Architecture SansFrontièresInternationalc/o SFA Société Française des Architectes247 Rue Saint-Jacques75005 Paris, France

www.asfint.org

January 2010

ASF INTERNATIONAL

Experiences and case studies in the commitment of architecture, construction, urbanism and the conservation of historical heritages to Human Development

How can Architecture help to build a world of solidarity? Part of the answer can be found in the numerous projects presented here. These investigations, workshops, urban interventions and buildings are the outcomes of the work of 18 associations around the world, linked through the network of Architecture Sans Frontières - International (ASF-Int) and dedicated to give the word “Architecture” a sense of solidarity, sustainability and social responsibility.

ASF-Int was officially founded in 2007 after eleven years of contact between a number of organisations sharing similar objectives. The aim was to establish a platform that would enable cooperation with other organisations and contribute to the global mobilisation of civil society that endeavours to face issues that governments are often unable or unwilling to cope with.

The creation of ASF-Int was the culmination of these efforts, and the joint approval of the Charter of Hasselt confirmed the common willingness to social transformation of all the member organisations “concerned with the equitable, social, cultural and environmental commitment of architecture, construction, urbanism and the conservation of historical heritages to human development” – as it is stated in the first paragraph of the Charter of Hasselt. The objectives of ASF-Int are very ambitious; nonetheless, they can

be positively pursued by the means of multidisciplinary, collaborative work with other network organisations.

This portfolio is a small sample of works realised by ASF-Int’s member organisations all over the world, each of them referring to the Charter of Hasselt as a wide framework for concrete action. The shared aims are pursued through an extensive range of approaches and solutions, reflecting the creative efforts to give adequate answers to many different problems and contexts. Such a richness of the interventions and ethical standpoints contribute towards the development of a better and more accessible architecture around the world, as architecture should not ignore the poor and the underprivileged, but on the contrary serve them as a priority.

The projects presented here are technical operations, interdisciplinary experiences, collaborative efforts, but above all they are human stories, because Architecture is for human beings.

Paris, december 2009

Architecture Sans Frontières InternationalBuilding a world of solidarity

Architecture Sans Frontières International is an independent and non-hierarchical network of not-for-profit and participative organisations concerned with the equitable, social, cultural and environmental commitment of architecture, construction, urbanism and the conservation of historical heritages to Human Development.

These organizations pledge to work together at an international level in order to achieve a greater impact of their collective efforts to: 1. Cooperate for fair and sustainable development initiatives in active collaboration with disadvantaged people or communities. This process shall follow principles of human solidarity, non- discrimination and will be aimed at promoting their self-sufficiency;

2. Foster the socially responsible role of built environment professionals by stimulating social modes of practice before speculative economic profitability;

3. Encourage ‘ethical professionalism’ by favouring cooperation and practice in hand with ‘ethical trade’, and with entities and financing institutions that work for peace-building processes;

4. Identify, disseminate and work alongside public institutions, multilateral organisations and private sector’s policies, programmes and sustainable socio-economic systems fostering social equity and urban inclusion

within the built environment;

5. Facilitate the use of appropriate technologies, materials and labour adequate to local values, to the cultural specificity and responsive to the natural environment;

6. Share knowledge, promote discussion, reflection and awareness, and collaborate in the advancement of the ‘social production of habitat’;

7. Promote the facilitation of trans-national dialogues and long-term partnerships with and within the less affluent countries;

8. Support participatory, democratic, multicultural and interdisciplinary processes and approaches in strengthening community solidarity as a factor of rural and urban social development;

9. Endorse the integration of post-emergency relief interventions into long-term sustainable development strategies;

10.Defend, promote and enable access to adequate and dignified habitat for all as a “Fundamental Human Right”.

Charter of HasseltCommon Declaration of Principles

Post-seismical intermediate shelter construction in Chamoli, India

Architecture Sans Frontières International est un réseau indépendant et non hiérarchisé d’organisations participatives et sans but lucratif, engagées pour un Développement Humain à travers la fonction sociale, équitable, culturelle et environnementale de l’architecture, la construction, la restauration du patrimoine historique et de l’urbanisme.

Afin d’augmenter leur impact , ces organisations s’engagent à unir leurs forces collectivement au niveau international pour:

1. Coopérer à des initiatives justes et équitables pour un développement durable en collaboration effective avec les personnes ou communautés défavorisées. Ce processus devra respecter les principes de solidarité humaine, de non-discrimination, avec comme objectif ultime l’autosuffisance des bénéficiaires;

2. Promouvoir la responsabilité sociale des professionnels du cadre bâti favorisant les pratiques sociales avant les intérêts spéculatifs du marché;

3. Inciter un ‘professionnalisme éthique’ qui privilégie particulièrement la coopération et la pratique ensemble avec le commerce éthique, les institutions financières qui oeuvrent pour la paix;

4. Identifier, promouvoir et travailler auprès d’institutions publiques, organisations multilatérales et le secteur privé sur des politiques, des programmes et des systèmes socio-économiques durables pour

Architecture Sans Frontières International es una red independiente y no jerárquizada de organizaciones participativas y sin ánimo de lucro comprometidas con el Desarrollo Humano, a traves de la función social, equitativa, cultural y medioambiental de la arquitectura, la construcción, la restauración de patrimonios históricos y del urbanismo.

Para conseguir un mayor impacto, estas organizaciones se comprometen a unir fuerzas colectivamente a nivel internacional para:

1. Cooperar por iniciativas justas y equitativas que permitan el desarrollo sustentable de y en colaboración con personas o comunidades desfavorecidas. Este proceso deberá respetar los principios de ‘solidaridad humana’, de no discriminación y tener como objetivo último el auto-suficiencia de los beneficiados;

2. Fomentar la responsibilidad social de los profesionales del ámbito de la edificación promoviendo prácticas e intereses sociales por encima de la especulación de mercado;

3. Incitar un ‘profesionalismo ético’ favoreciendo especialmente la cooperación con procesos de mercado ético, instituciones financieras y entidades que trabajen por la paz;

4. Identificar, promover y trabajar junto a instituciones públicas, organizaciones multilaterales y sector privado en politicas, programas y sistemas socioeconómicos

l’éradication des inégalités sociales et de l’exclusion;

5. Faciliter l’usage de technologies appropriées, de matériaux écologiques et main d’œuvre adaptés aux valeurs et identités culturelles de chaque situation tout en respectant l’environnement;

6. Partager les connaissances, promouvoir le dialogue et la réflexion, sensibiliser et collaborer pour favoriser une production sociale de l’habitat;

7. Promouvoir le dialogue et la consolidation de partenariats trans-nationaux durables avec et entre les pays moins développés;

8. Soutenir les processus participatifs, démocratiques, multi culturaux et interdisciplinaires dans le renforcement solidaire des communautés comme facteur de développement social rural ou urbain;

9. Intégrer une stratégie de développement durable dans les programmes de post-urgence;

10. Défendre, fournir et améliorer un habitat digne et adéquat pour tous comme un “Droit Universel Fondamental”.

comprometidos con la erradicación de las desigualdades sociales y la exclusión urbana;

5. Facilitar el uso de tecnologías apropiadas, materiales y mano de obra adecuados a los valores e identidades culturales de cada situación respetando el medioambiente;

6. Compartir conocimientos, promover diálogo, reflexión, sensibilizar y colaborar para el desarrollo de la producción social del habitat;

7. Promover el diálogo y la consolidación de partenariados transnacionales duraderos con y entre los paises menos ricos;

8. Apoyar la práctica de procesos participativos, democráticos, multiculturales e interdisciplinares en el fortalecimiento solidario de comunidades como unidades de desarrollo social rural o urbano;

9. Respaldar la integración de una lógica de desarrollo sostenible en las intervenciones de emergencia;

10. Defender, procurar y mejorar un hábitat digno y adecuado para todos como “Derecho Humano Fundamental”.

Charte de Hasselt Déclaration Commune de Principes

Carta de Hasselt Declaración Común de Principios

Architecture & Développement which aims for International Solidarity is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1997 in Paris.The objective is to reinforce the competencies of the architects as actors of the development process, while emphasizing their social role as citizens in helping the vulnerable and divested populations, both in the North and the South.A&D also contributes to the creation of a network of expertise and capacity building in several fields of intervention like - the problem of appropriate and environmentally responsive architecture, linking of the urban and rural development, response to the humanitarian and the post-emergency need of disasters and the conservation of our built and cultural heritage.Thanks to a multicultural approach and a team of multi-disciplinary people, A&D has involved itself in the framework of international solidarity through the organization of events, training programmes, raising awareness and the organization of exchanges between North/South and South/South countries and the implementation of development projects through a system of cooperation and partnerships.

