far from it. As one senior staff member explained, had the claim been successful, the university would have made millions.
Please don’t get me wrong. (...)"

(ABC Radio, BigIdeas, 6.09.09, listen to this talk here)
Find a transcription of this talk here

For a counter argument and comments see Stephen Romei, editor of The Australian, here

Notes:
[1] Note that I am not questioning 'climate change', but the manner in which this critical issue is posed, often as an excuse to 'play' with ideas without any material context and/or knowledge framework (social, climatic, geographic, etc.)--measurable expressions of the material/physical context.

Melbourne's Bushfires: time to reflect new urban strategies

2009-09-10T10:37:00.002+10:00

Melbourne's Bushfires: isn't it time to reflect new urban strategies?

Presentation at Process@Loop: Responses to Bushfire, May 4 2009. Loop Bar, 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne.

As harsh climate conditions with its disastrous consequences become more frequent, Australian authorities and politicians are now quick to name climate change as a contributing factor. In view of a future increasingly exposed to a harsher climate, calls for the review of emergency laws, the upgrading of fire evacuation plans and building regulations are been considered. However, are these expedient responses dealing with the complex issue of suburban and outer suburban living?

Resetting agendas a conference in a climate of change

2009-02-27T10:26:00.004+11:00

Reflections on the Oxford Conference 2008

Abstract:
As its title suggests, ‘The Oxford Conference 2008: 50 Years on – Resetting the Agenda for Architectural Education’ aimed to influence architectural education. Five decades ago, in 1958, fifty delegates representing British members of the profession, industry and teaching institutions attended the first and only other Oxford Conference on Architectural Education organised by the RIBA. Several visitors from abroad and from Commonwealth countries also attended. The 1958 conference articulated the demand to shift architectural education from polytechnics or art schools to universities, and fifty years later the notion that we live in a ‘climate of change’ permeated Oxford Conference 2008 (Oxford 2008). With delegates from forty-two countries representing every continent there was a manifest change in the composition of the delegates, and on the face of it this would suggest that a more diverse attendance made a difference in the spectrum of issues coming to the forefront: but did it?

Find this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=4399408

Beatriz Maturana (2008). Resetting agendas a conference in a climate of change. Architectural Research Quarterly, 12 , pp 209-212
doi:10.1017/S1359135508001127

Jaywalking: the day I asserted my rights as a car

2009-02-22T12:11:00.007+11:00

Written on Friday April 11th. 2003

We had decided to have some fun that night. For long all our efforts had focused on opposing the war on Iraq. We had not succeeded of course and Australia was part of this war. We were saddened by the news, the civilian deaths, the misery, and the destruction of Iraqi cities. Appalled by the violence of the so called, “Coalition of the willing”.

This night we were going to have a break, "let’s go dancing, Brazilian music for a change!" We dressed up a bit and drove to Smith Street. As we approached the corners of Gertrude and Smith Streets, we saw a “take over the streets” demonstration with some anti-US slogans. A few young, mainly hippie looking demonstrators had managed to stop the traffic along Smith St. It was too good to go pass by without showing solidarity with the initiative. We stopped, I said hello to a few demonstrators, they looked at me with a bit of distrust. In the crowd I recognised my Melbourne University classmate Andy. I was thrilled to see him there. Not because we had ever talked about anything, or even talked for that matter, but because at this stage I thought that there were no committed students at Melbourne University who would be prepared to act on their convictions. I was so happy in fact that I gave him a huge hug—he must have been surprised, but he warmly returned my greeting. Andy said to us, “it is nice to have respectable looking people among us”. And, with my “respectable look”, I managed for a while to keep the police a breath from me. However, after a good 20 minutes of us crossing the road very slowly, taking enough time for the lights to change colour—while still occupying the road when the cars had the green light—the police grew weary and came directly towards me.

I was standing with my newly founded friend and Anthony on the road, about 2 meters away from the gutter. The police (2 of them) demanded that I move to the footpath. I did not move. They asked me for my name and address. I did not give it to them. They accused me of challenging the law. I did not say a word.

Should I, by law, give my name and address? Should I, by law, obey their orders and move to the footpath? I really did not know. I looked at Anthony and Andy for some clues, something that would indicate that I could 'legally' keep my stance—their faces were blank.

I was scared, puzzled and felt totally ignorant of my rights. I tried to talk the policemen to let me go, but there was no chance that they would move away and leave me in peace to continue demonstrating. “We will have to take you to the police station” said one of the policemen. The charges were: “suspicion of Jaywalking and contempt for the law”. I did not know what “Jaywalking” was either. Based on their words, I had not even qualified for 'Jaywalking', only for suspicion of!

I could picture myself inside the Collingwood Police Station – not a nice prospect for a night that was supposed to be fun. However, to my mind, this was nothing when compared to the reasons why we were demonstrating. Many thoughts crossed my mind, I could have given my name and address to the police, but I did not know what the implications were. As I tried to negotiate with them a lost cause, and perhaps just to earn some more time of freedom, I looked around. I took two steps back and I was inside the white lines that define a car space on the side of the road. I asked the police, “if a car can park here for (I looked up to the parking sign)—2 hours—don’t I have at least the same right than a car to be here?” Now, the police looked puzzled. They exchanged glances and after a few eternal seconds one of them, with a sneered smile and very coarse voice, said to me “smart ass!” and in a kind of condescending manner they walked away.

I was relieved. I could not believe that, at least momentarily, I had attained as much right as a car to be on the road.

The two police went directly to another group of demonstrators occupying the road, one police asked them to move to the footpath and the group obeyed immediately. The policemen looked at us, we all laughed. “This is group solidarity guys!” shouted one of the policemen back to us.

Notes:

Photograph(s) belong to a more recent march.

arch-peace editorials: Victoria’s Bushfires: time to reflect new urban strategies

2009-02-18T23:14:00.019+11:00

Although it is believed that some of the bushfires that affected the State of Victoria may be the work of arsonists, this was a natural disaster in the sense that it was triggered by an dreadful combination of climatic conditions such as a very dry season, thick and dry native forest in country Victoria and around Melbourne’s periphery, strong winds and an unprecedented heat of up to 48C.

As these harsh climate conditions with its disastrous consequences become more frequent, Australian authorities and politicians are now quick to name climate change as a contributing factor.[1] In view of a future increasingly exposed to a harsher climate, calls for the review of emergency laws, the upgrading of fire evacuation plans and building regulations are been considered. However, are these expedient responses dealing with the complex issue of suburban and outer suburban living?

While a handful of scientists show caution in declaring that this disaster is due to climate change, others assert that:

There does seem to be a human element to bushfire risk. In terms of human contribution it is clear that most of the global warming since about 1950 is likely due to increases in greenhouse gases. Higher temperatures clearly increase the risk of bushfires.[2]

Reconstructing the same, “brick by brick”

Australia has abundant land and for the 200 years of colonisation settlers have had no need to compromise—not on the size of their houses and land, nor in terms of privacy, material costs or the cost of services such as transport and schools. This uncompromising attitude is part of an entrenched cultural trend that defines our suburbs, outer suburbs and suburbs within rural habitats, with its remarkable nature corridors and bush. While these conditions offer some fine aspects which define the Australian way of life, it also precludes other modes of living, particularly those associated to sharing resources, social equity, accessibility, urban vitality and the chances of achieving environmental sustainability.[3] One example of this is car dependency with all its detrimental effects. Larger pieces of land in the outer suburbs or “suburbs in the bush” are more affordable. As George Megalogenis notes, the population in the worst affected areas lived in an extension of “Mortgageville: communities with more children, and parents with less education, than the national average”.[4] This is an urban periphery foreign to the city skyline, forgotten by the urban professions and their educational institutions. For instance, how often do architectural design studios focus their explorations on the needs of these populations?

Responses as to what should be done to rebuild the destroyed houses and townships vary. While it is perhaps too soon to reflect on how and why this disaster took on such devastating force, reflection is needed. Comments focusing on at least two different dimensions of the problem emerge. Overall, one centres on the upgrading individual structures through better technology and regulations, while the other points at planning issues by questioning the wisdom of reconstructing in the same manner.

For example, Victorian Premier John Brumby recommends that building codes need revision. Architect Lindsay Johnston discusses fire resistant houses and the construction of underground bunkers in areas prone to bushfires, while also adding that urban sprawl exacerbates the danger for these communities.[5]

Similarly, scientists such as Professor Andy Pitman suggests that fireproof underground shelters and different building regulations for houses near bush areas should be considered, simultaneously questioning the suitability of rebuilding in the affected areas.[6] Dr. Nichols on the other hand warns of the “real chance that some communities may never be rebuilt”, while also noting that “the devastation in Victoria presents a sombre opportunity”.[7]

It is that sombre opportunity that I want to discuss. An opportunity that offers the chance to put in practice what our urban professions, ecologists, educators and members of the general public have been discussing for years. The understanding that devastation brought on by climate change cannot be overcome with yet more technology that reinforces the mindset that generated it. That perhaps it is time to think of collective rather than individual solutions to our predicaments.

Promises such as “Together we will rebuild each of these communities — brick by brick, school by school, community hall by community hall”,[8] may offer some needed consolation to the victims and hope that their lives might one day return to some normality. However, in view of the facts it is pertinent to question what should be reconstructed in the context of Australian culture, ecology, climate change and the long term well-being of those affected today.

A collection of scattered buildings don’t make a town

What we witnessed in the last month were heroic and tragic personal efforts to save the family house. Among those, one case comes to mind, where a group of people in Flowerdale survived thanks to a call for the nearby residents to stay in one building, a pub, while concentrating all efforts on saving that one building: a notion of collective that emerged out of despair.

When you fly across Europe what you will see is a very different urban, suburban and rural morphology to that of Australia. The European landscape is pierced by circles and lines, where the circles are the towns or villages, the communities and the lines the roads or connectors. In Australia, lines connecting sparsely located properties crisscross the earth. Sporadic grouping of buildings such as the post-office, pub, supermarket, sometimes a school and bank, indicate something similar to a centre—but without a centre. In Australia these have been referred by some as “townships”.

What is also peculiar to Australia is that these linear “centres” have very few or no residential buildings whatsoever. While in this morphology a relative sense of community can exist, this is greatly diminished by distance, a resulting car dependency and the placing and function of buildings.

If we superimpose the analogy of the pub in Flowerdale, to a slightly more densely populated town or village, in which people also have their residences, it would not be too far fetched to think that this imaginary inhabited town could be more easily protected than a road with spread out buildings and even more scattered houses placed within large to very large properties. In this late example, not only the efforts of residents but also those of emergency services are broken up and weakened. I cannot but to agree with Nichols when he says:

I'd like to think at the end of the day that governments recognise that keeping a community together may well be worth the many millions of dollars it might cost to bring that about.[9]

The morphology of our cities, suburbs and satellite suburbs within rural land follow a planning trend. Rampant urban sprawl and its detrimental effects are well documented. Whether different planning regulations can assist to prevent tragedies such as the one we just witnessed is worth investigating. But planning the future of suburbs, wherever these are located, cannot continue being the result of rushed decisions by politicians, or a privilege reserved to one set of professionals.

Suggestions that focus on building regulations, or on more technology (whether sustainable or not), are part of micro-solutions. These solutions should not obscure or replace the need for a macro-scale debate and revision. It is at the planning and urban levels where community and expert discussion could take place, where questions about what is possible and wise and how should we shape urban, suburban and suburbs in rural communities can be addressed. This is what I would call the sombre opportunity that can and needs to be grasped. This is a collective and too often discounted approach to solving a problem.

Focusing on an armoured building or more disaster prepared individuals is one step in the same old direction—the individual object (building) and the person who does not compromise. Nor are these answers affordable to the social demography described by Megalogenis. These solutions dismiss what we have just learnt through this experience, that together with the destruction of lives and houses, the ecology, food production, water, power supply, public health and communication are also threatened.

Other, perhaps vital consequences of these bushfires will not be known to us for a long time. This is a complex situation and while we may aspire to find simple solutions we can no longer afford to be simplistic in the process of finding them.

Rethinking how to live in the local environmental context

Perhaps we now have, after we have witnessed and suffered from Black Saturday, the opportunity to think about how we live and question whether our way of building in the bush is suitable to the environment in which we live. Well thought through large-scale strategies offering direction for micro solutions (building design, building code and technology) is an option worth pursuing. This is not a theoretical proposition, it is factual and necessary. The world provides examples that can be used to start the discussion.

For instance, some basic and enduring principles in the design of communities can prove handy. Towns grow from a centre—a civic centre. The civic centre (which is not a building but space) is not only the place where some services congregate. The civic centre is a public space of cultural meaning. Meaning that is endowed by its location within the town, by the diversity of activities surrounding it—from civic to commercial, cultural, residential and recreational. It is a natural centre that cannot be avoided—a civic place towards which people and activities gravitate, where nature is present and under control. It is a safe space for the playground, a gathering after school, for the elderly, the town market and cultural activities. While many of the affected communities in Victoria relied on the sport oval as a place of congregation during the bushfires, no sport oval can compete in importance with a town’s civic centre. Sport ovals are generally on the outskirts, isolate and surrounded by passive edges. They serve specific purposes. Therefore, they do not rate high in everyone’s cognitive maps and less so for those just visiting the area.

Rethinking Victorian bushfire affected communities will necessitate considering population density and the provision of new options for living arrangements. Countryside isolation may suit some. However, most sections of the population would find added social engagement and support in a denser town that has the right balance between services, infrastructure and housing accommodation— while still enjoying the attractions of the bush.

Higher density justifies the provision of services, among them public transport connecting with major regional centres and other communities. Public transport is about communication, socialisation, connectivity and about environmental sustainability. Lack of access to public transport goes hand in hand with poverty and social exclusion. However, I have yet not heard any politician addressing the issue of public transport as an intrinsic social need—how can such an essential service still be ignored?

