MATERIA URBANA: real-world projects

2.4.15 Investigación FAU entregó planos de casas a vecinos de Puente Alto

Este fin de semana en el conjunto habitacional Casas Viejas de Puente Alto se entregaron los planos de las ampliaciones de viviendas a los vecinos que contribuyeron en el levantamiento físico-espacial y en la encuesta energética de la investigación Fondecyt n° 11130636 titulada "Viviendas de Integración Social y la sustentabilidad medio ambiental: Una investigación de proyectos claves en Chile", dirigida por la Dra. Beatriz Maturana, académica del Instituto de la Vivienda (INVI) de la FAU.

Vecina de Casas Viejas con sus planos.

30.11.12 Architectural design studio: designing for a purpose

Writes: Beatriz C. Maturana

The following article features a design studio (taller) at the University of Chile, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, led by Orlando Sepulveda (7th semester architecture students).

The studio focuses on a significant and poorer district in Santiago, so significant in fact that one of its landmarks, Zanjón de la Aguada—a canal formally known for its industrial and organic waste pollution—had the unfortunate capacity to conjure inhospitable images of misery, crime and industrial decay, images that have negatively shaped the perception of that part of the city. Fortunately but slowly, these perceptions are fading away as something of the past. Most recently, the news that the Metro (Santiago´s underground) will open a station in heart of this district and the completion of the Parque La Aguada, part of the Bicentenary Projects (an extensive new flooding park running along the Zanjón de la Aguada canal), may put a definitive end to the stigma attached to the area and hopefully will positively impact on the entire city. A question arises as to how the improvements brought by these large urban interventions can be sustainable over time and ensure the best possible results for the district and for the enjoyment of the existing population.

Figure 1: proposal by María de la Luz Lobos, Mathilde Marcantoni and Gabriel Arias.

8.10.12 Haiti´s first Ministry of Housing

The following summary is based on an article of El Mercurio, Manuel Valencia (29.09.2012) entitled “El constructor chileno de Haiti” (The Chilean builder of Haiti). Brief and translation by Beatriz Maturana.

Photo: El Mercurio, Guillermo Rolando

As director of the Fundación América Solidaria (Solidarity America Foundation) and having spent two years in Haiti, Guillermo Rolando assisted a military contingent sent from Chile to Haiti to provide humanitarian aid during the stabilization period that followed the 2004 military coup against President Bertrand Aristide.

Most recently, while serving as Director of the Division of Housing Policy of the Ministry of Housing (MINVU, Chile) and moved by the devastation left after the Haiti earthquake (2010) that flattened the capital and killed about 300,000 people, Guillermo accepted the responsibility for the creation of the first Ministry of Housing in Haiti. Six months later, this newly formed Housing Ministry of Haiti, modelled around the Chilean Ministry of Housing, is approaching its first program for housing subsidies and plan for permanent residencies for those affected by the earthquake. This is certainly not a small task for Guillermo Rolando in America´s poorest country and one of the poorest countries in the world.

19.5.12 TEST 27F: Observatorio Reconstrucción [OR] Conference

Until 2010, when Observatorio Reconstrucción (OR) University of Chile was established, there had been no national experience of a centralized academic space to collect, discuss and evaluate the reconstruction process. I have just attended a conference organised by OR. The conference, TEST27F, dealt with a wide range of aspects affecting people after a disaster, in this case Feb27, 2010 (the Chilean 8.8 earthquake).

The conference topics were varied and addressed issues such as policy development and implementation and discussed propositions, such as that by Prof Hugo Romero, who claimed that these types of disasters are not necessarily natural. He stated that the designed inequity of our cities (also in rural areas) determines who is going to be affected by these disasters. We are all familiar with Prof Romero’s position; however, he presented the evidence to support this. For instance, an aerial image of Dichato (a zone completely devastated by the tsunami) showed that the northern well-to-do and well-designed neighbour town was not affected. A partly topographic issue, partly a design issue and mostly about who has the means to decide where and how to live.

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

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

Mum April2008 2pages by beatriz

6.3.05 Prevention, assistance and reconstruction

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.

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

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.