ARC•PEACE is an international politically and religiously independent non-for-profit organization of architects, designers and planners, founded in 1987 and registered in Stockholm, Sweden. It has a status as a Non-Governmental Organization with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Its mission is to build and create for peaceful purposes, to protect our natural environment, and to plan and design a responsible built environment. To pursue these goals ARC•PEACE tries to broadcast its goals worldwide through electronic networking, newsletters, declarations and position papers, and to conduct conferences and exhibitions, by promoting our goals within research, education, union policies, and other means of professional development, and by making efforts to uphold ethical standards within our profession. ARC•PEACE consists of ten member organizations and individual members in about 20 countries.

Africa’70 is a registered NGO committed to international cooperation and development. Based in Monza, Italy, it has been running for almost 40 years with the aim to improve the living conditions of the populations in Developing Countries. Africa’70 implements its projects in Africa, Central America and Middle East, where it supports institutions and local governments in the protection of habitat in terms of urban upgrading, environmental planning and education. Projects are specially connected to urban retraining, the restoration of historical buildings, the construction of water supplies. It protects and safeguards natural resources; it supports small producers, farmers and breeders through microcredit in order to revitalize rural life. In Italy, it promotes and organises events to raise public awareness, it promotes workshops of inter-cultural education with local schools and universities. Africa’70 considers its commitment in international cooperation as a moment of cultural exchange based on the respect and validation of cultural diversities. It believes in social participation as a fundamental condition to build peace and to guarantee the equitable development of peoples.Africa’70 is affiliate to the Italian Association of NGOs and to CoLomba (Cooperation Lombardy) and it is an associate of Italian Institute of Donations.

Architecten zonder Grenzen België (ASF-Be) is a co-founder member of ASF-Int and was set up in 1994, with the following objectives: 1. to provide worldwide assistance in the field of architecture and urban planning in order to improve the living conditions of people and communities who are afflicted by disaster or calamitous events, without distinction between race, creed, or political persuasion;2. to use all its available resources in favour of those people and communities, in order to give effective and accurate assistance; 3. to seek for national and international support to allow its members to be successful and efficient. Today the organization has a national and an international branch. On the national level, ASF-Be aims to improve the housing conditions of the poor, both tenants en owner-occupiers, by providing both advice and support. Within this context, ASF-Be tries to establish an ‘Architect Pro Bono’ model. Internationally, ASF-Be offers assistance, advice and information to organizations and governments involved in reconstruction and development.

http://archidev.org/ http://africa70.org/ http://arcpeace.org/ http://architectenzondergrenzen.be/

A&DARCHITECTURE&DÉVELOPPEMENTFRANCE

AFRICA ‘70MOVIMENTO AFRICA’70ITALY

ARC•PEACEINTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTS DESIGNERS PLANNERS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSABILITYWORLD

ASF-BELGIUMARCHITECTEN ZONDER GRENZENBELGIUM

ASF-E is a Non Governmental Organisation for Development; it works as a non-profit organisation. It was founded in 1992 by a group of architects and technicians who had previously collaborated with other NGOs. ASF-E is an association of people who collaborate in cooperation projects, as volunteers, in the architecture, infrastructure and town planning fields.We offer support to underprivileged populations in developing countries, that is, to those who suffer from a situation of extreme poverty. We also work with the most vulnerable parts of the population of the so-called Fourth World, in the developed countries, without any discrimination for racial, sexual, religious, philosophical or political reason. We work together with organisations in the Third and Fourth World who ask for our help. We listen to their demands and analyse the needs of the beneficiary population, in order to provide complete solutions to their problems and to promote a self-sufficient and self-managed local development that can improve the population’s quality of life and satisfy their basic needs. We focus on cooperation for development rather than in emergency aid. ASF-E activities take place, mainly, in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America and Spain.

ASF-France association’s vocation is to bring assistance to all victims of natural disasters, collective accidents, wars and other hard situations in the area of construction, urban planning and environment. Its non-profit interventions are without any discrimination of race and political, religious or philosophical views.ASF-France responds to requests from organizations, collectivities or states, who intent, without exclusion nor segregation, to promote better conditions of life and habitat. All requests are studied considering human, cultural, economic and technical questions. ASF-France supports the project development using its professional network. The sharing of experiences shows that realistic and usable solutions exist to build a world of solidarity that answers the basic needs : adapted care centres for all suffering people, infrastructure for education and training, and basically, a sustainable habitat in a safe environment, with facilitated access to water and good sanitary conditions for every human being.ASF-France supports the development of a higher quality of architecture, by increasing people’s awareness and anticipating the risks by constructive choices adapted to the environment, and by training workers, craftmen, technicians and other actors of construction to develop local responsibilities and skills for the long term.

ASF-DK was officially registered as a Danish platform of the international organization in October 2008. Approximately one year later, ASF-DK has about 70 registered members and four ongoing projects, in India, Africa and Denmark. We believe it is a human right that everyone has an adequate standard of living and access to a suitable livelihood, but many people find themselves in circumstances beyond their control. In our aim to create social justice and better living conditions, we offer creative solutions to problems that face our society through architecture, planning and design. In our projects, we integrate technical, social and aesthetic skills, in the process of transforming dreams and hope into concrete physical solutions. The organization is focusing on three fields of projects:1. Developing projects: primarily related to Health and Education issues;2. Debating projects: Projects pin pointing global challenges of society;3. Emergency Relief: ASF-DK is currently starting up the field of work after humanitarian disasters. The work is meant to be divided into two fields, Emergency Architecture and Strategies for Emergency Relief in collaboration with Danish Red Cross and UN.ASF DK is investigating social economical strategies, to secure a sustainable future for the organization.

ASF-Italia aims to facilitate processes of equitable and sustainable development through the socially responsible practice of architectural design and planning, endeavouring to support marginalised individuals and communities who would not otherwise have access to the competence of architects. We believe that the physical environment is a fundamental ground where processes of inclusion and participation can be positively negotiated and that the architectural project can be a powerful medium to work out global issues of social, economical and environmental sustainability according to the specificity of communities and territories. We pay special attention to the spreading of appropriate and appropriable building technologies as tools that can enable community participation and facilitate the emancipation of people in the production of their own habitat.Our work takes form in two main fields of action: in international cooperation, we design and plan projects that help to generate sustainable processes of development, recognizing local communities as the primary players within any process of transformation of the environment; in education, we organise courses, workshops and pubic talks in the attempt to raise awareness on the potential of responsible design and planning within society.

http://arkitekterudengraenser.dk/ http://asfes.org/ http://asffrance.org/ http://asfitalia.org/

ASF-ESPAÑAARQUITECTOS SIN FRONTERASSPAIN

ASF-FRANCEARCHITECTES SANS FRONTIÈRESFRANCE

ASF-DENMARKARKITEKTER UDEN GRÆNSERDENMARK

ASF-ITALIAARCHITETTI SENZA FRONTIEREITALY

ASF- Portugal is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that aims to collaborate with deprived communities in the suppression of precarious conditions and in the development of their performance in the areas of architecture and urbanism.Founded in 2000, ASF-Portugal aims to gather architects and professionals of the built environment that wish to engage in voluntary work in the areas of planning, urban design, architecture, construction and environment. ASF-Portugal works solely by appeal and when directly requested by the communities. Our objectives are to intervene in the human habitat through technological empowerment and to collaborate with the communities through social projects that may (or may not) have a territorial or local dimension, built environment or construction component; however it will always promote architecture as a multidimensional activity that specifically incorporates and pays attention to social construction that is often overlooked by private practice.