We can use our creativity to find solutions within the constraints that we now face and to create suitable living environments for the local conditions. Real creativity emerges out of working with the constraints posed by the problem and not when the context and constrains are severed from the problem. If natural local conditions and climate change represent the context—particularly when most scientists agree that human activity is partly to blame—how can we assist in the minimisation of such change?

Should we consider compromising some aspects of the way we live? What are the disadvantages and the benefits in view of the recent tragedy? I suggest that these and other questions need to be widely discussed. That the responsibility for finding solutions cannot sit with planners and politicians alone—it needs to involve the large community including an extended professional community. The dimension of this tragedy has given us an unfortunate glimpse into a challenging future in which individually toughened houses will not suffice. Today we have the opportunity to learn from this disaster and to try new approaches.

References:

1. See comments By Victorian Premier John Brumby in, Kerry O'Brien, "Brumby Warns of Worse to Come," ABC News, 7:30 Report (9 February 2009).
2. Kevin Hennessy from the CSIRO in Jonathan Pearlman, "It will only get worse as climate changes," The Sydney Morning Herald 9 February 2009.
3. G. Davison discusses Australian cities and its deficiency in regards to social spaces. See Graeme Davison, "The European City in Australia," Journal of Urban History 27, no. 6 (2001). Note that Australia has one of the highest green house emissions per capita in the world.
4. George Megalogenis, "On the Edge," The Australian 14 February 2009.
5. Oscar McLaren, "Bushfire Tragedy Rewrites Rules for Architects," ABC News (11 February 2009).
6. Andy Pitman, co-director of the University of New South Wales' Climate Change Research Centre, in Adam Morton, "Climate change must be 'a factor' in deciding whether to rebuild," The Age 10 February 2009.
7. David Nichols in McLaren, "Bushfire Tragedy Rewrites Rules for Architects."
8. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in, B. Nicholson and D. Rood. “We'll Rebuild Brick by Brick.” The Age 11 February 2009.
9. D. Nichols in McLaren, "Bushfire Tragedy Rewrites Rules for Architects."

Published in:

Maturana, Beatriz. "Victoria’s Bushfires: Time to Reflect New Urban Strategies." On Line Opinion (27 March 2009), http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8707.

A shorter version in Architects for Peace (editorial), 17 February 2009: find here. Also in
Planning News, p.12-13, 9 March 2009.

research in progress: themes in architectural design studios

2009-02-05T12:19:00.011+11:00

Architectural Design Studio and the Real World Out There

PhD Candidate: Beatriz C. Maturana
Supervisor: Dr Greg Missingham

Central to architectural education is the design studio where all knowledge acquired converges to be given form. Critique of design studio education has focused on its methodology, its power relations and pedagogy. However, seldom has the content of the design studio been scrutinised. While the general architectural education curriculum is accessible, public and subject to periodical scrutiny and evaluations, the core of the discipline, the content of design studio is not. In spite of its problems, it is widely accepted that the design studio is at the centre of architectural education. Consequently, we can assume that what matters in design studio will influence what matters in the practice of architecture and architecture itself.

Concerns and aspirations by universities and education in general assert their reasoning on science, on rational thought and processes, validated by their grasp on reality. This has prompted some to claim that the question of reality is one of the most fundamental questions currently faced by humanity. This research centres on this question, as it contends that without an understanding of what version of reality is brought to the design studio, assertions and aspirations regarding architectural contribution can become self-referential and operate in a vacuum. Thus, exploring themes in architectural design studio becomes crucial to establish what is currently important in architectural education (by default or design), the implications of this importance to the actual wider contribution of architectural design studio and more importantly to plan for the future of architectural education.

This research investigates the themes that architectural design studios explore in three Australian architectural faculties: from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), University of Tasmania (UTas) and The University of Melbourne (UoM), in the states of New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria, respectively. The premise is that without a systematic engagement with reality, what makes architectural design studio an attractive and an important method for learning, might also be a device for the distancing of that learning from its ultimate alleged goal as a ‘profession’, a service to society. Accordingly, professional and academic’s efforts to contribute to, for instance, minimisation of climate change may be compromised.

The problem(s) selected and explored by the studio is what this research calls the theme. If the design studio is about problem-solving, what problems do these studios focus on and what problems do they leave out? This thesis examines data contributed by the three participating architectural faculties to ascertain preference for certain ‘realities’ above others. It does this by exploring degrees of distance or proximity to the real world, through notions of Immediacy, Groundedness and Urgency, among others. This research understands reality as external and independent from us, external from our awareness and interpretation, however, understood through these processes. So far this exploration suggests that, finding the ‘real’ in design studio is a matter of degree, of context, relevance and also a matter of definition. It is about creative imagination for a purpose, one that frames the exploration and clearly articulates the purpose of imagination with all its ‘imagination’ related terms.

I hope that through this investigation a different way of looking at the themes in architectural design studio will emerge. One that is cognisant of the connection between what is explored in design studio today, the resulting practice of architecture and the role of architecture within society.

---
References:

[1] H. R. Maturana, "Reality: The search for objectivity or the quest for a compelling argument," Irish Journal of Psychology 9, no. 1 (1988): 25. Note H. R. Maturana is not related to this author.

[2] An intrinsic aspect of the formation of the professions is their pledge to the ‘greater good’ or social commitment. See Mike Saks, Professions and the public interest: medical power, altruism and alternative medicine (London: Routledge, 1995). See also: M. MacEwen (1974), K. Frampton (2000), S. Salama (1995 & 2007), among many others.

[3] In describing the state of architectural education in Australasia some have referred to it as in a “state of crisis”, augmented by pressures to adapt education to consumerism, competition and corporatism. It is also argued that this is due to “a relative lack of self-knowledge”, particularly in regards to teaching and learning. See Michael J. Ostwald and Anthony Williams, "Understanding Architectural Education in Australasia: Volume 2: Results and Recommendations," ed. The University of Newcastle (Newcastle: The Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA), 2008), 10.

architecture: fantasy, creativity, play and the ‘real world’

2009-02-05T02:01:00.003+11:00

reality check: fantasy, creativity, play and the ‘real world’

1. Introduction:

Disengagement from the ‘real world’ is a common criticism of the architectural discipline. With architects serving only 10-15% of the population and an even lower number in housing design, it is not difficult to understand the reasons for this critique.

Architecture is about imagination, creativity, play and fantasy—all activities promoted in architectural education, particularly design studio. It would be too easy to say that perhaps creativity, imagination, play and fantasy are not compatible with architecture's engagement with the real world.

The question therefore is, what are the conditions that allow play and imagination to serve architectural engagement with reality. Through this tutorial, we investigate what this mean for architecture and what is needed for imagination, fantasy and play to become tools in the search for a sustainable future.

Find this post: http://realworldarchitecture.blogspot.com/2009/04/imagination-fantasy-creativity-play-and.html

Notes on "513 Glenroy Line"

2008-12-22T23:31:00.011+11:00

By Beatriz C. Maturana

Photograph by Matthew Lew, bifurcaciones

Three aspects fascinated me about Carlos Alcalde’s article, "513 Glenroy Line". The first is his sharp and direct commentary about Melbourne—no Anglo affectation, not masking the shock, no acceptance of local notions of correctness. The second is the content of course, particularly in regards to the harshness of the city, the commonly accepted (and general unawareness) of extremes of monotony. The third is his deep understanding of the way in which cities work, the interconnectedness of all, people, economy, form, distribution of architectural woks and transport. This last point interests me greatly because here Alcalde places himself in the urbanist' shoes and speaks as an urbanist would do (a American urbanist, non-Anglo that is). This cross-disciplinary understanding would not surprise anyone in a European or American (non-Anglo) context, although this is highly unusual here where separation among urban professional fields is extreme—to the point of ‘silence’. This lack of convivial collaboration and conversation among urban disciplines seem to be replicated in the city—a “kingdom of commodity”, of “super-survivors”, of postcard type of imagery and then… the suburbs, as Alcalde notes.
The magazine in which this article appeared is concerned with the inseparable issues of cities (urbanism) and culture. Alcalde fluently presents them as he asserts that,

La ciudad con estilo cuesta cara y casi nadie puede pagarla. La gente “normal” vive en los suburbios, que bien podrían pasar por una pesadilla de arquitecto fashion latinoamericano: sólo tres o cuatro estilos arquitectónicos distintos, repetidos hasta el cansancio. Ni un edificio, ni un quiosco… y silencio. Por todos lados, un silencio vacío. Porque así como no huele, no sabe ni se deja tocar, esta es una ciudad que tampoco suena. La comodidad parece haber matado los sentidos.
(…)
Aún no comprendo cómo una ciudad tan fácil, que funciona tan bien, me resulta tan insoportable.[1]

“A stylish city is expensive, and almost no one can afford it. “Normal” people live in the suburbs, and these could well be any Latin-American urbanist’s worst nightmare: only three of four different architectural styles, repeated infinitely. Not one building, not one kiosk… and silence. All surrounded by silence, empty silence. Because, the same way that the city has no smell, it does not allow itself to be touched, this is a city that does not create sound. Comfort appeared to have killed all senses.
(…)
I still cannot comprehend how a city that is so manageable, that works so well, can strike me as unbearable.[2]

According to Alcalde, in this “kingdom of comfort”, only pariahs don’t have a car. These are the children, the elderly, the alcoholics, the mentally retarded, the recently arrived migrant—the yet non-adapted ones, within which Alcalde places himself, in the 513 Glenroy bus line.

Find Carlos Alcade’s photo-essay in bifurcaciones (Journal of Urban Cultural Studies)

[1] Carlos Alcalde and Matthew Lew (photographs), "513 Glenroy Line," bifurcaciones [online], no. 7 (2008), www.bifurcaciones.cl/007/Melbourne.htm.

[2] Translated by B. Maturana

Opposition to Jerusalem museum

2008-12-04T18:03:00.005+11:00

Opposition to Jerusalem museum

An extract of the letter published by The Guardian, 15 November 2008.
The Guardian, Saturday November 15 2008 Article history

A recent judgment by Israel's supreme court will allow the construction of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Museum of Tolerance, designed by renowned US architect Frank Gehry, over a Muslim heritage cemetery of great historical importance in the centre of Jerusalem. It is a blow to peaceful coexistence in an already divided city.

This project, started in 2006, had been frozen due to public outcry and legal challenge, most especially from Muslim religious leaders and the Israeli Islamic movement, with the backing of Orthodox Jews concerned about disturbing graves. The site in Mamilla, near Jerusalem's Independence Park, is on disputed burial land taken over by the Israel's Land Administration in 1948, whose ownership is claimed by the Islamic authorities.

To pursue this divisive project that will include two museums, a library-education centre, a conference centre and a 500-seat performing arts theatre, would seem highly insensitive, a statement of Israel's hegemony over the Palestinians, rather than any expression of "tolerance". All the architecture in the world cannot engender harmony on the basis of trampling over people's rights and history. It is inflaming passions in an already combustible Middle East and will push any peace accord further off the horizon.

We call on the Jerusalem municipality, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and the Israeli authorities not to allow this architectural time-bomb to proceed.
Charles Jencks, Richard MacCormack, Neave Brown, Abe Hayeem, Haifa Hammami, Hans Haenlein, Cezary Bednarski, Kate Mackintosh, Suad Amiry (Ramallah), Shmuel Groag (Jerusalem), Beatriz Maturana (Australia), Walter Hain, Ian Martin and 28 others
Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine.

Find this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/15/israel-and-the-palestinians

arch-peace news and articles: We need to challenge dominant mindsets: Interview with Beatriz Maturana

2008-11-08T18:55:00.000+11:00

arch-peace news and articles: We need to challenge dominant mindsets: Interview with Beatriz Maturana
Interview by Dick Urban Vestbro, 'Architects Designers Planners for Social Responsibility' (Arc.Peace) and published in ARC-PEACE Newsletter No 25 January 2009 page 2-3. Interview published with Arc.Peace's consent.

"to what exiled country are you returning?"

2008-10-15T19:18:00.012+11:00

Link to photographs: to what exiled country are you returning?

July 2008, Amman, Jordan, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. Sculpture by Palestinian artist Ahmad Ka'nan, entitled "to what exiled country are you returning?" The keys represent the homes that Palestinians have been forced to abandon.

I was inspired to publish my photos after seeing an album by my friend Marwa Yousef's entitled AMRIK (find here). Her photos where taken in Ramallah Cultural Palace. Mine, featuring the same exhibit, where taken in Santiago Chile. AMRIK focuses on the Arab presence in America (non-Anglo). As far as I know this show has been exhibited in Palestine, Egypt, Brazil and Chile.

Santiago has its own modest version of the Alahambra

I have included other photographs taken about 3 month ago when I visited the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman, Jordan. The boat (1st image above) is a very powerful and moving sculpture by Ahmad Ka'nan, Palestinian artist entitled "to what exiled country are you returning?"

I have borrowed Ahamad Ka'nan's title of his sculpture for this post. To me the title conveys the permanent unresolved state of migration. It is not only physical, it does not belong to a place it is a different way of relating to the surroundings, for ever carried by those who for one reason or another had to leave their home country. It was immensely moving to see these two exhibitions. On both occasions and from different perspectives the migratory condition conveys the uncertainty of the past, the present and the future and the unshakable sense of loss and often also of hope.

Note: in these two occasions taking photographs was allowed.

Location: Santiago in Chile (November 2006) and Amman in Jordan (July 2008).

Find these photos: here (and sorry for the quality of some of them).

More about Arab and Middle Eastern migration to Chile: here

studio+space: what is trespassing to you?

2008-09-28T23:07:00.008+10:00

studio+space: what is trespassing to you?

At our last committee meeting, we had a very interesting discussion around the notion of 'trespassing' after which, and as suggested by Peter Johns, we decided to focus on trespassing for our next words@bldg50.

The discussion was prompted by very real concerns around one of our pro bono project in which our ‘clients’ are actual squatters. So the question was: what is trespassing for Architects for Peace, is it something we take on, is it what we are…? After all we trespassed the notions of ‘nationalism’, ‘patriotism’, fear of ‘terrorism’ and many other such notions when we took an stance against the war in Iraq. Since then, we have trespassed the many government decisions by openly opposing them. For instance, on indigenous housing and land issues, on asylum seekers, on the continuation of the attack and occupation of Iraq, on the Kyoto protocol, on public transport and so on… Perhaps we might conclude that Architects for Peace stands for trespassing!

So, I would like to invite you to a visual exhibition which I will start. The question is: what is trespassing to you?

This of course will lead to our next http://www.architectsforpeace.org/seminars.php in November 08 called 'trespassing'. There are no limits to the form that your view of trespassing may take, and the only rule is that it has to somehow connect to the built environment. So it is up to you, from silly to serious all views are welcome. I will start with the following photograph I have called “corny”, which in my view trespasses taste and imagination, and makes me smile.

Note: To add your image, please link your blog/post to this post by using the link option below. Otherwise send us an email with your image and a few explanatory words.

Speak against transport privatisation and you may lose your job!

2008-05-20T21:59:00.009+10:00

Dr Paul Mees—one of the few academics whose community contribution is accessible and public through the general media—was demoted for speaking out against the further privatisation of what is left of Melbourne meagre public transport system. In a concerted move between State Government and the university authorities, a decision was made to ‘downgrade’ Dr Mees for making his views public. During a forum on the privatisation of Melbourne public transport, in August last year, Dr Mees claimed that figures presented by the government on the results of privatisation were “deliberately misleading”. (C. Lucas. “Melbourne Uni demotes transport dissident”, The Age, 20/05/08). The situation raises concerns about the right of academics to engage and support the community against government agendas that have already had and will continue to have a detrimental impact in their quality of living and the quality of the urban space.

The following statement by The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) identifies some of the issues in play, one of which is the ‘reputation’ of the university in question. The NTEU’s comments are commendable and show a level of solidarity unfashionable within some academic circles. However, for educational institutions such as the University of Melbourne, ‘reputation’ is accompanied by a dollar figure. Issues of freedom of expression and intellectual rigour (including ethical behaviour), as demonstrated by this action, have long taken a backstage.

In the attack, made at a public forum last year, Dr Mees said the authors of a 2007 report on privatisation were "liars and frauds and should be in jail". (http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-damaged-over-dissident-row/2008/05/20/1211182764879.html)

Given that Dr Mees has for long researched into the situation of Melbourne Public Transport, Dr Mees comments are just what academics like to call a very comprehensive “plain English Statement”.

In a statement issued today, the National Tertiary Education Union said the University of Melbourne's reputation and standing as an institution upholding the highest standards of intellectual rigour and academic freedom had been damaged by its handling of the issue. Union state secretary Matthew McGowan said the university, in its own collective agreement, committed itself to "upholding the scholarly values of intellectual freedom, honesty, openness and rigour, consistent with the university's vision" and defined intellectual freedom as "the freedom of academic staff ... to engage in critical inquiry, intellectual discourse and public controversy without fear or favour, but does not include the right to harass, intimidate or vilify". ) http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-damaged-over-dissident-row/2008/05/20/1211182764879.html

Beatriz C. Maturana

arch-peace news and articles: Melbourne University's Magazine: Beatriz and Architects for Peace

2008-05-05T09:40:00.000+10:00

The following is an article published in Melbourne University Magazine for Alumni about Beatriz Maturana and her work for Architects for Peace, April 2008, p.13.
For a link to the magazine (pdf) click here

Research: 'themes' in architectural design studios

2008-04-22T20:41:00.047+10:00

PhD Candidate: Beatriz C. Maturana
Supervisor: Dr Greg Missingham

While the general architectural education curriculum is accessible, public and subject to periodical scrutiny and evaluations, the core of the discipline, the ‘content’ of design studio is not. Design studio is peculiar in its delivery of knowledge. With a focus on problem-solving it provides an alternative non-normative approach to education. This approach is interesting as it requires a selection process of the problems to be tackled which tends, as sometime asserted, to emulate the reality of the architectural professional practice. This sifting process of selecting which problems of professional practice are incorporated and which are not, is replicated in the selection of the social reality (problems or issues) investigated within the design studio.

I am currently undertaking a PhD research at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning. My research supervisor and fellow researcher is Dr Greg Missingham. The focus of this research is architectural design studio and it investigates ‘themes’ in some faculties of architecture in Victoria in New South Wales, Australia.

The typology of problem selected and explored by the studio is what this research calls the 'themes' or problems. If the design studio is about problem-solving, what problems do these studios focus on and what problems do they leave out? The thesis will examine the data to ascertain how studios preference for certain 'realities' above others takes place.

This research has a practical application and it should assist to further understand how teachers shape new professional architects through the themes explored in the design studio. Because of this, we envisage that the results will be useful to all the faculties involved.

So far and to provide a contextual framework to this investigation, we have interviewed some academics from different parts of the world. The decision in regards to who I was going to interview responds to an earlier interest (still present but outside the scope of this work), to understand how an Anglophone and European (Napoleonic) educational traditions can determine the general profile of the architect that they produce. Interviews have been conducted in Australia, Sweden, Spain, Chile, Brazil and England. These interviews, while not longer the central focus of the research, have been essential to understand the wider context in which architectural education takes place (social, cultural and historical backgrounds, ‘educational market’ and competition, socio-political and ecological awareness) and finally, to understand the role of architecture within the city.

OUR ACADEMIC INTERVIEWEES AND CONTINUING CONTRIBUTORS...

Santiago, Chile:
• Dr Cristina Felsenhardt Rosen: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: City, territory, Landscape Architecture and Environment / Design Studio.
• Dr Federico Arenas Vásquez: Profesor de Análisis del Territorio, Magister en Asentamientos Humanos y Medio Ambiente, Instituto de Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales, Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Estudios Urbanos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
• Dr José Rosas Vera: Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urban Studies PUC. Decano de la Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Estudios Urbanos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
• Dr. Margarita Greene Zúñiga: Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Estudios Urbanos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
• Jonathan Barton: Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Estudios Urbanos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Instituto de Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales. http://www.puc.cl/ieu/
• Ricardo Tapia Zarricueta: Arquitecto, Universidad de Chile. Director INVI (National Institute of Housing) 2003 - 2005

Porto Alegre, Brasil:
• Prof. Arq. Paulo Hom Regal: Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul.
• Prof. Arq. Renato Menegotto: Coordinator of the department of projects, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul.

Barcelona, Spain:
• Dr. Aquiles González Raventós:La Gran Scala Masters Program, ETS Arquitectura de Barcelona

Stockholm, Sweden:
• Päl Röjgård: KTH, School of Architecture, Stockholm, Building design
• Mats Egelius: White Architects, author of book “Ralph Erskine, Architect” (1990)
• Pehr Mikael Sällström: Swedish Association of Architects, Education
• Dan Johansson: KTH: teaching 4th year architectural/planning/urban design, KTH, Stockholm
• Professor Dick Urban Vestbro: Div. of Urban Studies, Dept. of Infrastructure, KTH, Stockholm
• Lars Orrskog: Assoc. Prof in spatial planning, KTH, Stockholm

London, UK:
• Professor Hans Haenlein MBE: Hans Haenlein Architects / Reading University, Website: here
• Gregory Cowan

Melbourne, Australia:
• Dr John Rollo: Architecture and Building, Deakin University
• Rob Stent: Immediate past president of the RAIA (Victoria Chapter), Partner at Hayball, Leonard & Stent Architects
• Prof. Miles Lewis: BArch BA PhD (Melb) AM FAHA FRSA. Professor of Architecture, University of Melbourne
• Mario Gutjarh: BArch Melb. DipTRP Melb. MRAPI. University of Melbourne

Qatar:
• Dr Ashraf Salama: Professor of Architecture, Qatar University. Meetings, email conversations and his extensive written work on architectural education continue to assist this research. Website: here

DATA:
This research focuses on the content explored in design studio, not its pedagogy. Central to this research is the gathering of data from design studio outlines produced by faculties of architecture in Australia.
Greg and I are specifically looking for design studio handouts from 2003 to 2007. The data we are focusing on consists of: studio handouts, posters, or any other available information regarding the themes (topics) of architectural design studios from 1st to 5th year (or faculty’s equivalent 3+2), preferably in electronic form. No grades (results/marks) or data on student’s submissions are necessary. This research has ethical approval and does not involve photographic material (except for ours) or personal data.

SO FAR WE HAVE THE PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION OF:

University of Tasmania, School of Architecture and Design

University of New South Wales, Architectural Studies Program

University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning

We have also had some informal individual contributions from members of RMIT
University, School of Architecture and Design

If you believe you could contribute with data for this research please contact us: email

LITERATURE:
As part of the literature review I would particularly like to note the work of:

Fisher, Thomas. In the Scheme of Things : Alternative Thinking on the Practice of Architecture. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2000.
Argyris, Chris. "A Life Full of Learning." European Group for Organizational Studies 24, no. 7 (2003): 1178-92.
Bermudez, Julio. "The Future in Architectural Education." Paper presented at the 87TH ACSA Annual Meeting Proceedings, Minneapolis 1999.
Boyer, Ernest L., and Lee D. Mitgang. Building Community : A New Future for Architecture Education and Practice : A Special Report. Princeton, N.J.: Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 1996.
Habraken, John N. "Tools of the Trade,Thematic Aspects of Designing." An unpublished paper on the education of architects (1996),
Kostof, Spiro. The Architect : Chapters in the History of the Profession. 2000 ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977.
Ledewitz, Stefani. "Models of Design in Studio Teaching." Journal of Architectural Education (1984-) 38, no. 2 (1985): 2-8.
Milne, David. "Architecture, Politics and the Public Realm." Canadian Journal of Political and Social Theory / Revue canadienne de theorie politigue et sociale 5, no. 1-2 (Winter-Spring, 1981): 131-46.
Morin, Edgar. Seven Complex Lessons in Education for the Future (Les Sept Savoirs Necessaires a I’education Du Futur). Translated by Nidra Poller. 7 place
———. "Sobre La Interdisciplinariedad." Centre International de Recherches et Etudes Transdisciplinaires (CIRET) Boletín No. 2 (1990).
Salama, Ashraf. "The Architect and Society - Chapter 2." In New Trends in Architectural Education: Designing the Design Studio, edited by Ashraf Salama, 1995.
———. "A Theory for Integrating Knowledge in Architectural Design Education." ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research 2, no. 1 (2008): 100-28.
Salama, Ashraf M. "A Process Oriented Design Pedagogy: Kfupm Sophomore Studio " CEBE Transactions 2, no. 2 (September 2005).
Salama, Ashraf M., and Nicholas Wilkinson, eds. Design Studio Pedagogy Horizons for the Future. Gateshead UK: Urban International Press, 2007.
Schön, Donald A. "The Architectural Studio as an Exemplar of Education for Reflection-in-Action." Journal of Architectural Education (1984-) 38, no. 1 (1984): 2-9.
———. "Toward a Marriage of Artistry & Applied Science in the Architectural Design Studio." Journal of Architectural Education (1984-) 41, no. 4 (1988): 4-10.
Stevens, Garry. The Favored Circle: The Social Foundations of Architectural Distinction. Boston: Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1998.
Teymur, Necdet. Architectural Education : Issues in Educational Practice and Policy. London: ?uestion Press, 1992.
———. Environmental Discourse : A Critical Analysis of 'Environmentalism' in Architecture, Planning, Design, Ecology, Social Sciences and the Media. London: ?uestion Press, 1982.
Tombesi, Paolo. "Capital Gains and Architectural Losses: The Transformative Journey of Caudill Rowlett Scott (1948–1994)." The Journal of Architecture 11, no. 2 (2006): 145-68.

Melbourne CBD, its close neighbours and its greater rest: a question about public transport, equity and urban quality

2008-03-13T23:57:00.017+11:00

The following notes were written for the presentation delivered at the Sustainable Living Festival, under the title of Sustainable Transport – Visions for Victoria in 2010. It contains all what I didn’t say and some bits of what I actually spoke about. Public transport is an ongoing issue for cities in Australia and it is one that we hope will drive all the professions of the built environment to jointly address it as a critical urban issue. I would appreciate comments or questions that could assist to further develop these ideas.

Melbourne CBD, its close neighbours and its greater rest: a question about public transport, equity and urban quality

Melbourne is a city fractioned not only spatially but also in our perception of what Melbourne involves. Think for a moment about the dichotomy between the notions of ‘city’ and suburbs as opposed to city and its centre—the first referring to what the city is and the suburbs are not, with the latter referring to an entire city with a centre. This fractioned notion of Melbourne coincides—whether by mere chance or design—with the delimitations defined the extent of its public transport. Quality public transport means a transport service that offers at least two reliable transport modes (underground, buses, perhaps although less efficient for a large metropolis, trains and trams), frequent, direct, affordable, available day and night (including weekends) and accessible by a five minutes walk.