ASF-ONLUS is an independent not-for-profit organization that acts for the exclusive pursuit of social solidarity objectives. It is based in Rome with several branches on the national territory. It was created with the ambition to conjugate a strong social motivation with the professional practice, making the tools of architecture accessible to development processes and to local and international cooperation. We offer our skills to developing countries and to any territories standing at the margins of their own social environment, independently from their geographical position. We base our aid activities on the principles of cooperation and solidarity, aiming to affect local policies and to increase the autonomous capabilities of beneficiary populations. We pursue these objectives by acting specifically and primarily in the fields of territorial and town-planning, infrastructural planning and architecture, linking our practice to social housing, the conservation of historical heritages and the protection of natural resources. We work for the quality and sustainability of the living environment and we promote access to a dignified habitat as a fundamental right. ASF-ONLUS Italia is member of different national and international organizations sharing the need to spread and promote the subjects of cooperation and social solidarity.

ASF - RD Congo is an association aiming for international solidarity. It was founded in 2004 by Congolese architects (DRCongo) and it became member of ASF-Int in 2005 by the ratification of the Charter of Hasselt. The objective of the association is to give assistance for non lucrative goals in the fields of architecture, construction and town & environmental planning, to all the victims of natural disasters, collective accidents, belligerent situations and, in a more general way, unfavorable natural conditions, without any discrimination of race, political position, religion or philosophy. To pursue its objective, the association mainly but not exclusively carries out actions by the following means: raising public awareness, in particular via the organization of demonstrations; collaborating with other partners, either associations, professionals, or experts in specific fields; designing projects in RD Congo or abroad either autonomously or in collaboration with others.

http://asfit.org/ http://asfp.org/ http://www.asf-ch.org/

ASF-Suisse ratified the Charter of Hasselt.

ASF-PORTUGALARQUITECTOS SEM FRONTEIRAS PORTUGAL

ASF-ONLUSARCHITETTURA SENZA FRONTIEREITALY

ASF-RD CONGOARCHITECTES SANS FRONTIÈRESRD CONGO

ASF-SUISSEARCHITECTES SANS FRONTIÈRESSWITZERLAND

Architecture Sans Frontières - UK (ASF-UK) aims to make community and international development issues integral to the practice and teaching of architecture. We strive to make architecture relevant to the world’s majority - people who are marginalised or living in poverty. To do this we seek to transform how design is taught and how professionals view their own design responsibilities and approach. The work we do takes on three forms: education and training; raising awareness about the social aspects of architecture through public events and networks; and the generation of projects which enable sustainable development at home and abroad.The core principles behind community participation, building partnerships, appropriate design, and social, economic and environmental sustainability are at the heart of our organisational strategy and are embodied in our teaching programme. We feel that these are all essential ingredients to the successful delivery of a truly equitable, inclusive and successful built environment for everyone.

ASF Sweden is part of ASF International, whose member organisations have agreed upon the goals and visions of the Hasselt Charter. This charter sets out ten principles, which are the base for ASF Sweden’s activities. The Swedish branch of ASF International was established in the fall of 2006. We work for the development of sustainable environments for the poor and disadvantaged and for the support of those who otherwise would not have access to the knowledge of architects. Our aim is to increase the awareness about the situation for the urban poor. We cooperate with other national and international organisations to become a platform that facilitates efforts to change the current situation.

Architects without Frontiers (AWF) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to engage the Australian design profession in pro-bono building and planning projects that improve the living conditions of communities in need, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. AWF is committed to two goals: To improve the lives of disadvantaged communities through sustainable design practice and to mobilise Australian architects and built environment professionals towards socially responsive design. AWF have worked on over 30 projects including schools, hospitals, housing, community centres and feasibility studies. In addition to the Charter of Hasselt, the following core values and principles guide AWF in the conduct and management of all its activities: Environmental Sustainability; Capacity Building; Community Participation; Cultural Protocols; Education and Awareness; Design Integrity; Learning and Development.

Architekten über Grenzen / Architects over Frontiers is a German Non-Governmental-Organization (NGO). The first articles for the founding of this organization where written in 1994. The first meetings were held in 1995. The founding itself took place in 1997 in Berlin. Today AüG has nearly 200 members throughout Germany, Austria and the German speaking parts of Switzerland.Projects are developed around the world with a focus on Africa and South-America. Schools and children’s homes were the most needed buildings followed from a first hospital. AüG always tries not to send its own architects, as far as this is possible but find good contacts within the countries and cooperate and work together with local architects who know their countries and their cultures better than anybody else. One of the most important pieces of work that we have undertaken is the international United Nations building and construction guidelines, especially in the field of earthquake resistant and tropical building design. One important aspect of our project work lies in the structuring and sourcing of sufficient financial support to develop a sustainable solution which goes beyond the built form. A building is just one – and mostly not the most important – tool to reach successful project objectives.

http://www.arkitekterutangranser.se/ http://asf-uk.org/ http://architekten-ueber-grenzen.de/ http://architectswithoutfrontiers.com.au/

ASF-UKARCHITECTURE SANS FRONTIÈRESUNITED KINGDOM

ASF-SWEDENARCHITECTURE SANS FRONTIÈRESSWEDEN

AWF-AUSTRALIAARCHITECTS WITHOUT FRONTIERSAUSTRALIA

AÜG-GERMANYARCHITEKTEN ÜBER GRENZENGERMANY

HTG is the largest non-governmental organization in the shelter sector in India committed to sustainable building solutions. Established by G.Shankar in 1987 in Kerala, Habitat is registered as a charitable society dedicated to green and humane architecture. Habitat has a core group of 300 professionals and social workers with a support base of 30,000 trained workers and 26 regional offices. It has designed and constructed thousands of buildings all over the country including commercial complexes, tourist resorts, public offices, schools and hospitals – all using appropriate technologies and cost effective building techniques. Habitat has also been involved in several development projects and has played a key role in the decentralization process in the state. Its social activities expand in several fields: Conservation of heritage buildings; Empowerment of women in the shelter sector; Networking among partners in struggle; Information dissemination on cost effective shelter solutions; Capacity building for workers and professionals in the shelter sector using extensive training programs; Research and development in appropriate technologies and materials.The State Government recently recognized Habitat Group as a nodal agency to carryout developmental works under the decentralization process.

EWB-Nepal is a non-political, non-profit organisation based on the voluntary work of professionals and students in the fields of engineering, architecture and the built environment, aiming to contribute to the sustainable development of disadvantaged communities in Nepal by sharing technical and scientific expertise, thereby helping communities improve the quality of their lives. Founded in 2004, in the last few years EWB-Nepal has accomplished more than a dozen development projects and has conducted talks and seminars related to sustainable development.More specifically, EWB-Nepal’s aims are: to form a dynamic and cooperative platform for engineers and architects who want to exchange knowledge and experience with disadvantaged communities in the fields of technology and natural science, through long term contributions based on local needs and demands; to initiate and perform development related projects; to support existing education programs; to support development programs that enhance the sustainability of communities; to support distribution of knowledge as a means to arouse the interest of students in Nepal’s development; to collaborate with others in sustainable development projects; to research, promote and disseminate sustainable technologies and architectural designs aimed at the development of communities.