When we think of Melbourne, we tend to think of the CBD (central business district), and areas such as Richmond, Prahran, Fitzroy, Brunswick…. What all these areas have in common is that they display the best in urban qualities. There is an energy due to the multiplicity of activities, (universities, work, commerce, markets, services, schools and child care centres, proximity to hospitals, amenities, entertainment)—all relatively close by, and accessible by a variety of means: bicycle, tram, buses, train, walking. Most would agree that these conditions are optimal—the property market agrees too, tagging properties in these areas the highest. So, do the above mentioned areas represent Melbourne, or is this idea a misconception? Perhaps these areas represent only half of Melbourne or a third of Melbourne—and that would be serious, because the rest is not like what I have just described. Are these areas just one tenth of the real Melbourne? No, unfortunately Melbourne’s CBD, Richmond, Prahran, Fitzroy, Brunswick…. represent only one 20th of Melbourne—let’s say one 15th for good measure. The rest—the large majority of suburbs—in different degrees, do not enjoy closeness to amenities and services, multiplicity of activities, diversity of people and culture. Nor do these suburbs of Melbourne enjoy public transport choices, often no public transport at all.

Whereas wealth and heritage assist some suburbs to foster an urban character of their own (for example Malvern, Surrey Hills or Heidelberg), the ‘rest’, is defined by what is left when major road connectors, freeways and ‘one mile’ warehouse shopping strips (with their equally large street level carparks) are accommodated. Add some pieces of bushland reserves and this is the real Melbourne where most people live. The city’s centre, the CBD and surrounding suburbs, makes Melbourne a quality city, but metropolitan Melbourne involves places as far as St Albans, Laverton, -Cranbourne and Craigieburn. The lack of connectivity between periphery and centre or around its periphery, casts a question regarding Melbourne’s equity in the distribution of services and amenity. The following example illustrates how access to public transport affects people in different urban areas: a household in inner Melbourne, or the City of Yarra, will undertake and average of 5.4 walk trips per day. However, a household in Wyndham or Melton will undertake an average of 1.9 walk trips per day. For those not familiar with Melbourne suburbs, Melton and Wyndham are further away form Melbourne CBD.[1]

The role that public transport has in reducing or increasing the social exclusion is well documented, not least by Dr Jane Stanley who presented at Architects for Peace 2007 forum, Transported.[2] The following statement shows that the government is also well aware of the social inequity resulting from this situation.
Limited public transport services have the most impact on communities that are experiencing a range of other disadvantages, such as higher unemployment and reliance on social services. Lack of transport services can exacerbate isolation and limit access to opportunities.[3] At a risk of repeating what you may already know, walking patterns have health, economic, social and urban consequences. Car dependency makes people walk less, makes the viability of corner shops almost impossible (for example try to find a corner shop in new developments such as Caroline Springs where people drive to the supermarket, drive children to schools etc). It makes the streets more deserted, so the perception of danger increases. Suburbs not serviced by quality public transport, no matter how neat and manicured they may be (or how many awards the developers may accumulate for their landscaping), are no longer the pedestrian domains but the domain of the car. Subsequently, houses begin to turn their backs toward the roads. In roads with heavier traffic, large warehouse style businesses settle in. We have the McDonalds in one corner and KFC in the other—repeating regularly across Melbourne’s suburbs—perhaps this is the real Melbourne. Is this the fault of these businesses, the housing industry, or is this a problem with our government, at all levels?

Somewhere in Melbourne's periphery, the landscaped desolated streets.

There is no doubt that increase density justifies and assists the delivery of transport services, but what comes first? Housing—naturally, organically and as experience demonstrates—congregates and increase in density close to where good transport services are provided. It is therefore misleading to place the responsibility of opting for denser housing options and use of public transport services on people. People cannot opt for an underdeveloped transport service, nor can they (us) be expected to opt for density, if this does not deliver the advantages those denser areas around the CBD enjoy—human urban scale, comparatively good public transport, multiplicity of services and amenities. I suggest that it is time to cease shifting the responsibility on individual citizens and to lobby the government (or work with the government), to implement changes that will radically transform our underdeveloped public transport—only governments can do this. Half measures are domed to fail. The public will not opt for public transport when they become more educated on the ecological advantages of it, but when in practice it proves useful. For decades the public in Stockholm, Santiago in Chile, Vancouver, Barcelona and many other cities, has not failed to recognise the advantage offered by their public transport, and this has not been due to their knowledge on sustainable options—although this of course can augment the interest.

On the outskirts of Stockholm, bus and metro services.

These days some councils in the outskirts of Melbourne are also embarking on large and ambitious urban projects, some do better than others, but the challenge is how to build ‘city’ rather than a series of disconnected urban events. Building city relies on overlapping and interaction, movement and connectivity in a manner that is ecologically and socially responsible. Transport in this sense must allow multiple options, multiple ways of living and different living aspirations. For example, access to public transport in the outskirts of Melbourne should provide everyone, including the teenager and the elderly citizen with the options to come and go to anywhere in the city anytime, any day with a maximum waiting time of five minutes, with a maximum walking distance to transport services of 5 minutes walking, and at an affordable cost. Most cities within rich nations have this, why can’t Melbourne have this? Why can each city and town in Victoria be connected by a bus service every 5, 10 or 15 minutes? Barcelona has this, Santiago, Berlin, why doesn’t our government see public transport as a priority? Note that all the cities I have mentioned have an element that makes all excuses as to why Melbourne cannot enjoy a quality public transport meaningless. Some of these cities have a similar population (Barcelona, Santiago), some smaller populations (Stockholm), similar density (Vancouver), some are located in poorer countries some in wealthier countries—what all have in common is that they enjoy a cheaper and efficient public transport that involves at least buses, and underground, in some cases also trams, and with waiting times that vary from 90 sec average for the underground to 5 minutes for buses. There are no outdated level crossings, no prescribed times and variable weekdays service.

Melbourne's underdeveloped public transport says much about the will, ideology and priorities of our governments, as about the professionals of the built environment. A few years ago, Donald Schön, discussing the crisis faced by the professions, suggested that professionals pay much attention to problem solving and little attention to understand and identify the nature of the problem.[4] To follow on his example, the problem may not be how to resolve the cost of the freeway, or its look, or whether the level crossing has been nicely landscaped and the handrails comply with the regulations. The question might be whether these ‘solutions’ are providing the answer to our current transport needs or just reinforcing a pattern of obsolete ideas about transport—and it is in this area in which the professionals of the built environment have been complacent.

Governments (at all levels) and professional experts allow important sites within and around the city to be use as carparks—not for public housing, not for clinics or schools, but for carparks. And in the suburbs experts allows the creation of large street level carparks, in other words, large deserts of bitumen and steel. How socially, or environmentally sustainable are these practices? However, we continue to allow financial resources to support these ‘solutions’.

I suggest that we have done well in providing answers to detailed problems set in an already prescribed agenda, but is this agenda addressing the real problem? And what is exactly the nature of the problem? Shouldn’t the urban professions, in the fulfilment of their pledge to the public interest be more pro-active in demanding investment in a real public transport? A public transport that could solve more than a need to get between A and B but that would also assist to diminish our embarrassingly high contribution to greenhouse gases per capita, while adding urban vitality between A and B.

In sum, the professions of the built environment can and should be directly and actively involved on issues that affect the city. Transport is key aspect that defines the quality and health of our urban space.

Cities are complex and rich systems and solutions cannot be approached in an isolated manner. It is essential to understand that public transport play a crucial role in the urban quality of the city, and this responsibility and implications go beyond the realm of what one discipline can do, in this case beyond the realm of traffic engineers. It is essential for the professions of the built environment to work in collaboration. It is also essential for these professions to play an active role and together with the politicians, develop an agenda that is inclusive of all the issues involved. What we would like to see:

Transport is not a traffic issue, it is an urban issue. A collective transport solution that is an integral part of the city, its social, urban and environmental fabric. The quality of the city (the entire city) cannot be separated from the quality of its transport. Good quality urban spaces are not isolated events. They work in connection with its surrounding neighbourhoods and municipalities—together they form the city.

Transport must connect the entire city, be time efficient and affordable. It must run frequently and be available anytime, any day. In a city like Melbourne, transport should not determine the way in which people live, but rather offer people real choices. The public deserves a good collective transport system and the environment cannot afford any less.

We need to find an inclusive a holistic and a collaborative way to address the quality of our cities and with this its transport. Quality depends on approaches that are encompassing of human and non-human beasts, buildings, roads, traffic, vegetations, commerce (of all scales), and services. We hope that government (at all levels) begin to trust the professions and the community, not as recipients of set agendas, but as partners. This requires openness to criticism, openness to question the premises. It requires trust in collaborative processes.

-----------------

References:
[1] While this data was obtained in 1999 and things may have changed since, what can be inferred from the information is the correlation between access to public transport and propensity to walk. Refer to Victorian Activity and Travel Survey, “Trip Rates per Household on the Average Weekday by LGA”, RMIT University, 1999. In article by David Sykes, "Vats Has the Facts," Local Connections March 2004.
[2] Refer for example to: John Stanley and Janet Stanley, "Public Transport and Social Exclusion: An Operator's Perspective," No Way to Go 1, no. 1 (2007).
[3] Integrated Transport in Department of Infrastructure. "Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth - October 2002." (Place Published: Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, 2003), http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/melbourne2030online/downloads/2030_complete.pdf.
[4] See Donald A. Schön, The Design Studio : An Exploration of Its Traditions and Potentials, Architecture and the Higher Learning. (London: RIBA Publications for RIBA Building Industry Trust, 1985).

* Note that the public transport in Santiago has undergone an extremely difficult period under the new TranSantiago. Much remains to be said about this bold move, but this belong to another discussion...perhaps somewhere under the role of the 'experts'.

Find PDF: here

Going Underground in Santiago: March 6, 2008

2008-03-09T17:29:00.011+11:00

Going Underground in Santiago
Presented by Beatriz C. Maturana (B.Arch M.Urb.Des. PhD candidate University of Melbourne).

This presentation will show some projects that illustrate how Santiago deals with the issue of densification and pedestrianisation of the city. The three projects are the extension of the Metro lines, the new library in the Faculty of Architecture (PUC), and the Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda. The presentation is based on a series of observations collected over three weeks of 'walking the city'.

The city of Santiago has undergone incessant transformation in the last twenty years. However, perhaps the most noticeable and unexpected change has been its surrounding geography. The magnificent mountains, the Andes that until only fifteen years ago were perpetually covered in snow and ice cap glaciers, lay bare in today’s summers as a reminder of our recklessness.

While many of the urban transformations follow on a relatively stable trajectory of modernisation and improvement of the social conditions, this course was interrupted during the period of the Pinochet’s dictatorship. The dictatorship’s rejection of urban planning, in favour of the ideology of the ‘free market’ and left a damaging legacy of urban sprawl and inequity. This has presented a challenge to the governments of the last twenty years. In redressing the urban ills, these governments claim that they have placed society, culture and sustainable ‘quality of life’ above all other concerns.

See slide show:

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About Beatriz C. Maturana (B.Arch M.Urb.Des.)

Architects for Peace president and founder

Beatriz was born in Santiago, Chile and she left for Australia in the mid eighties due to the political situation in her country. Beatriz completed her architectural degree at RMIT, Australia in 1992 and a Masters of Urban Design at the University of Melbourne where she is currently a PhD candidate focusing on architectural education. She runs her own practice and teaches at RMIT and the University of Melbourne. Beatriz founded Architects for Peace in 2003 in response to the silence around the unjustifiable war on Iraq.

Suburban sprawl to solve Melbourne's housing crisis

2008-03-05T10:20:00.005+11:00

After almost a decade in power the Victorian government has realised that Melbourne is experiencing a housing shortage—the solution: to allow even more urban sprawl.

With petrol prices increasing, with one of the highest per capita greenhouse emissions per capita, with one of the most underdeveloped public transport system in the ‘developed’ world, and one of the lowest urban population density in the world,* how sustainable and/or responsible is this approach?

* London 5,100 p/km2, Berlin 3,750 p/km2, Sydney 2,100 p/km2, Melbourne 1,500 p/km2 ... followed by a long list of other car dependent cities in the US. Source City Mayors (http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-density-125.html)

Suburban sprawl to solve Melbourne's housing crisis
ABC News March4, 2008
The Victorian Government is planning to open up tracks of land within Melbourne's urban growth boundary to ease the city's housing shortage.

Rezoning of land in 5 growth corridors, including Melton-Caroline Springs in the west; Casey Cardinia in the east; and Whittlesea in the north-east, will be fast tracked to provide enough space to build tens of thousands of new homes.

According to the government up to 1200 people are moving to Melbourne each week and while there is enough zoned land for the next 7 to 8 years, the new plan will provide land into 2018.

The Planning Minister Justin Madden says demand for land is greater than has been anticipated.

"We have experiences enormous growth in the last couple of years, in particular in the last 12 months, and the trends will continue and so all growth boundaries in Melbourne will be opened up," he said.
(...)

Continue reading: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/04/2178937.htm

Developed – Developing: Dialogical Integration in International Conferences

2008-02-26T23:56:00.019+11:00

Developed – Developing: Dialogical Integration in International Conferences
This editorial was originaly published in Architects for Peace, January 23, 2008

I recently came across a question posed by Dr. Ashraf Salama in his website. Dr Salama asks, “Conference Attendance: Do the Developing have Something to Offer the Developed?”[1]

The question is interesting because it may not be possible or prudent to try and answer it without first understanding the conditions imposed by the notion of ‘developed’ and ‘developing’. Can an answer be attempted without questioning this dichotomy? And as Dr Salama rightly points out, if there is more than ‘something’ already offered by poorer countries, what has prevented an even larger contribution and due acknowledgement? Dr Salama illustrates the question by providing some examples. He notes a low level of attendance to international conferences on the part of developing countries. He also notices that when people from poorer countries attend, there is an “implicit assumption that they go to learn”, rather than to share their knowledge or, why not, even teach. Dr Salama however claims that there may indeed be a lot of learning coming from the ‘developing’ world but that it is not appropriately acknowledged. For example, he claims that much is learnt from the developing world in matters of conservation, ecological design practices, historical analysis and education.

I would add to the list: water treatment, emergency housing, disaster management, community planning, alternative building technology such as bamboo, rattan and earth construction, low cost and social housing, desert architecture and public transport (for example Curitiba and the TransMilenio in Bogotá). From theory to practice, to some degree we have embraced the knowledge of scholars such as (to mention a few), Spiro Kostof, Constantino Doxiadis, Ali Madanipour, Necdet Teymur, Alberto Pérez-Gómez, to the social and urban knowledge of Jaime Lerner. Scholars, philosophers and practitioners have in one way or another shared their knowledge. However, it could be argued that while some have achieved a degree of recognition—and in the process references to the geographical origins fade away—what most have in common is that they had made their way through an international, mostly Anglophone institution, for example a British or US university. Something prevents a direct input, one that is not mediated by renowned Anglophone institutions, or by having migrated to richer countries and with that having mastered the English language. In discussing this matter Dr Salama suggested that perhaps different historical conditions to those of today may have determined the path of scholars such as Spiro Kostof and Constantino Doxiadis. If this was the case, it would be important to ask how opportunities for recognition and/or influence may have changed in the last decades.

At this point it is pertinent to make a distinction between acknowledgment and influence and to ask whether or not international conferences create equal conditions for dialogue, acknowledgment and for the influencing of the discourse by all and what determines such opportunities.

While commonly used, an established convention on the use of the terms ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ does not exist.[2] According to The World Bank, some countries (with ‘transition economies’), might fall within either category according to the criteria used to make the judgment. For example The World Bank classifies countries according to income. However, it makes exceptions for, among others, countries such as Israel, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Within academic circles, the lack of proper definition (if this could ever be reached) is not often accounted for or acknowledged. Instead these terms are used as if they reflected an objective reality and most times used subjectively to validate enormous oversights that, if properly examined, could indeed have enlighten the discussion.

More than a divide across developed and developing—a very poor dichotomy that does nothing to explain rich cultural differences within and which promotes a degree of stagnation among the ‘developed’—I suggest that the divide might lie along the lines of an Anglophone world and the ‘rest’ of the world. The reason why I put forward this untested hypothesis springs from an ongoing research into architectural education, where I have noticed that leading theoreticians in America (a continent with a majority Spanish speaking population), such as Edgar Morin, are virtually unknown in Australia and I assume equally less known in other Anglo speaking countries. Edgar Morin has been translated from French to Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian, but little can be found in English. In a similar case, Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space, today one of the most influential books among urbanists and some architects, was originally published in French in 1974, and translated to English almost twenty years later in 1991. Many more could follow in this important list of mostly unknown architects and scholars to the English speaker.

While a degree of unawareness of what others are doing may not be intentional, this is reinforced by architectural institutions and an architectural media, that insists on the architectural achievements of large, mainly European companies and architects, giving no opportunity for an equally great work produced by local architects and companies in poorer countries. For a random example, this month, the electronic newsmail produced by the World Architecture News (Issue No.123 / 04 January 2008) features six projects, all of which, whether in the UK, Dubai or Shangai, are designed by British/European architects and all of which are large, to very large corporate buildings. Within this list of six architects the work of Zaha Hadid is featured—some may want to consider her an exception.The notion of a conference as an opportunity to advance knowledge and ideas is important. However, too many of them are stifling and costly, making it difficult for those coming from poorer countries to justify the expense. This situation prevents the most needed multiplicity of views while recycling stagnant ideas from a prevailing culture.

Back to the original question, I have no doubt that professionals and scholars from poorer parts of the world have much to offer to the rest of the world—in fact some have already done so, and it is here where Architects for Peace has a great role to play, to be the gateway for direct input of the many forms of contributions and the many unpublished projects happening right now everywhere. It is perhaps in poorer countries where creativity and alternative approaches are the norm and are daily tested.

If there is anything I like about the notion of ‘developing’ it is that it conveys movement, a positive energy used to inspire and to evolve—shouldn’t we all be developing?

Beatriz C. Maturana
Architects for Peace, January 2008

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[1] See Dr. Ashraf Salama’s website at http://www.arti-arch.org/Ashraf%20Salama-Thoughts.htm

[2] The terms “developed” and “developing” lack proper definition. While commonly used by organisations such as the United Nations, the UN has not defined them. See: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm. See also The World Bank’s glossary: http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/beyond/global/glossary.html#12

Find comments to this editorial here

PDF document: here

arch-peace news and articles: sustainable-living-festival: transport

2008-02-17T22:56:00.002+11:00

sustainablelivingfestival presents:
Sun 17th Feb. 10:00am-12:00pm, Fed. Square, The Edge, Melbourne

Following up on our 2007 Transported Forum, Architects for Peace, along with a range of sustainable transport organisations, will take part in the Sustainable Living Festival. The aim is to present a vision on where Victoria could be in 2010.

This two hour event is part of the 2008 Sustainable Living Festival. The organisations and speakers include:

- Australasian Centre for the Governance And Management of Urban Transport (Gamut) - John Stone

- Architects for Peace - Beatriz C. Maturana

- Blind Citizens Australia - Jessica Zammit

- Department of Infrastructure - Jim Betts

- Metropolitan Transport Forum - Jackie Fristacky

- Planning Institute of Australia - Jason Black

- Public Transport Users Association (Victoria) - Kerryn Wilmot

- Tourism & Transport Forum - Stewart Prins

- Victorian Local Governance Association - Greg Thomas

Find more: http://www.slf.org.au/festival/program/talks/1361
We hope to see you all there. Architects for Peace will have an information table and we would welcome your assistance.
(image by: sustainablelivingfestival)

studio+space: Architectural | Urban Space Design Studio

2007-09-09T13:20:00.013+10:00

studio+space: Architectural | Urban Space Design Studio

image 1: Clare Cannon

Architectural + Urban Space Design Studio
an invitation for the old, the young, the poor, the rich and all non-human animals...
"Utopia is on the horizon: when I walk two steps, it takes two steps back. I walk ten steps and it is ten steps further away. What is utopia for? It is for this, for walking". Eduardo Galeano

For the last two years, I have run a 4th year architectural/urban design studio. In this studio, architecture is not the focus, but the result of urban, environmental and social considerations - and this is where we start. The studio focuses on the needs of the city, with architecture there to assist. These are human needs and those of non-human beasts, ecological needs - these needs know boundaries.

The following projects display the work of my University of Melbourne' students, from the last two semesters (2006). In both occasions, we have worked with the support and collaboration of two municipalities, the City of Knox and the City of Melbourne. These are actual sites and the students have worked towards resolving existing urban issues.

In the studios we spend the first two weeks learning about the city - strange as it may sound, some of the students had not spent time learning about their own city in Melbourne Australia. Therefore, for 2 weeks we met, discussed and worked in the public realm of Melbourne's civic centre.

Studio cross-disciplinary approach: An important feature of these studios has been its multidisciplinary and cross-university approach. For the Knox City project, for about half of the semester, students from RMIT public art and students from the University of Melbourne architecture, worked together visiting the site, preparing site analysis and initial urban proposals. This mixing not only provided a richer understanding of the problematic of the city, it also created the opportunity to learn from a different disciplinary perspective and to widen the scope for cross-disciplinary empathy.

The students - sometimes acting as hosts other times as guests - did their best to welcome their guest students. It was interesting to see how this process made it much easier and faster for everyone to feel at ease in this studio. Whether this was because there were not inner competitions - as both groups knew something the others did not know (and that was ok and fun) - is yet to be tested.

1. SOUTHBANK
An invitation for the old, the young, the poor, the rich and non-human animals...
city-street-market-plaza-house-citizen: agenda for a living walking city…

“From Perikles' Athens to David's Paris, the word 'civic' has implied an intertwined fate, a crossing of fortunes. It was inconceivable to a Periklean Greek that his or her fortune could be separated from the fortunes of a city, or to a pagan Roman of Hadrian's time.” R. Sennett (1994)

Project:
Urban proposal and architectural design for a mix of public and private spaces, with residential and community or commercial buildings. The final proposal will cover an extension of approximately one square block of the Southbank area within “The Sturt Street cultural spine”.

Location:
Bounded by the Yarra River, Westgate Freeway, Kings Way, Dorcas Street and St Kilda Road

image 2: Minh Ngyuen

image 3: Dominic Kao

image 4: Ka-Wai Wong and team

image 5 (presentation under the freeway): Anna and Libby

Image 6 (presentation under the freeway): Minh, Emily and Clinton

Public transport, a shamble and a missed opportunity in the State post-election budget

2007-02-07T22:50:00.007+11:00

Public transport, a shamble and a missed opportunity in the State post-election budget

In the Minister's message for the launch of Melbourne 2030, Peter Batchelor stated: "Not surprisingly, in the consultation process for Melbourne 2030, transport emerged as a dominant theme. It also proved to be the feature Melburnians liked most and least about their city."[1]
A few years later, Treasurer John Brumby's post-election budget (representing the same political party), has allocated a dismal amount for the improvement of our public transport system—and it is not beginning this year, but sometime in 2009. A newspaper article published in May this year claims that, "In a tacit acknowledgement that the extent of overcrowding on Melbourne's trains has taken the Government by surprise, Mr Brumby has also brought forward the purchase of 10 trains and the training of 22 drivers."[2]

Melbourne's suburbs and its periphery continue to be dormitories connected by car to large shopping malls—this is not a city in any urban sense. Walking in much of the outer suburbs is hindered by the excessive traffic and unappealing car oriented roads. The train system has imposed a legacy of level crossings that are not only dangerous and outdated but add to traffic delays. It is a vicious circle: the more our public transport fails, the more we rely on the car. Thus, there is less incentive for people to walk on the streets, less opportunities for socialising, less opportunities for milk bars and small convenience stores to thrive—all in all, this means less health for the individual and the environment. This situation also hinders the economic and business opportunities for those large sections of the city.

Links between social exclusion and access to public transport have been well established. The Brotherhood of St Laurence has produced valuable research on this topic, the following paragraph reflects this concern: "Throughout the focus group discussions, transport was constantly identified as essential in terms of accessing many of the things identified as key elements of a decent standard of living, as some of the comments already cited illustrate. Lack of adequate transport was also seen as a constant problem that caused many to miss out on a decent life".[3]

Compared to other developed cities in the world Melbourne’s public transport is substandard in its connectivity at all levels: to the city centre, within and across other neighbourhoods, to culture and services.[4]

In cities such as Santiago, Lisbon, Barcelona, Stockholm and others, the underground (Metro) is not viewed only as a backdrop for commercial billboards. The authorities have had the vision to turn the public space they generate into an opportunity for artistic and cultural expressions. Painted and ceramic murals adorn the stations of these cities. In Stockholm, stations located in areas with high levels of migrant populations, display artworks incorporating various languages and meaningful designs, while in Santiago, the stations also provide space for transient and permanent exhibitions.[5]

It is true that Melbourne has a low-density population, and this situation adds to our environmental problem. However, as demonstrated in the following comparison by the PTUA (Public Transport Users Association), Melbourne has a higher population density as compared to Vancouver and similar to that of Toronto—both cities with much better public transport systems that are cheaper than ours. Conversely, density is another issue that we must address and public transport should assist in this regard. Cities (in that order):

Melbourne (Keysborough), Toronto (New York), and Vancouver (Surrey).[6]

- Distance from the city: 25k, 25k, 30k
- Population density per hectare: 32, 34, 11
- Bus service frequency (peak, in minutes): 60min, 2.5min, 15min
- Bus service frequency (off-peak, in minutes): 60min, 6min, 15min
- Evening: no service, 7.5 min, 15 min.
- Fare (bus+ train): $9.2, $3, $6.

In these cities, public transport services exist to respond to commuter demands in terms of transport options and waiting times. More importantly, these services are not necessarily tied to population size or community affluence. The claim—often used by our politicians and bureaucrats—that Melbourne’s population is too small for a “high response” public transport is not correct. Neither is the view that we cannot afford the costs of major transport infrastructure—Australia, with an annual budget surplus can certainly afford this.

In a recent article, Royce Miller discusses the possibility of "people-friendly transport tunnels" for Melbourne. These tunnels aim to solve congestion, and opens up more holistic considerations regarding the upgrading of the rail system, connectivity, and the notion of a pedestrian friendly city.[7]

Efficient public transport needs investment. It does not rely on 'coercing' or 'educating' people into using it—people opt for public transport when it is a real option. Underground tunnels, assuming these included good public transport service, could assist cities in becoming pedestrian friendly, as the traffic above is reduced. Public transport, in my view, should be deemed as a right, an integral part of what Lefebvre defined as "the right to the city".

Our governments, State and Federal, have not yet understood the importance of public transport in relation to environmental issues, health and the liveability of our city. Public transport should act as a network of interconnections to link the Melbourne CBD and the majority of Melbournians who live in suburbs and the periphery.

In sum, we have the required population and density to justify a real public transport system. If poorer countries can have efficient, reliable, clean and modern public transport systems, we, with a constant budget surplus can afford all that and more. If cities with 2,000 years of urban heritage can build metros (underground), our 200 year-old cities can also retrofit a metro and other forms of collective transportation.

While I am not an expert on transport, as an architect and urban designer my interest focuses on the quality of the city and I am interested to know why our public transport is of such a low standard. We need educated bureaucrats, professionals and politicians, with a judicious sense of priorities, a real commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice. It is for this reason that our 2007 Forum, Transported, will discuss transport options for a connected city. You are all invited to participate.