http://ewb-nepal.org/ http://www.habitattechnologygroup.org/

HTGHABITAT TECHNOLOGY GROUPINDIA

EWB-NEPALENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERSNEPAL

ASF ITALIAarchitetti senza frontiere

Architectes Sans Frontières Suisse Architekten Ohne Grenze Schweiz Architetti Senza Frontiere Svizzera

period 2009-...causeSeismically vulnerable regionscategory Development, ReconstructiontypologyTwo prototypes: rural vernacular and urban in deserted areastechnology & materialWire mesh gabions

ASF partnerArchitecture & Développementlocal partnerZousfana, Morocco; INSA Rennes, Pompiers Sans Frontières (PACA, France); Africa 70 (Italy)donorPACA Region; IBMed

PROJET GABIONS MÉDITERRANÉE

The Project Mediterranean Gabions is a project of applied research that relies on the experience accumulated by A& D in more than ten years on sustainable development and habitat issues and on the work of the NGO Africa 70 and its 30 years of cooperation projects and development in Africa.The origins of this project are in Pakistan in 2005, in the scope of the post-emergency and reconstruction project implemented by A&D in partnership with the French Red Cross. A&D has decided at that time to experiment with the technology “gabions” (confined elements walling systems) aiming at creating earthquake-resistant structures. These experiments have led to the design of a prototype using a mixed structure. Our hypothesis is that the usage of gabions or traditional structures (or mixed systems) in designing disaster-resistant structures could substitute reinforced concrete masonry currently used in the Mediterranean countries and very often poorly implemented. It would allow more people to have access to disaster-resistant construction, using low-cost and available construction materials (stone and steel wire mesh). The application of this technology would contribute in improving habitat conditions for the poor communities.The project will be developed in the following phases:Phase 1: modeling, study and scientific validation construction process in the INSA Rennes Phase 2: architectural design of two prototypes by our experts, in collaboration with local partnersPhase 3: experimentation in situ, achievements of the prototypes in the two sites in MoroccoPhase 4: Restitution workshop with partners French, Italian and Moroccan to validate the methodology and assessing its potential for replicationThe first prototype is the basis of this project and was developed in Pakistan during the earthquake reconstruction programmes.For more information: http://www.archidev.org/article.php3?id_article=951; Images: Olivier Boucheron.

MOROCCOFIGUIG

period 2007-2008causeEnergy securitycategory Reasearch on the status of energy efficient technology

ASF partnerArchitecture & Développementlocal partnerSATVA/INDEdonorADEME (French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management) and BEE (Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency)

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDIAN PRIVATE SECTOR: CURRENT STATUS AND ISSUES AT STAKE

India has made rapid strides towards economic self-reliance over the last few years. Rising population, increasing standards of living and rapid urbanization result in an increase in building construction activities. At the same time, the importance of energy efficient buildings has assumed great urgency. In light of fast depleting energy resources, energy scarcity and increasing environmental pollution, innovative ways to cut down energy consumption are necessary.To achieve the collective objectives of energy security required by the development and environmental protection, eco-sensitive buildings or ‘green buildings’ that utilize their resources judiciously, minimize their emissions and have efficient waste management systems, should be considered and designed.It is imperative that the shift to more sustainable and energy efficient practices are made mainstream, rather than remain on the fringes of the industry.The present study lies in the framework of this reality and aims at defining strategies in order to improve the energetic performance of buildings. In the framework of the bilateral agreement signed between ADEME (French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management) and BEE (Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency), both parties have agreed to collaborate on certain number of issues pertaining to the promotion of energy efficiency. One of the topics of paramount interest is the promotion of energy efficiency in the building sector. Housing is an important economic sector in India. The total demand for housing is estimated at 2 million units per year and the total housing shortfall is estimated to be 19.4 million units. The government has envisaged considerable investment target for this sector and it has launched important initiatives to encourage urban regeneration in large and medium-scale cities. Also, building developers are involved in developing modern housing colonies to satisfy the needs of the middle-class population. The present context seems favourable to promote the concept of energy efficient housing with high environmental quality as a component of urban renewal schemes. While efforts are on in India to develop building codes, laws and regulations, parallel activities could be undertaken to assist the active stakeholders to adopt sustainable construction practices. This is precisely the scope of this research implemented by A&D and SATVA/INDE: it aims at giving a picture of the status of green building development in India and exploring potential and possibilities to mainstream energy efficiency as relevant to the Indian scenario.In other words this overview bears witness to the vitality of the green market and seeks to help promoting the concept of energy efficiency with high environmental quality amongst regular stakeholders. The key targets of the projects are: 1. urban authorities2. architects, designers, engineers3. builders and developers4. sector-specific financial institutions5. manufacturers and suppliers of energy efficient and low-energy building technologies6. building energy and environment specialists7. professional bodies8. associations, NGOsMore information and on-line database: http://besharp.archidev.org/

INDIA

period 2009-...cause To train women in poor communities in disaster prevention and disaster mitigationcategory DevelopmenttypologyEarthquake-resistant housing

ASF partnerARC•PEACElocal partnerARC•PEACE Peru, Estrategia, Mujeres Unidas Para Un Pueblo MejordonorGroots InternationalEARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT HOUSING IN SAN JUAN DE LURIGANCHO

The project consists of a disaster prevention program. It includes training of grassroot women, mapping of vulnerable areas, making lists of problems, presenting maps and reports to the local government and implementation of plans for new and better housing. The NGOs advise on house types and earth-quake-resistant constructions. In the next step residents (mainly women) produce concrete blocks and other elements for building in vulnerable areas. The project also includes the construction of stairs and walls on steep hillsides.

PERUSAN JUAN DE LURIGANCHO

period Continuouscause To raise awareness about the negative aspects of the US prison system, and to disseminate on alternatives to incarceration category CampaigntypologyPrison buildings

ASF partnerARC•PEACElocal partnerArchitects Designers Planners for Social Responsibility

PRISON ALTERNATIVES INITIATIVE

The aim of the project is to wage a campaign among design professionals that will raise awareness about the negative aspects of the US prison system, and to pave the way for alternatives to incarceration. Originally launched in 2004 as the Prison Design Boycott, ADPSR’s Prison Alternatives Initiative calls on architects, other design professionals, and the public to support community-based alternatives to incarceration. ADPSR considers the U.S. prison system to be a devastating moral blight on our society and an overwhelming economic burden on tax dollars, taking away much needed resources from schools, health care and affordable housing. The prison system is corrupting society and making people more threatened, rather than protecting them as its proponents claim. It is a system built on fear, racism, and the exploitation of poverty. Architects should rather be using their professional skills to design positive social institutions such as universities or playgrounds.Stopping the construction of prisons is only one step towards the better society that ADPSR aspires to. In order to minimize the use of prisons it is necessary to develop alternatives to imprisonment as responses to anti-social behaviour. An important first step would be to pass better laws and move towards “restorative justice,” in which an offender can make restitution to those who have been hurt, and to society at large, in a community process of work and reconciliation. (http://www.adpsr.org/prisons/about.htm)

USA

period ContinuouscauseTo develop knowledge about renewable energies and environmental issuescategory Long-term development, educationtypologyVarious

ASF partnerARC•PEACElocal partnerCuba SolardonorInternational NGO’s

SOLAR ENERGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The aim of Cuba Solar is to develop knowledge about renewable energies and environmental issues in the whole educational system and to apply it in order to improve living conditions in communities. It organises courses and workshops, promotes research groups, edits books and contributes to improving the learning conditions in shools and universities.Also projects are being developed to improve peoples’ living conditions and to achieve low energy solutions as well as using renewable energies to reduce environmental impact and to achieve low energy solutions.Many demonstration projects are carried out. Most of them are related to the electrifi cation by renewable energies of local clinics, hospitals, schools, tourist centres, communities and other social facilities in isolated rural places. These projects have a high social impact. They allow children all over the country to access audiovisual and computer programs in primary school. They contribute to improving health care, including water supply and sanitation, living conditions and recreation for people in general, even in the most remote areas.For more information, visit www.cubasolar.cu

CUBA

period 2006cause Assisting a community group with architectural advicecategory Academic argumentstypologyPublic service: pro bono project

ASF partnerARC•PEACElocal partnerArchitectsforpeace.org(Australia) and CollingwoodHousing Estate ArtsCommittee (CHEAC)donorKaren Tanfi Eld (AR Group) andPeter Johns (Antarctica Group)

UNDERGROUND CARPARK UPGRADE INTO ARTS-SPACE

The residents and staff at Melbourne’s Collingwood Housing Estate want to rehabilitate a long disused 3,000 square metre underground car park that had closed in the 1980s because it didn’t have enough exits or ventilation, and because it had a reputation for being dangerous after dark. In this decade it has started to be used by arts organisations in the area as an exhibition and performance space. However, the space itself needs a lot of work to come up to scratch.