Beatriz C. Maturana
Architects for Peace Editorial, July 2007
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References:

1: Refer to: Melbourne 2030, Minister's messages: Sustainable transport. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/melbourne2030online/content/introduction/01c_transport.html
2: Austin, Paul. Brumby's big spending spree. The Age, May 2, 2007. Available from http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/brumbys-big-spending-spree/2007/05/01/1177788141341.html?s_cid=rss_age
3: For a community perspective on the current state of our transport system, my colleague Kally Vakras pointed me to a recent article on The Age, April 27, 2007. "Commuters tired of playing squash". http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/04/26/1177459880045.html
4. See section on Transport in P. Saunders, K. Sutherland, P. Davidson, A. Hampshire, S. King and J. Taylor. Experiencing Poverty: The Voices of Low-Income Australians. Social Policy Research Centre, Brotherhood of St Laurence, March 2006 [cited 30 April 2007]. Available from: http://www.bsl.org.au/pdfs/SPRC_experiencing_poverty__new_indicators_of_disadvantage_focus_group_outcomes_report.pdf 5. For more information see:
Metro de Santiago (Metro Cultura-Art): http://www.metrosantiago.cl/metro_arte.php
Metropolitano de Lisboa: http://www.metrolisboa.pt
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona: http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp
Stockholm Transport: http://www.sl.se/Templates/SubStart.aspx?id=1906
6. See PTUA: http://www.ptua.org.au/melbourne/better-service
7. Miller, Royce. Council backs people-friendly transport tunnels. The Age, June 15, 2007 [cited June 16 2007]. Available from http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/council-backs-peoplefriendly-transport-tunnels/2007/06/14/1181414466876.html

Images:

First image: Exhibition space in the underground displaying artefacts found during excavation works in a Metro station, Santiago, Chile.
Second image: Artwork mural in a Metro station, Stockholm, Sweden

Find PDF file here

arch-peace: interview by GreenLeft Weekly

2006-10-31T10:10:00.004+11:00

Architects challenge greed and war

GREENLEFT.org.au Leyal Aksu, October 18, 2006
Leyal Aksu, Melbourne 14 October 2006

Architects for Peace, Australia, took an active part in the protests against Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Palestine. Beatriz Maturana, a founder of the group, told Green Left Weekly that the group formed in February 2003, in response to the invasion of Iraq. It continues to campaign against the US-led occupation of Iraq.

“It doesn’t make sense for urban professionals to build cities only to have wars destroy them”, Maturana said. When her stream of letters to MPs against the Iraq war were ignored, she decided something more needed to be done. “As professionals, we can add to the community outrage, and we are taken seriously speaking out against social injustice and environmental destruction.”

Architects for Peace is a global organisation. It describes itself as “a forum for architects, urban designers, engineers, planners, landscape architects and environmentalists seeking urban development based on social justice, solidarity, respect and peace”. It involves social and urban planners, engineers, environmentalists and artists, something that Maturana said helps break down barriers between the disciplines so there can be greater “questioning and challenging of the philosophy of greed and individualism”.

Maturana said the group draws links between the Australian government’s refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol and unsustainable urban development agendas such as privatising public space and government and corporate resistance to improving inadequate public transport systems. “The industrially advanced nations’ constant exploitation of other nations’ natural and human resources means that, unless we reverse these inequities, the resulting poverty and resentment will lead to war”, she said.

Regarding the peace movement today, Maturana believes that inclusiveness is key. “We should focus on what we have in common and strive to bring a diverse range of people together by respecting differences. The Lebanese and Palestinians need our support, and that is what we need to do right now. We should come up with immediate common demands and discuss longer-term solutions later.”

Maturana added, “It is bizarre that peace can be considered controversial, even seditious, while war is accepted as natural — at least by the government and the opposition”.

Members of Architects for Peace are also involved in pro bono work that aims to link community groups, non-profit agencies and charitable organisations that need architectural services but cannot afford to pay. “This also helps promote a discussion about architecture and planning, and its impact on people, their health and their cities. We hope that these services can promote education and participation, and assist in finding solutions to preserve our environment.”

Architects for Peace has been involved in converting a Collingwood car park into a community art facility, and the design of a library and workshop for a poor neighbourhood in Nicaragua. It is currently helping extend a community facility in Baucau, East Timor.

[Beatriz Maturana teaches architecture and urban design at RMIT and Melbourne University. For more information about Architects for Peace, visit: http://www.architectsforpeace.org/]

Source: Comment & Analysis, Green Left Weekly issue #687 18 October 2006.

KNOX CENTRAL: transcending the shopping spectacle…

2006-03-24T22:41:00.006+11:00

KNOX CENTRAL (2006)

This balancing act aims to rise above exclusive economic agendas. An invitation for the old, the young, the poor, the rich and non-human beasts...
city, street, markets, squares and houses: transcending the shopping spectacle…

"Why are you so interested in these houses?" one of the Turkish dwellers asks me, "they are ordinary". There it is, the fundamental question in its lucid form: why would these countless, repetitive, identical houses for the workers inspire anyone to explore their architectural significance? Yet, a few minutes later, she admits that the roof terrace of their building is "very beautiful and uncommon". Esra Akcan, The "Siedlung" and the "Mahalle"

image 1: Darren Kim Lee Yio

Project: medium density housing:
The housing project will emerge from a thorough understanding of its suburban circumstance. The objective is to identify current development agendas and propose new ones to ensure and facilitate a multiplicity of uses with a strong social and ecological programme.

Location:
Knox Central is the working name given to a core area of commercial and industrial land located along the Burwood Highway between Stud and Scoresby Road, Wantirna South / Knoxfield.

image 2: Group work

Below Chen Yik Ying's proposal:

Team leaders: Prof Greg Missingham

Studio leader: Beatriz C. Maturana

Environmental development and sustainable society

2006-03-10T02:21:00.005+11:00

Environmental development and sustainable society
Architects for Peace Editorial, March 2006

This editorial was also published in Planning News:
Maturana, Beatriz C. "Environmental Development and Sustainable Society." Planning News 32, no. 3 (April 2006): 20.

Together with social and economic sustainability, the emphasis on environmental sustainability is present in most of today’s urban development frameworks. Environmental sustainability will be constantly reiterated throughout the documents that inform about the proposals. Its goals graphically reinforced with images of ecologically blissful settings. Evocative images of clean watercourses, blue skies, timber bridges, native fauna and flora, are shared across the environmentally sustainable heading of the document and the marketing of the “place”. In some cases similar images will also appear under the heading of tourism, or eco-tourism.

What is not so evident in these documents is that an economic agenda has already shaped the aims and goals. Placing economic, environmental and social sustainability in the same sentence does not mean that they have equal weight. Public space may already have been compromised by agreements between government, developers and private corporations such as supermarket chains, shopping centres, retail and large entertainment consortia. The likelihood of small businesses and milk bars that could in any form compete with the large retail bodies may have already been decided by similar agreements between the developer and the companies that will profit from those new estates. Likewise, the size and management of large green areas may by now be destined to support the economic interests of those setting the programme rather than the need of the public, their health and that of the environment.

Often, large developments happen in the periphery of the city, areas in which access to public transport is limited or non-existent. It is not unusual to find that the need for public transport systems may have been discussed only at a superficial level and that the proposal will not include strategies to ensure its viability.

Existing public transport in Melbourne is extremely expensive, more so if compared to the European public transport delivering the services under much higher petrol costs conditions. While it is right for people living in the city to insist that we all should opt for public transport alternatives, these do not represent real alternatives for people living in the suburbs. The transport options are nowhere near those enjoyed by “developed” countries in Europe and in some countries in Asia and South America, where the frequency and quality is such that no time-tables are required and driving becomes an unwise option. Note that I am referring to high standard public transport systems in those continents . Transport options for people in cities of similar population to that of Melbourne are many and include: buses, mini-buses, metro (underground) and taxis, many cities also have trams.

If transport options are limited to cars in the outer suburbs, the remainder of the agenda for planning and development is set, cars dominate streets, garages dominate architecture, and traffic management designs street scaping. The types of services and amenities are predicated on two car families and a shopping mall becomes the cultural and economic heart.

When the interests of the public or the future dwellers are weighed against those of the retails and businesses, a short look at our suburbs makes it clear who the winners are. The demise of the corner milk bar provides a good illustration of the forces at play. The milk bar is not only convenient, it brings many other benefits to the neighbourhood. It assists in social interactions, it enhances the life of the street and the setting provides passive surveillance. If these do not seem much, the results are greater, kids can walk and meet, the streets are better used as a result, giving parents the confidence to send the kids out by themselves. So adults don’t have to drive to the supermarket for bread, milk and the newspaper, this way reducing the number of short car trips, which account for about 25% of all car trips in Melbourne. With fewer cars on the streets, they become safer and inviting for children and everyone to walk and ride. Milk bars and other small business give people the choices politicians are keen to use in their discourses, and these can indeed provide for economic sustainability, that of the community. However, in recent major residential developments in Melbourne’s fringes, supermarket chains have reached an understanding with the developers that no small businesses such as milk bars would be supported within the estate. Couple this with a petrol voucher discount system for shopping at the supermarket and you get the picture. Supermarket chains are now physically located in petrol stations. What are the chances of an integrated transport system in these conditions without a strong political will, backed by legislative clout?

In the last weeks we have had in Melbourne some very interesting and long due debates on the issue of transport, one newspaper article even debated the possibility of making public transport free of charge. This article, together with James Button’s article “Warning as coal front approaches” which discusses the launch of Tim Flannery’s book “The Weather Makers” and his recent lecture in Melbourne, provide a good picture on the current underdeveloped public transport system in Victoria and on our foolish avoidance of serious measures towards environmental sustainability. Tim Flannery’s words about Australia’s general awareness are "Australia is disconnected from much of the world on climate change. (…) Australia, on the other hand, has "done an immoral thing" by selling coal to the world but taking no responsibility for reducing the worst effects of coal-burning by signing the Kyoto Protocol".

While Flannery expresses optimism about the seriousness with which governments and citizens in many European countries are addressing global warning, he is not at all optimistic about the Australian approach, as he reads how the “Opposition Leader Kim Beazley had followed Prime Minister John Howard in announcing that energy from coal was Australia's future”.

Somehow, Flannery has only confirmed what most of us knew. The extent of our political leaders reckless approach is of course better assessed by the fresh eyes of an educated guest, who can compare the efforts across the globe. However, public transport may provide the first break through an important issue, which can lead to a more serious debate about global warming in general and hopefully also some concrete strategies and policies.

Beatriz C. Maturana is the founder of Architects for Peace, an architect with a Masters of Urban Design from the University of Melbourne where she is currently a PhD candidate.

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References:

1. For more on the Metro system in Santiago, Chile and links to other cities with Metros, refer to Architects for Peace topic: Metro Arts and Architecture: why doesn't Australia have one? http://www.butterpaper.com/talk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?
2. Grant, John. "Transport planners out of step on walking". The Age, February 1, 2006. [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/01/31/1138590499508.html?page=1]
3. Note that while I know about these types of arrangements from my work experience in the field, I have not seen the actual agreements, as these are not accessible to all employees or the public. Awareness of the legal implications resulting from disclosing this information makes me wary and may be preventing others from discussing this important issue.
4. Refer to arch-peace news heading: "Just what our ailing public transport needs", The Age, Editorial, March 5, 2006 [http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/just-what-our-ailing-public-transportneeds/2006/03/04/1141191883530.html]
5. Button, James. "Warning as coal front approaches". Find the original article: The Age, March 11, 2006. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/warning-as-coal-frontapproaches/2006/03/10/1141701696109.html]
6. B. James. "Warning as coal front approaches". The Age, March 11, 2006.

Timor Leste: no urban/architectural enquire can be devoid of its social-political context

2006-02-07T11:28:00.008+11:00

Timor Leste: no urban/architectural enquire can be devoid of its social-political context
By Beatriz C. Maturana
originally published in arch-peace forum. 2/07/2006

During a short visit to Timor Leste in September 2001, as part of the Australian “Friendship City Relationship” planning team, I was the architect and the de facto translator for my group. As my first language is Spanish, I could easily talk and communicate with East Timorese government officers, students (older than 25), the driver, the lady who cleaned the house and prepared our meals and the people in the markets. Portuguese is close enough to Spanish so communication is easy enough and Tetum, the most widely native language spoken in the country, is impregnated with Portuguese.

Another thing I noticed was, that while trying to communicate in English, the conversation always remained formal and cold. However, the moment we realised we could communicate in “Portu-spanish”, the conversation became more amicable, people relaxed, hugged and smiled. Not withstanding the fact that Australia was quick to recognise the rule of the Indonesia over Timor Leste, there are too many reasons for the Timorese to feel suspicious of USA, UK and Australia and with this the English language(refer to 1 and 2). I wasn’t surprised at the local knowledge of Portuguese, given that the island had being colonised by Portuguese who remained there for almost 500 years, bringing not only the language, but the culture and most importantly, the religion, which after a while - as for anywhere else in the world - becomes a cultural imprint.

On my return I was astonished to find the Australian media portraying the use of Portuguese in Timor Leste at a percentage of as low as 2%. I had to laugh but it also prompted me to investigate: who did I speak with? How could my knowledge of Spanish could have been more useful than English in a country that according to the Australian media only 2% of the population speak Portuguese? The same media also referred in disrespectful terms to the East Timorese’s government decision to pronounce Tetum and Portuguese the two national languages (with English and Indonesian as second languages), as a backward move (3). I was then recommended a book written by an Australian soldier who served in Timor Leste during the WWII and who describes the culture of Timor Leste, from 1941-1943. Callinan reports that Malay (or a form of it) was spoken in West Timor and was of little use for him in East Timor - where most people spoke Tetum and Portuguese and did not understand Malay. “Tetum is a simple language similar to ‘low Malay’, and is quite pleasing to the ear, being based upon church Latin” (4). I then realised that while my enquire initially was architectural, my research couldn’t be devoid of its context - an historical and political context in which Australia has played and continue to play a controversial role, with many more agendas than what our media - whether by ignorance or political agendas - has allowed us to see (5).

It is in this context that we promote the same brick veneer construction used in Victoria Australia for the tropical Timor Leste, while insisting on English labelling for their safety equipment. For the official donor of Australian aid money, AusAID, the main objective is to “improve Australia’s national interest” by giving contracts to domestic companies (6). While Australia has been a ‘generous donor’ it has actually reaped 10 times more in revenues from East Timor than it has given since 1999 (7). According to Oxfam, $1 million a day is being collected in oil and gas from the disputed area of the Timor Sea.

The more independent, distinct and assertive Timor Leste becomes, the more complex it will be for the Australian companies to rightfully gain those future markets. It is in this context in which language represents much more than a local culture. In this context, the Australian media has reduced the culture of Timor Leste to almost nothing in order to guarantee “Australian National Interest”. Soon after the independence of Timor Leste, the donor nations committed US$5 million dollars to assist Timor Lester. Today, only US $2 million have been honoured. What does this level of assistance mean for Australia? How many Australian houses can we build with US $5 million, 10? 20? 40? And only a fraction of that is what our Australian assistance represent.

References:
1. “East Timor Revisited: Ford, Kissinger and the Indonesian invasion, 1975-76”. The National Security Archive, http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB62/
2. Lloyd Parry, Richard. “Government lied to cover up war crimes in 1975 invasion of island” Times Online, November 30, 2005. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-1897195,00.html
3. For examples of these media attacks refer to: http://www.asianlang.mq.edu.au/INL/press.html.
4. Callinan, Bernard (1953). Independent Company, The Australian Army in East Timor 1941-1943. William Heinemann, Australia, p 20.
5. Maturana, Beatriz C. "The Buka-Hatene Community Centre: Friends of Baucau's Project to Restore a Community Building". Studies in Languages and Cultures of East Timor. Instituto Nacional de Linguistica, Dili, vol. 7 (2005) pp:47-74. A brief version is available at: http://www.architectsforpeace.org/editorial/Buka%20Hatene-JE.pdf
6. Anderson, Tim (2002-06-01). Aid Watch Briefing Note: The World Bank in East Timor. Aid Watch. http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=24&display=aw00008&display_item=1
7. Oxfam. May 20 2004. Australia pushing East Timor to brink of becoming failed state. Oxfam. http://oxfam.org.uk/press/releases/etimor2000504.htm

The Chilean Presidential Candidate Michelle Bachelet: consistent progressive and inclusive politics in Chile are not the exception, but the rule

2005-12-12T01:27:00.009+11:00

The Chilean Presidential Candidate Michelle Bachelet: consistent progressive and inclusive politics in Chile are not the exception, but the rule

Last year we heard about the presidential candidacy of Michelle Bachelet in Chile. On January 15th, 2006, she became the first Chilean female president with a 53.49% of the votes.

Although this event was presented by the media across the world as a positive move, it is interesting to note that, even amongst the independent media, news have been expressed in such a way that cast doubts about the capacity of the Chilean society to be progressive and about the role that women have played in Chilean society and its history. They speak of a “conservative society” in which, the sudden candidacy of a women is the unexpected exception and not the result of a long process of social inclusion, participation and progressive policies.

To illustrate my concerns, I will refer to three statements repeatedly used when referring to Michelle Bachelet presidential win. ABC Radio National Breakfast introduced an interview with Roberto Espíndola announcing: “The favourite to win that race is socialist Michelle Bachelet. She is a 54-year-old, agnostic, divorced, single mother who has broken the mould of politics in Chile's deeply conservative Catholic society” . However, it would be fair to say that most of the articles written in the last few months have expressed similar notions. The first one of these preconceptions is that Chilean politics are male dominated, and my question is, compared to what? The US? Australia? Second is the notion that, the majority of the population identifying themselves as Catholics necessarily means it is a conservative society – is this so? Lastly, is the use of the term “Latin-America”.

In relation to Chile having “male-dominated politics”, even during the Pinochet dictatorship, women had important roles in politics, both in the dictatorship and in the opposition. Monica Madariaga was Pinochet’s Minister of Justice and Education. Gladys Marin was Secretary General of the communist party and a deputy leader for many years. She was an unrivalled politician, well respected by everyone, including right-wing politicians.

Declaring Chile “a male dominated country” may spring from the majority of the population being Catholic: is this enough to validate the preconception?

In Chile, as for many other countries in their diversity of religions, Catholicism is a cultural imprint, rather than a set pattern of behaviour. Chile is a secular country, where the separation between religion and state is actually practiced. The mention of “God” has no place in political discourses – serious ones - and there is no precedent of any former or actual religious leader taking on political roles, such as Governor General (The Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth, Australia 2001-2003) - this situation would be unthinkable. In 1973, Salvador Allende Gossen, a doctor, an atheist, a profound democrat and a socialist, was elected for to become the Chilean president. Today’s Chilean president Ricardo Lagos, is also an atheist, socialist and a divorcee. In 1818, the first Chilean president Bernardo O’Higgins, was an atheist, born to a single mother.

So the candidacy of Michelle Bachelet, while a most welcome and progressive step for any nation, is the result of 200 years of consistent progressive policies. Since independence from Spain in 1810, this development was only interrupted by a dictatorship backed by right wing extremists supported by the US - a nation that persistently declares its own Christianity.

The church - any church – is essentially conservative. It is important in a progressive society that agreement reached by all, without church interference. In Chile, religious matrimonies have no legal weight – they constitute a ceremonial option, generally unassuming and diminishing in numbers. Women do not lose their identity after marrying: women maintain their name. And while divorce was only legally approved recently, there was a legal loop that made it annulment possible. Women have a very important role in society. Individual exceptions to this can be found everywhere, including in rich countries such as Australia and the UK. How many women candidates for Prime Minister have there been in Australia, or in the US? And how many socialist and atheists candidates? A look at today’s politics in Australia tell us that as other countries go steadily forward in their thinking, Australia and the US are sadly not; more regrettably, we don’t seem to realise, or even care.

After living in Australia for almost 20 years, I have some insight into the role of women in this society. In relation to “tradition” and prejudice there is no opportunity in high ranks politics for an atheist, a single mother or a socialist, whether male or female. And, in today’s current environment, I cannot envisage the possibility of progressive politics, let alone a woman, of any affiliation, ever to become a Prime Minister.

So, my question again, instead of presenting Chile as an exception to the rule, shouldn’t the soundness of that rule or prejudice be questioned? Instead of presenting Anglo-Saxon societies as the models against which other countries should be compared when measuring their progress, should we not look at how “male domination”, or “traditional values” are expressed in our own societies first? The reality is that we are not free of any of these. This only is expressed differently and in the case of women identity, loosing one’s surname is a severe violation - according to this Chilean.

It is too easy to continue to re-enforcing stereotypes, to give the readers what they expect to find when reading about a country in South America – in this case Chile. While this is not the general tone of most independent media, we have to be mindful as this trend does not assist in expanding our knowledge; on the contrary, it promotes complacency, and at its worst, ignorance, narrow-mindedness and arrogance.

In regards to the use of the term “Latin-America”, it goes without saying that America, the continent, is predominantly Spanish/Latin based language speaking. The United States of America, USA, acknowledges in its name the fact that their land belongs to a continent called America.

I am always startled at academics, writers and journalists, unquestionable acceptance of the tyranny of an imposed notion of Latin-America. I only know of one America, the continent. There is no need to call it Latin - as Latinity is the rule and not the exception in America. However, if we were to apply it, it should then include French Canada.

The adjective “Latin” is being used to describe some racial and cultural features, which besides being inaccurate, amount to a racist description. More appropriately, geographic descriptions are used when, for example, distinguishing between East and Western Europe.

If we accepted and made an exception in America - which would allow describing people by their perceived cultural or language background - it is then the exception and not the rule that would require an epithet. If this were the case, then it would logically follow to speak of America (as a term for most of the countries in the continent) and Anglo-America (to represent the exception and the minority).

Latin-America is described as such, by people who cannot understand or do not care to understand the diversity of the American continent, or by uninquisitive repetition. By utilising this amorphous term, the American people of those countries are excluded from their own distinct culture and pride. This is not only damaging for those American countries, it also promotes ignorance in the rest of the world.

These oversimplifications take away the distinct humanity of the people in these countries and diminish the chances of learning from one another. It makes it easier for the powerful rich nations to exploit, invade and impose their dominant culture. Why should we accept this?

America, from Mexico to Chile, has been submitted to similar patterns of colonialism. However, the responses have been as diverse as their different local cultures, industrial development, and geography could produce.

Common history has provided an instance in which citizens have chosen their identity as opposed to description imposed by foreign powers. These names represent the people, their culture and their choice – this should be respected. Regions should be acknowledged by their geographic proximity and not on the basis of the fallacy of a single homogeneous culture. Unity between nations should be a form of collaboration, not one that denies it from their diverse cultural wealth and identity.

Finally, I would like to suggest that more could be done while objectively informing and this is to challenge the frame of prejudice and subjectivity within which most political commentary is structured these days.

Beatriz C. Maturana

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References:
1 Espíndola, Roberto. “Michelle Bachelet: a break with Chile’s male-dominated politics”. Open Democracy, December 6 2005.

2 Interview with Robreto Espíndola, presented by Fran Kelly. “Chilean Election”. ABC Breakfast, Friday 13 January 2006. Internet available at: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/brkfast/stories/s1546793.htm

3 See also: “Presidency beckons for a victim of Pinochet torture”, The Age,
December 10 2005.

4 For more information about Gladys Marín see: Mullan, Michael. “Chilean communist leader unremitting in her fight against Pinochet”. The Guardian, March 9 2005

5 His time serving as the Governor General was filled with controversy, which included claims that “he'd failed to deal properly with serious complaints about paedophiles within the church “ (interview with Peter Thompson, ABC, Big Ideas, June 27 2004. Internet available at: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bigidea/stories/s1140407.htm

Find PDF: here

Place and Space

2005-06-14T02:39:00.001+10:00

PUBLIC ART - 2

Course overview

The urban spaces we have created tell about our society and as our societal values change with time, so these spaces change to adapt to new functions, peoples, technology and ideas. Being able to "read the space" is a complex and a critical task for anyone involved in any form of urban intervention. This course explores the relationship between the spaces we have created and what these spaces tell about ourselves.

The course will focus on interpreting and understanding our relationship with the spaces we have created “urban spaces”. The relationship is based on the degree of our interventions, the reasons for them, our own interpretations and their functions in their current form.

Find more: here

Prevention, assistance and reconstruction

2005-03-06T02:01:00.001+11:00

This article was originally published in Planning News: Maturana, Beatriz C. "Prevention, Assistance and Reconstruction." Planning News - Victoria 31, no. 5 (2005): 19.

Prevention, assistance and reconstruction

March 2005

The split response

On the days following the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster we had many existing and new members asking about our tsunami related activities. Architects for Peace does not dismiss the idea that in the future we could have teams of volunteers ready to contribute in this type of emergency. However, central and prior to any involvement is an analysis of the situation, from a moral/ethical point of view. This is what makes AFP different to other organisations and where our strength and relevance lies. A critical analysis of how we can best respond to such situations from the perspective of the urban domain makes us aware of our potential manipulation by political interests seeking to pursue their own agendas, even in situations as unexpected and devastating as the Tsunami disaster. It is wise to be mindful of fear, greed, complicity or complacency acting to undermine and distort humanitarian compassion.

The tsunami appeal has been one of the most internationally shared experiences of
compassion and no one could deny its value. However, what is it that makes us
compassionate about this natural disaster and not to human-made disasters in which we could most definitely have made a difference before, during and after?

The day after the tsunami, people from almost everywhere in the world had mobilised to gather aid for the victims. We were all confronted with the saddest imagines of devastation and human loss, some shockingly graphic. How would people react to the human-made tragedies if confronted with the same resulting images of dismembered bodies, orphan kids, and catastrophic urban and environmental devastations, all set in the context of our making? I believe that people would react with exactly the same compassion and add to it outrage at our culpability.

Undoubtedly, we welcome our professional organisations taking a responsible role in the reconstruction process of those affected areas. Press releases were most timely, so were the newsletters sent by many (or perhaps all) of our universities. But why is it that a preventable catastrophe such as Iraq has not merited the same type of compassion from these institutions?

The conundrum of man made/natural disaster and our nation mixed response is evidenced by the Australian Government rightly assisting the tsunami victims while failing to acknowledge our national complicity in an unjust war. The result of our involvement in this human made disaster is equally as tragic - the killing of thousand of people in Iraq, destroying their cities and environment. Two thousand people were assassinated in Fallujah alone and 250,000 people displaced from that city, while we have simultaneously imprisoned asylum seekers from that region for years under inhuman conditions in Australian detention centres. The tsunami victims are as deserving of compassion as our own war victims. In our denial of responsibility, the Iraqi tragedy is presented to us as the result of a suicide bomb or car bomb, which is like saying that the tsunami deaths were caused by the houses that fell while forgetting to mention the earthquake and tidal wave.

Human-made disasters will prompt a variety of point of views and no single answer will please everyone, isn’t it then more important to create the debate for the sake of knowledge and professional objectivity? What is it that is preventing our professional institutions from debating and taking a stance on human-made disasters?

It was however not surprising that organisations such as VLGA and the City of Port Philip among others, consistent with their impartial treatment of disasters, have been quick to organise assistance for tsunami victims, having previously condemned our involvement in the War on Iraq, our treatment of asylum seekers, and addressing important issues such as poverty and globalisation. We commend their stance and value their contribution.