AUSTRALIAMELBOURNE

period 2006-2007cause UN Millenium Development GoalscategoryDevelopmenttypologyPublic service: school

ASF partnerASF Belgiumlocal partnerNyakatoke KindergartenCommitteedonorPrivate funding

NURSERY SCHOOL

Nyakatoke is a rural village in the northwestern corner of Tanzania, near Bukoba, with nearly 600 inhabitants. Due to the fact that there is no nursery school within walking distance of the village, the average level of education in Nyakatoke is far below the rural Tanzanian standards. It is widely acknowledged that especially primary education is one of the most powerful tools in fi ghting extreme poverty: achieving a full course of primary schooling for all boys and girls is one of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The building of a nursery school in Nyakatoke will be a small step towards achieving those goals.The design of the building was driven by local circumstances such as the orientation of the plot, the people’s living conditions, etc. Special attention has also been given to ecological measures such as the recycling of rainwater. Since only locally available materials and techniques will be applied, no external workers need to be involved in the construction of the building. All these measures should ensure the sustainability of the project.

TANZANIAKAGERA REGION

period 2007-2008 (phase 1) 01/2009 – 2009 (phase 2)causeInternational cooperation category DevelopmenttypologySchool technology & material Lateritic stone, adobe bricks

ASF partnerASF Españalocal partnerPetit à Petit Association donorGeneralitat de Catalunya, Fundación Caja Arquitectos

PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KARANGASSO VIGUÉ

A series of works have been carried out in four hamlets in Karangasso-Vigué rural zone, in the South part of Burkina Faso (one of the world’s poorest countries) to create or complement 4 primary public schools. This project was realized together with a local association, Petit à Petit, and with school directors of this Burkina Faso zone, who have been developing in the last few years a reflection about the “ideal school”. This participative work contributed to enrich the architectonic proposal, improving teaching conditions and allowing the creation of new collective spaces for the village.Each school is made of 3 classrooms, a library, teacher’s dwellings, school kitchen gardens, and outdoor spaces with outdoor blackboards and paillotes (lightweight construction made of timber and straw resting on metallic pillars that serves as a meeting place for the people of the township, as well as a space for a temporary dining room and shelter for the children).All of them have been executed with low environmental impact techniques. Local resources were used in a broad process of community participation, accomplished with the support of a network of local craftsmen who contributed to train people from the villages. Around 200 persons, women and men, have participated in the work. A mixed construction was chosen for the classrooms, with metallic structures and laterite stone walls; stones were extracted from local quarries reducing transportation costs and encouraging local economy. For the teacher’s dwellings adobe bricks were employed with the earth vaults roof technique (Voûte Nubienne), using basic, readily available local materials and simple, easily appropriable procedures.

BURKINA FASOKARANGASSO VIGUÉ

period 2007causeASF España InternationalCooperationcategory Long-term developmenttypologyPublic service: schooltechnology&materialsConcrete blocks

ASF partnerASF Españalocal partnerMunicipality of TiémélekrodonorPublic funding

PRIMARY SCHOOL IN TIEMELEKRO

Tiémélékro is one of the newest towns in Ivory Coast. It has undergone a dramatic demographic growth in a very short time. Because of its lack of resources and the increment in the population of school aged children, part of these children cannot attend school due to lack of rooms. As a consequence, some of them start their schooling later or fail to attend school altogether. In the case of girls, the situation is much worse, since most of them help the women with domestic asks. Therefore, only a minority of them has access to education. The kindergarten plays a key role in introducing children to instruction. It has such an important role for integration that the Ivory Coast Ministry of Education passed a bill requiring every primary school to be associated with some kindergarten. This project started on January 2007 in Tiémélékro and corresponds to the second phase of the Primary School in the district of Sogephia. It consists in the construction and opening of a kindergarten and a library, plus the urbanisation of thesite. The library complements a number of interventions in the area of education with great value for the community. It will be a public library, open both to students of the primary school as well as to the rest of the inhabitants of the town. As for the book supply, we contacted the French Association Biblionef, which provided new books in French to those facilities built through development cooperation projects.

IVORY COASTTIEMELEKRO

period 2006 -2007cause Local cooperation activitiescategoryReconstruction - rehabilitationtypologyOffice

ASF partnerASF España Catalunyalocal partnerAmbit Prevenciódonorfundació Roviralta, Contratasy Obras, ASF Catalunya

DAY CARE CENTRE FOR DRUG ADDICTS

The local cooperation department of ASF-CAT works with associations which deal with vulnerable collectives (drug addicts, HIV affected persons, prostitutes, adolescents victims of exclusion…). Those associations, which request our support, work in inappropriate spaces for their activities and often in premises in which security or access norms are not being respected. ASF-CAT proposes a complete mission of architects: diagnostics, architectural proposal and following-up the construction. In this process, as far as possible, we intend to work with labour insertion associations, which are involved in the realization of the centres’ rehabilitation. The sustainable use of construction material (through recycling) is one of the sensitisation goals.This project is an illustration of the local cooperation activities. It is a centre for an association which takes in drug addicts, and assists them at sanitary as well as psycological.

SPAINBARCELONA

period 2005-2006cause ASF España InternationalCooperationcategory DevelopmenttypologySocial housingtechnology&materialConcrete blocks

ASF partnerASF Españalocal partnerCoordinadora Nacional Indígena CampesinadonorPublic funding

BUILDING HOUSES IN RECOVORED LAND

The main goal of this project is to support the process of ‘Selfconstruction of Dwellings’ in the Victorias 3 community, founded in 1999 after a long period of organisation and vindication by the community, which culminated in the recovery of the land. With this project we seek, in addition to the symbolic value of the land, to allow for the families in Victorias 3 to improve their health and hygienic conditions as well as their economic situation. Moreover, by providing astable habitat, living conditions within the family, social relationships, and the degree of empowerment of the community will be improved. Hence, they can proceed with this process of human development, originally set off by themselves together with the organisation for the recovery of Mother Earth. The dwellings will be built with autochthonous equipment, materials and technologies, to facilitate usability and supply and to prevent the risk of technological dependency. The benefi ciaries themselves, who previously followed a capacity building course, will provide labour. Upkeep of dwellings is therefore guaranteed by the owners themselves.

GUATEMALACHAMPERICO

period 2005causeASF España InternationalCooperationcategory Long-term developmenttypologyPublic service: educational institution

ASF partnerASF Españalocal partnerMouvement de Paysans SansFrontieres de BingodonorPublic funding

SHELTER AND FORMATION CENTRE FOR PAYSANS SANS FRONTIÈRES

Main goal of the project is supporting the activities that our counterpart has been carrying out since 1994 in the area of innovative, sustainable, integrated and ecological techniques for agriculture and farming. It consists in the construction of an educational institution where these activities could be carried out in better conditions. Thus the range of activities as well as of people who can benefit from them is extended. In addition, a capacity building centre will be created by adding the following to the already existing facilities (a lot surrounded by a stone wall with a dairy, a bedroom for the warden and a warehouse): 1 hangar with a capacity for 30 persons to be used as a polyvalent space for courses, meetings, lectures, etc.; 3 double bedrooms for guest teachers, etc.; 1 kitchen/warehouse; 1 communal room for 25 persons to host people attending seminars, etc.; 6 latrines and 4 shower facilities. All facilities will be furnished with a basic electrical installation powered by photovoltaic panels.The project is located in the small village of Bingo, province of Bulkiemdé, 40 km to the west of Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso. Bingo has a total population of ca. 2000 inhabitants, but the area of infl uence of the whole project extends to the villages of Sa and Kaliguiri, with a total of 2000 inhabitants, and fi ve other smaller villages, totalling 2000 more inhabitants altogether.