Reconstruction
AFP acknowledges the many difficult issues regarding reconstruction, the most obvious one is what we call emergency solutions - those quick responses to solve the immediate need for shelter and services, which in poor countries most often become permanent features, making well thought long term solutions very difficult. Though most of our professional institutions will not be involved at this stage but in the next, the reconstruction presents other issues for consideration.

Our enthusiasm in trying to assist, with our views of what is social and environmental sustainable is not necessarily applicable to other societies. Many of which have not yet undergone the industrialisation process that has shaped our cities, socially, economically and environmentally. If we face difficulties implementing changes here in Australia – a country responsible for the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the world - we can perhaps understand why it would be an even more sensitive and difficult arena for us to respectfully implement our ideas in a foreign nation.

Central to any discussion on reconstruction is the understanding that there is never a blank canvas to work on - those tsunami affected areas and communities have history, memories of their former cities, social and infrastructural needs to which we can only positively respond by working with and for the local professionals and affected communities. The issue of responsible and responsive assistance - not tainted by advantage to Australian industries - is an important and highly sensitive topic that needs thoughtful discussion.

The “Under-Construction” Reconstruction Workshop
AFP will be coordinating a workshop addressing the issues of reconstruction. We believe there is a wealth of care, knowledge and experience among our own members. This experience varies from people working on development and reconstruction (in Australia and overseas) to members working with communities at Local Council levels, with aid organisations and NGOs such as Oxfam, CAA, AVI among others. The workshops will address the topic of reconstruction from both a practical and theoretical point of view and AFP is inviting professionals and organisations with similar interests and experiences to join us to open up this discussion. The workshop will draw on case studies and discussions to identify ways in which we can assist other communities or nations, while minimising detrimental effects.

Beatriz C. Maturana
B.Arch M.Urb.Des. MPIA
Architects for Peace

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The Buka–Hatene Community Learning Centre: Community Building in Timor Leste

2005-01-01T03:47:00.005+11:00

The Buka–Hatene Community Learning Centre: Community Building in Timor Leste

The Buka-Hatene (Want to Know) Community Learning Centre is one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the Friends of Baucau to date. The process of development of the centre brings about many questions regarding the depth of our (Australian) knowledge of the Timorese nation and about our capacity to embrace it without impositions on our part. This paper aims to evaluate the process of realising the Buka-Hatene Community Learning Centre project in the context of the cultural, environmental and economical realities of Timor Leste.

B. Maturana, “The Buka–Hatene Community Learning Centre: Friends of Baucau’s Project to Rebuild a Community Building in Baucau, Timor Leste”, Estudos de Línguas e Culturas de Timor-Leste, vol.7, 2005

The Buka–Hatene Community Learning Centre: Community Building in Timor Leste

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30th Anniversary of the Coup in Chile

2003-11-11T15:59:00.003+11:00

30th Anniversary of the Coup in Chile
This is an edited version of a talk presented in Radio National, Perspective, September 11, 2003. Find the original source at: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/perspective/stories/2003/944012.htm
11 September 2003

Thursday September 11th, 2003 is the 30th anniversary of the military coup in Chile. The coup was instigated and directly supported by the United States Government. This terrorist act led to the overthrow of the Popular Unity Government and the death of the President of Chile, Salvador Allende Gossen.

Whilst joining in world outrage at the atrocities perpetuated on September 11th 2001, we should not forget what happened in Chile. Unfortunately, September 11th, 1973 has been conveniently ignored. As a consequence of the military coup in Chile and the consequent 17 year of military dictatorship supported by Britain and the US, more people were killed than on the September 11th 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York and on The Pentagon in Washington.

It is important to note that while Chileans suffered immensely because of human right abuses and assassinations, they have not sought avenge this injustice by launching a "war on terror". Under its own definition, the US could be nominated a terrorist state, with Henry Kissinger, Former President Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush (who directed the CIA from 1975 to 1977) as perpetrators.

Prior to and after the democratic election in Chile, the US government had resolved to overthrow President Allende. The CIA, H. Kissinger and the Nixon regime implemented a campaign of destabilisation at all levels, including economical and of social unrest through aggressive fear campaigns.

It is extremely difficult to counterbalance the consequences that these actions can have on a country. While the elected government had the support of the majority, as was proven a month before the coup, this was not enough to prevent the destabilisation effect that these "evil" campaigns had against the economy and people's resilience. However, in the midst of all this, there was optimism. Committed workers took control of the factories and production continued, more health centres were constructed, more resources were poured into education. Workers could now enjoy to holiday in decent facilities at tourist locations along the country—for many this was the first time.

People believed that as a society, they could shape the nation for the common good, by practicing the best of their political aspirations, humanistic or religious beliefs and principles. This was not a society driven by individual greed.

The current Chilean President Ricardo Lagos is the living proof that bombs cannot destroy ideas. Ricardo Lagos was one of the ministers in the President Allende's cabinet. He is a socialist and person with vision - dreadfully lacking in most countries- who has, once more, placed Chile as the leading country in America (non-Anglo) for welfare, education, economic development, transparency and justice.

Chile is today a source of inspiration, and this is due to the efforts and struggle of many Chileans that gave their lives to achieve the restoration of democracy. It is important to note that democracy was re-established by Chileans. While international campaigns against human right abuses in Chile were important, Chileans did not seek, nor would they have accepted a yet another violation of their sovereignty by the US, on the pretext of "rescuing them from a ruthless dictator" that that they had helped to install, as we saw it happening in Iraq with the obvious tragic consequences.

In 1973, Australia had a humane and flexible immigration policy. Many Chileans came to Australia after the military coup having been forced into exile and while some returned to Chile after a democratically elected government came to office in 1990; more than 20,000 Chileans have made Australia home—in a not too dissimilar situation as the one experience by the asylum seekers today.

Chileans are part of the Australian society; of these, I met a former CEO in one of the city councils, engineers, doctors, and a stonemason that laid the paving at Federation Square. It is the experience with a dictatorship, with US's terrorist international policies, with immigration and with a legacy of participation that make Chileans sympathetic to the suffering and struggle of other nations in their search for justice and dignity. Chileans are committed to the prevention this type of terrorism by exposing the perpetrators of past crimes by seeking and seeing justice based on the principles of participatory democracy not an eye for an eye.

It is easy sometimes to dismiss the experience of other countries such as Chile, on the belief that this is not relevant to Australia. The dictatorship, after the initial shock, was more or less sophisticated in the manipulation of opinion and the implementation of control. Repression after a while does not need imposition by the regimen—it is more effective when self-imposed through fear, resignation and apathy. There was no fighting on the streets or guerrilla's attacks on daily basis. Repression was the norm and the society shrivelled.

The acceptance of a regime that does not consider the opinion of the citizens, that can kill with impunity—inside or outside their own country—and can deceive the public, makes the entire society ill. This was the case of Nazi Germany, the case of Chile (27 years later) and I believe it can be the case of any democratic nation in which citizens are left without the power to participate and shape the events that shape their country.

Beatriz Cristina Maturana
Architect and Urban Designer Founder of Architects for Peace

Maturana, Beatriz C. "30th Anniversary of the Coup in Chile." In Perspectives. Australia: ABC Radio National, 2003.

Federation Square and the Public Realm: Is this the new heart of Melbourne?

2003-10-10T23:52:00.008+10:00

Federation Square and the Public Realm: Is this the new heart of Melbourne?

Federation Square presented the city with the opportunity to achieve the civic space for which Melbourne had been longing for the last 150 years. Without doubt, Federation Square, as a whole has become a landmark for the city. However, if this urban space was developed to satisfy a public interest, has it achieved this aim? In my many visits to understand this place and its day-to-day activities, I noticed something curious, except for those who work there, very few people are going about in their daily business. I am interested in the role of Federation Square in regards to the claim that it has become Melbourne`s new civic heart, a “community space”, the link between the city and the river and with the issue of who has, as expressed by Henri Lefebvre, “the right to the city”. The new Federation Square, the size of a city block, occupies a pivotal part of the City of Melbourne. It houses the indigenous galleries at the Ian Potter Centre of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), the Melbourne Visitors Centre, SBS Television Studios and the BMW Edge amphitheatre. Claims Opinions on the success or otherwise of Federation Square vary widely; while Professor Miles Lewis describes it as a “great missed opportunity” and “something of an embarrassment”, Peter Seamer (CEO Federation Square) has compared it to the “St Mark`s Square or Piccadilly Circus” stating that, “it is the centre of Melbourne”.

B. Maturana, “Federation Square and the public realm: is this the new heart of Melbourne?” Planning News – Victoria, vol. 29, No.9, 2003, pp.8-11

Federation Square and the Public Realm: Is this the new heart of Melbourne?

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Thoughts on the restoration of basic human and professional ethics

2003-05-10T01:49:00.000+10:00

Thoughts on the restoration of basic human and professional ethics
Published in Planning News, Volume 29 No. 3 May 2003
In response to the article “Dreaming of Baghdad” (Planning News, Volume 29 No. 3 April 2003)

War on Iraq is illegal, unjustified and a crime. Surely the prevention of war and the consequent destruction should be debated by planners and not presented as an opportunity for innovative planning or worse, ardently supported as a way to “suggest” western planning standards.

The refusal by Australia to support the UN is central to any discussion before any cake is divided up between coalitions or consortiums of willing planners “Dreaming of Baghdad”.

Basic professional ethics should have motivated us to oppose this war and the subsequent murdering of civilians, the destruction of their infrastructure and heritage. It is not acceptable that we "professionals" will profit from the reconstruction of Iraq - this is immoral and unethical. As professionals we should continue to denounce the practice of profiting from people's suffering and the violations of their human rights, the destruction of their cities and environment, their sovereignty and dignity.

A tourist guide, The Arabian Nights and a pamphlet on Baghdad monuments coupled with pre-emptive Planning zeal hardly seem a justification for a war. Peter’s insightful observation that Iraqi citizens are just the same as us, is simply a transparent excuse for the bonanza to befall arrogant and unethical planners. They are the same - we should have acknowledged this before the war - they grieve their children deaths as we would for our own children - no collateral excuse can ever justify 2,425 civilian deaths to date.

Far from even questioning the basis and the devastating impact of war on the built environment, imbedded planners like Peter are drooling with the taste of some regulation (definitely western) for post Saddam Iraq. Don’t taste the water or the soil, because despite the weapons of mass destruction that, yet to be found, are the justification for this murder and destruction, you may be a little depleted by the uranium left by the occupying forces.

Freedom of choice sings from this Jewell in the crown of either ignorance or imperialism. There is perhaps a choice between the 300 tonnes of ammunition containing depleted uranium (DU) from George Bush Senior’s Gulf war in 1991, brutally and endlessly maiming and killing of untold thousands of Iraqi children and Saddam’s gas of 1985 killing 5000. Topped up with George Bush Junior’s DU deposits, the canaries that Peter wants us to hear sing should have been substituted for doves for all including the Kurds. Not that Peter Planners would advocate a Kurdish State in the name of liberty and the ballot, because that may not only upset the planning regulations for a unified Iraq but would have the Turkish Government on the back of the US administration. And Turkey is not a rogue state despite their treatment of the Kurds.

Bellicose support for the smart bombing of Iraq doesn’t acknowledge the crime committed against civilians nor comprehends the early warning of many, including the UNESCO, to protect and to prevent the ransacking of the Library and the National Museum. Not a word from willing planners to the smart generals calling for any action to protect 7,000 years of the history of civilization. Too busy protecting the oil wells that will pay for the reconstruction of the destruction, by the planners for the people’s own good. Australia has no knowledge of struggle within our territory and only exports such misery overseas sure in our myths about tolerance and equality while our own indigenous people don’t rate a mention.

Peter would like to encourage “risk taking” by Iraqis. Haven’t they risked enough in a lifetime? Would anyone in their right mind willingly bring about the bombing of their cities as we have seen in Baghdad? No, we never asked them. Some would say, they had no right to express their will under the regime of Saddam Hussein – neither did we have that chance, by the way – as the invaders and killers of people who have never harmed us.

He definitely doesn’t understand the role of a plaza/piazza. How about we obliterate the Piazza Novana Allagata as a symbol of Roman Imperialism, Piazza de San Pietro in the Vatican for the crusades, or the Plaza Zocalo in Mexico City? I understood that the Russians and the East Germans destroyed their own icons of oppression, not an invading force. History is multi layered. Has Peter any sites planned for the next smart bombs to hit rogue states. Kim-Il-Sung Statues, Tiananmen Square, Ho Chi Min City (oops, they actually beat the most powerful nation in the world), any other parts of history you plan to erase?

Just so pre-emptive Peter can lay his plans on the table; I think he should put in a bid for the War on Planning. Let’s pick a rogue state and see if we can assist the next coalition of the willing to hit the right targets and even have the legislation, regulations and designs ready to go to win that first contract. Perhaps we could run a virtual competition in the universities so that everyone knows the rules for being a competent planner in a global world. Of course not.

Planners, architects, urban designers, let’s remember that Iraq has its own professionals, and its own way to go about re-building the cradle of civilisation. After the atrocities committed in our name, we should only humbly and ashamedly offer our assistance if Iraqi’s professionals so require it, on their terms, to enhance their culture and not for financial gain.

Let’s please go back to our basic human values - in which profits and egos are not above our ethical responsibilities and in solidarity with our colleagues in Iraq. We need to demonstrate with actions, that we respect other nations, as equals in their differences and rights, by not inflicting on them what we would not inflict on ourselves.

For a peaceful world, free from double standards, imperialist despotism and wars.

Beatriz C. Maturana
B.Arch M.Urb.Des. MPIA