BURKINA FASOBINGO

period 2004-2005cause ASF España InternationalCooperationcategory DevelopmetypologySocial housingtechnology&materialConcrete blocks “in situ”

ASF partnerASF Españalocal partnerMinistère de l’Education,Jeunesse et Sports (MENJS)donorPublic funding

PUBLIC SCHOOL IN ANSE-À-PITRE

For Phase 2 of this project, we propose to continue supporting the National Primary School in the border town of Anse-à-Pitre in Southwest Haiti. It consists in building two more school rooms, which would add up to the four rooms already in construction, in order to reach the total number of six required for the fi rst cycle of Primary Education. It also consists in the construction of a canteen and a school orchard, plus the instruction of the APA for them to grow and cook the schoolchildren’s breakfast. Moreover, we propose to further all those activities directed toward the creation of egalitarian bonds among the people inhabiting both sides of the Dominican-Haitian border, through joint actions involving teachers, students and parents from both countries. The whole project is part of a larger process of cross-border development to promote transnational environmental education. It puts special emphasis on the improvement of the educational infrastructures in both border towns, seen as fulcra for the expansion of a new sensibility towards the physical environment, which on the Haitian side is devastated and on the Dominican side is threatened by industrial and touristic activities, incompatible with the preservation of protected areas. The idea of a refectory furnished withcooking devices powered by solar energy is aimed at putting this special emphasis on the preservation of the environment – the use of clean energies reduces the impact of deforestation caused by the production of charcoal, which is the only existing fuel in the area. Our project is based, therefore, on the potential capacity of instruction to impinge on a tendency which is decimating the student population in the region, while also causing serious damage to its resources and to the good understanding between the people of these two nations.

HAITIANSE-À-PITRE

period 2009cause Children educationcategoryDevelopmenttypology School

ASF partnerASF Francelocal partnerADTJK and AEC

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT CENTRE IN KAMPONG SVAY

ADTJK (Association pour le Développement Technique de la Jeunesse Khmere) is a cambodian association founded in 1993, which has been supporting for 9 years the schooling at «Somra Komar» primary school that the association has built in Village II of Kampong Svay (suburb of Sisophon, north-east of Cambodia). ADTJK also has been providing extra help sessions for 3 years, for the children of its household (Foyer Lataste) and its sponsored godchilds.Rewarded for 3 consecutive years (2006, 2007, 2008) by the Komar Metreï prize, Somra Komar school is the best of the town. Strong of its results in primary and its experience in managing educational support, ADTJK wants secondary school pupils benefit of its capacity, because it appeared that the local secondary school is in need of it, especially for the poorest pupils.ATDJK aims to develop on its site a building project including 10 classrooms and a library. The project is held by a french association, AEC (Aide aux Enfants Cambodgiens) which wants to keep on developing educational action toward the youths of Foyer Lataste, and extend this action to the poorest children of the area.AEC called ASF to evaluate the technical feasability of the project, and to study the context and the program stakes. An evaluation mission was lead in may 2009.This project’s ambition is to structure the district, as a dynamic educative pole, acknowledged by all the villagers. Work with local constructive techniques and an accurate design of each space will be needed, to succeed in the insertion of the project, in this mostly agricultural region.

CAMBODIAKAMPONG SVAY

period 2009cause Land-rights recognitioncategoryDevelopment, technical educationtechnology&materialEarth construction

ASF partnerASF Francelocal partnerTerre Construite/ Tierra ConstruidadonorSelf funding

EARTH CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY PROJECT IN ARGENTINA

The association Terre Construite/Tierra Construida bases its approach on earth construction techniques, as a political answer to the issues of construction economy. Its involvment inside the Amaicha del Valle community strengthened this position, facilitating the community to build its economic and social autonomy. Natives communities have been recognized since the new Argentinian Constitution in 1994. At Amaicha del Valle, only 52.812 of the 132.000 ha of claimed lands were given back through a cadastral sketch in 2002. The administrative process for the legal restitution of the land is not over yet. Thus the struggle continues for the recognition of the whole territory against big land-owners and the constitutional context.TC, in partnership with ASF-France, was actively involved in this work by drawing a precise map of the territorial limits, with the help of the “Cedula Real”, a 1716 text in which the king of Spain did recognize the existence of the community. The project manager of ASF, in a frame of action by TC, works closely with the cacique (chief of the community) on several projects:Establishment of a urban code;Recovery of a plot, in order to refurbish it into a community development center (hosteria);Building of workshops for a school for the disabled (escuela San Roque);Technical support for a bridge construction (la Fronterita);Refurbishment of a building for tourism purposes, in order to develop the economic autonomy of the community (Pulperia);Survey of Quilmes’ ruins site, to improve the rainwater system which is currently damaging the archeological heritage.In addition, the “Tierra Construida association house” allows architecture students to get earth construction training with amaicheños (Amaicha inhabitants), who still build with this material.

ARGENTINAAMAICHA DEL VALLE

period 2005-2009cause Shelter for children categoryDevelopmenttypologyHousing

ASF partnerASF France with GREFlocal partnerRegard du CoeurdonorCOOP 92

CHILDREN AND STAFF ACCOMODATION IN AVRANKOU

Following several educational projects lead by the GREF in Benin, a lack of structures to accomodate children with problems was pointed out in the region of Ouémé. “Regard du Cœur”, a local association for the protection of childhood, is associated with the project. Located in the area of Avrankou, the building hosts for 60 internal children and 30 external children from 8 to 16 years old. The programme, linked to the pedagogical project of both associations, includes accomodation for children and staff, a building for educational activities and technical buildings. The plan for the buildings on a 3 ha plot was conceived in order to preserve a maximum of palm trees in the surrounding area.The project is adapted to the local way of life. Most of the buildings are covered, though not completely enclosed (type “appatam”). The buildings are made of clay bricks and concrete tiles. Such architectural design choices combine the awareness of the climate with the environment of their construction, while utilising current progessions in construction techniques. This project is devised as a “school construction site” and provides learners with required and desirable skills. The department of Hauts-de-Seine subsidized the first phase of the progress, representing 75% of the whole installation.

BENINAVRANKOU

period 2008-...cause Cultural developmentcategoryPost emergency reconstructiontypologyTown planning, School building, Solar energy production plant, Water savingtechnology&material Adobe (with Voûte Nubienne earth vault), straw, corrugated iron, timber, stone, concrete, steel

ASF partnerASF Francelocal partnerADVO

CULTURAL CENTRE IN OUSSOUBIDIAGNA

The project, located in a small isolated town near Kayes, West Mali, is a cultural centre that ASF France is designing for and with ADVO (Association de Développement du Village d’Oussoubiadiagna). ADVO is composed of Malian migrants now working in Parisian suburbs, and local youths. They wish to develop educational and cultural activities for local youth: teaching basic literacy, agriculture and computing, as well as providing a place for film screenings, concerts, dance, drama, etc. The project includes community spaces, a library, a cybercafé, a record room for the local radio, huts for visitors, a guard house, and sports grounds, the whole development set around a large circular meeting hall. This hall is a strong symbol of modernity and regeneration which is important for the inhabitants. It is made of a large photovoltaic panelled roof, which will provide the center with enough power for all its equipment and lighting.This quite sophisticated structure will be the most technical part of the project and needs special technological skills. Apart from this one element, ASF France is developing the rest of the project by using techniques based on local resources.The members of ADVO are also very interested in the training possibilities that can be attached to the project, and its potential in term of skills transference to the benefit of the village population.

MALIOUSSOUBIDIAGNA

period 2006-...cause Help local organisation toenhance educational programcategoryDevelopmenttypologyPublic service: school

ASF partnerASF France with Plaisir Jeunesse, ACJAMlocal partnerComité des Jeunes pourle Développement deSabalibougoudonorRégion Ile de France

SOLIDARITY PROJECT IN SABALIBOUGOU

As a solidarity project, this building has been made in cooperation with a local organization of young people living in Sabalibougou, a Bamako neighborhood in Mali and two social workers organizations in France. 12 French adolescents were sent from a Paris suburb to participate in the construction of these three classrooms. The task for ASF was mainly to help choosing the right place to do it, to draw the mainline of the project and to assist the French organizations in their work.

MALISABALIBOUGOU

periodo2008 causeResearch on autoconstruction as a tool for participatory processescategory Education: workshoptypologyHousingtechnology&materialTecnnologies: Beno, batea (Argentina), quincha, domocana (Perù), concrete cupole (Cile); materials: wood, bamboo, earth, bricks, concrete

ASF partnerASF Italialocal partnerTriennale di Milano, Politecnico di Milano, ESEMdonorANCE Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili

BUILDING WITH PEOPLE. LOW COST TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

On the occasion of the exhibition “Casa per Tutti” (“Housing for all”) curated by Fulvio Irace, the cultural institution Triennale di Milano and ASF-Italia, together with the Politecnico di Milano and ESEM (Ente Scuola Edile Milanese) promoted the workshop “Building with people. Low cost technologies for developing countries”. The objective was three-fold: to learn, apply and experiment a few technologies from different low-income contexts; to physically build a few housing units that are appropriate to some of the socio-cultural-environmental contexts where ASF-Italia operates; to experience and exchange ideas on different construction techniques that are appropriable by many and can make a powerful medium to facilitate processes of participation and auto-construction of one’s own living environment.The main reference for the technologies that ASF-Italia tested is the research promoted by the workgroup Casapartes, Cyted (Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarrollo): since 1997 Casapartes has been disseminating appropriate and appropriable technologies for the social production of habitat in Latin America. The workshop was organized into two phases: theoretical seminars, aimed to circumscribe and clarify the issue of housing in low-income areas; the practical activity of building, aimed to experiment and verify technologies and building processes.All the practical activities were held at Triennale Bovisa and, with the support of video and internet connections, they were part of the exhibition “Casa per Tutti”.

ITALYMILANO

period2007-2008 causeEducation to animal health in Saharawi refugee campcategoryDevelopmenttipologyPublic services: schooltechnology&materialConcrete and adobe

ASF partnerASF Italia & Africa’70local partnerDepartment of Veterinary: Ministry of Health - Arab Democratic Republic of SaharawidonorItalian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

VETERINARY SCHOOL IN SAHARAWI REFUGEE CAMP

The project was born in collaboration with the NGO Africa’70, which has operated in Saharawi refugee camp of Rabuni since 2002 with several projects centered on cattle-breeding support, animal health and stray dogs control. The school includes several didactic spaces (library, classrooms, clinic) as well as a few rooms to host local and foreign students, teachers and Africa’70 staff , for a total floor surface of approximately 500 sqm.After the school was built, ASF-Italia explored the possibility to conduct further research on the use of adobe and other alternatives modes of construction, foreseeing the possibility to build a small prototype structure together with the local community, to be included in the veterinary school.

ALGERIARABUNI

period2006-2007causeTo ameliorate construction procedures in social housing projectscategory DevelopmenttipologySocial housing and public services: schoolstechnology&materialCocrete roof-tiles, concrete&clay bricks, adobe, vegetal materials

ASF partnerASF Italialocal partnerRicerca&Cooperazione; Rural Housing; Municipality of MaamekrobodonorItalian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

RURAL HOUSING IN THE AFRAM PLAINS

Two missions were undertaken in order to monitor and test a few social housing and public services projects (mainly schools), constructed by the Italian NGO Ricerca&Cooperazione in the region of Afram Plains and in Sefwi Wiawso, Western Region between 1988 and 2004.The main objective of the missions was to evaluate the quality of construction of the existing buildings and to give R&C a few guide-lines on how to ameliorate the manufacture processes of a new housing project to be built in Donkorkrom, Afram Plains. During the missions, several pathologies were recognized in the existing buildings. Some of the construction issue and recommendations of utmost interest are: use of concrete roof-tiles, to augment the thermal capacity of roofs and to diminish the costs of construction; increase in internal ventilation by changes in the geometry of roofs; amelioration of the construction quality of external walls by introducing mixed concrete & clay bricks; use of drainage surfaces around the buildings’ foundations; use of eaves in conjunction with water-collection basins; experimentation in the use of hen-house nets for the construction of foundations; use of false ceilings in cloths and mats.

GHANAAFRAM PLAINS

period2003-...causeTo improve living conditions and touristic potential through the amelioration of built heritagecategory DevelopmenttipologyUrban rehabilitation

ASF partnerASF Italia & Africa’70local partnerMunicipality of Figuig, Moulay Slimane Foundation, several Ksur associationsdonorItalian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE OASIS OF FIGUIG

Figuig is a pre-saharian oasis which has been undergoing for several years the negative effects of its frontier position. The political instability and the socio-economical problems bound to the closure of the frontiers between Morocco and Algeria have limited the possibility of commercial and touristic activities, while favoring the flux of clandestine goods that strongly compete with both local products and legally imported ones. Although the region has a high potential due to natural resources, richness of landscapes and biodiversity; although the strategic position could favor relations of vicinity with both Mediterranean and Saharan territories, Figuig has been unable in recent times to play any relevant role in the national economy.The city is characterized by a specific spatial arrangement made of an interwoven constellation of seven separate Ksurs (neighborhoods), each linked to one or several palm-groves. This spatial and cultural structure is now disappearing due to the abandonment of the historical centers and to the construction of new dispersed settlements around them. Most important, the ungoverned expansion of settlements is causing a great amount of urban management problems, mainly consisting in the lack of infrastructural links and in the uneven distribution of public services and welfare provisions. Given such a problematic background, Africa’70 elaborated a rehabilitation project on the historical heritage of the oasis in conjunction with several local associations, pursuing the amelioration of the living conditions of Figuig’s inhabitants through a number of initiatives addressing the poor conditions of its built environment.The role of ASF-Italia | The final objective of ASF-I’s work is to trace a methodological path on how to elaborate the strategic plans that are necessary for a sustainable governance of Figuig’s territory. The first on-field investigation was conducted in October 2005, aimed to shed light on the recent evolution of Figuig’s urban fabric. Relief maps were drawn on each Ksur, highlighting the numerous factors that contribute to their specificity and the most evident problems in the state of conservation of the buildings and the urban fabrics, together with problems generated by the casual introduction of inappropriate building techniques. Short term perspectives | A few pilot construction-sites will start, aimed to restore some key buildings in cooperation with local manufacturers. The objective is to enable local craftmen to independently restore, transform and maintain the built heritage of the oasis by freely resorting to a variety of appropriate construction methods.

MOROCCOFIGUIG

period2002-2006 causeEducation to art&craftscategory DevelopmenttypologyPublic services: school of artstechnology&materialConcrete, pierre taillée, abobe

ASF partnerASF Italialocal partnerAssociation Siraba, Municipality of Bobo Dioulasso, Khoron Tlé, ASF EspañadonorMani Tese, Nando Peretti Foundation, Anlaids Lombardia

EDUCATION CENTER FOR FINE ARTS AND HANDCRAFTS DESIRÈ SOMÈ

Because of its geographical position, Bobo Dioulasso is intrinsically a place of encounters and a carrefour of exchanges between different peoples and cultures.Here three local associations of artists, Badenya, Sanyon, Farafina Yeleenba together with the Italian organization Koron Tlè, decided to respond to a need of the city by planning and finally realizing a center for education where they could assist and prepare local artists, which are a unique resource to the entire country.ASF-Italia was invited from the start as a partner to share ideas on the definition of the architectural project, which was expected to be discussed and realized in the same interlocutory, cross-cultural way as the educational project itself. The site hosting the intervention has a triangular shape andit is located in the periphery of Bobo Dioulasso. The architectural project makes use of a traditional Burkinese spatial structure: it revolves around a few courtyards and open spaces that are functionally independent from each other to guarantee the maximum flexibility in use. This arrangement also allowed the center to be built step-by-step during separate phases, according to the discontinuous fluxes of financial resources. The first phase concentrated on the working space for artistic activities: a large rehearsal room with an open courtyard, fitting rooms and an office. The second phase consisted in the construction of housing units, a building with a kitchen, dining rooms, an office and other small facilities. 12 housing units for teahers and students are organized around one open space and are connected to it through small wooden porches. In order to facilitate cross ventilation and climatic comfort, a small elevated loft was arranged in each unit.All the building were realized with a concrete structure; walls are made in pierre taillée – earth blocks obtained by mining. This very traditional material was coupled with concrete to increase the overall structural quality of the construction.

BURKINA FASOBOBO DIOULASSO

period 2007-...causeInternational cooperationcategory DevelopmenttypologyHousing and infrastructures

ASF partnerASF ONLUSlocal partnerFundacion Horizonte of the social group Asmet SaluddonorAwaiting for financing

BUILDING THE GUAMBIAN COMMUNITY

The project has the purpose of contributing to the reinforcement of the social, ethnic and cultural background of the “Guambian” native community of the “Cabildo La Bonanza” by means of the improvement of its habitat, that is to say the living, hygienic, sanitary conditions and infrastructures. Beneficiaries are composed of 205 Guambian families coming from Resguardo of Guambia Silvia and compelled, since 1930, to move into the east part of Morales Municipality for the lack of lands to live on. The Community faced the difficulties coming from settling in a new land, with the risk of loosing its own identity as a native ancestral community.Gambian Community asked for support in the reinforcement and improvement of its settlement, as well as in the process of social and cultural development. According to this request, ASF Onlus elaborated the following project in cooperation with the local community: a) improvement of the present hygienic, sanitary, living conditions and infrastructure, necessary to guarantee the available habitat for the community. For this purpose, the project will provide to the building of 20 houses for 20 families together with the basic infrastructures linked to them, in status of “auto-costruzione”;b) creation of a laboratory for the manufacturing of “guadua” (a kind of material similar to bamboo) and of wood, useful for the houses’ construction;c) promotion of training activities in communitary organization, leadership, building activities, manufacturing, creation of small factories, with the aim of strengthening the communitary organization and starting up productive activities in favour of the whole community. The project aims to make all the people involved (target group and local partners) able to develop their own technical and organization abilities by means of a communitary, synergic partecipation between the whole native population and the target group. Thus the project aims to contribute in making it easier to begin a sustainable development process.

COLOMBIAMORALES

period 2007-...causeInternational cooperationcategory EducationtypologyPublic service: school

ASF partnerASF ONLUSlocal partnerCongregation of the diocesan Nuns of St. Francis of Assisi of TshumbedonorPOIM - Missionary Pontificie Operates for the infancy (Rome), Self funding

SCHOOL AND HOUSING IN TETE NGOMBA

The project has the general purpose to fight against the increasing analphabetism, unemployment and underdevelopment, plagues that hit young people above all. This plan is part of a project aimed to increase scholarship rates, led by the local partner who acts in the name of the Diocese of “Thumbe”.The project implies the construction of a secondary school centre in an area without any schools for 80 km, where roads are extremely difficult to move on.Together with the local population and its local partner, ASF Onlus elaborated the following project:a) construction of an autonomous school complex made of a building with 6 classrooms for 540 students from twelve to eighteen years old and of another building for offices and the direction for the head master;b) building of houses for 18 teachers;c) realization of a well to take out of the water from the underearth stratum;d) being in acquaintance with professional activities linked to building and manufacturing fields through the promotion and realization of professional training, but also through the direct participation of local people in the construction of the buildings themselves as well as in the creation of the furniture for them.The methodology adopted for the improvement of the different activities of the project is generally based on a strongly communitarian approach and has the purpose of increasing the local cultural and professional abilities, with the aim of creating autonomous capabilities and putting the bases of development for the direct and undirect beneficiaries.

RD CONGOTETE NGOBA

period 2006cause UN Millenium Development Goalscategory DisseminationtypologyIntercultural exchange

ASF partnerASF ONLUSpartnerASF Belgium, ASF España, ASF PortugaldonorItalian Ministry of Social Solidarity

HOSTING AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF MIGRANTS IN EUROPE (YOUTH PROGRAMME)

This is an international exchange project conceived to make young people sensible and to get them involved in themes related to the hosting and social inclusion of migrants in Europe. The exchange involves youths from different nations with the common aim to deepen the migrants’ integration, starting from the social and cultural context at national and European level faced with migration phenomena, researching the already existing good practices andidentifying the role that civil society and youths can assume in the construction of a European society with a multicultural andhospitable vision. One of the main project activities was a workshop that produced a Manifesto for the Interface named MIRA (Migration Interface for Reflection and Activism), which includes a series of media actions to extend the net by raising awareness and promoting an international dialogue. International partners are: ASF Spain, ASF Belgium and ASF Portugal.

ITALYROMEITALYROME

MIRAMigration Interface for Refl ection and Activism

key issues: Changing collective mentality by building the individual Only new knowledges can produce effective policies No immigration, no emigration, just migration Abolishing racism by building a model for interculturality New preconceptions: more about similarities, less about differences Hosting cities vs. hosting centres

period 2005-2006cause UN Millenium Development GoalscategoryDevelopmenttypologyPublic service: school

ASF partnerASF ONLUSlocal partnerHermanas Hospitalarias del Sagrado Corazon de JesusdonorPrivate funding

MASTERPLAN OF ST FRANCIS JAVIER HOSPITAL COMPLEX

The San Francisco Javier Hospital, recognized by the National Sanitary System as the public hospital of Assin district, is the reference hospital structure for 41 surgeries, scattered in this area with about 250.000 beneficiaries. Considering the importance of the hospital, a great planning analysis was imperative. A methodological and procedural process of transformation and reorganization of Assin was initiated in order to improve the existing structures and their reciprocal relations, thus guaranteeing a correct and sustainable increase of the new sanitary structure. ASF ONLUS designed the technical urban project which includes the interventions for the planning and development of the entire hospital center. The master-plan contains measures for the enlargement of the pre-existing hospital buildings, for the reorganization of the connections between the different parts as well as for the realization of new buildings, more functional for the users.

GHANAFOSO

period 2005-2006causeUN Millenium Development Goalscategory DevelopmenttypologyMedical structure: psychiatricdistricttechnology&materialReinforced concrete

ASF partnerASF ONLUSlocal partnerHermanas Hospitalarias delSagrado Corazon de JesusdonorNavarra, Spain

RECONSTRUCTION AND ENLARGEMENT OF A NEW DAY-HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC

The psychiatric district “Telema” in Kinshasa was conceived as a hospital with the aim to assist the patients affected by mental problems and to give informative support to the families. The project of reconstruction and enlargement of “Telema” emerged from the necessity to adapt the structure to the changed requirements: from local it hasbecome a reference point at national level with users from many regions. The project objective is to receive and put into practice suitable technical solutions and technologies and the dynamics related to the management and development of the hospital, respecting traditional construction and cooperating with the technical skills of local enterprises. Considering this, the results have been: reorganization of the psychiatric district and related services, in particular flexibility and sustainability of the operation; solution of the energy emergency (continuity in electric energy supply) and hygienic sanitary (treatment and disposing the refuses); excellent social environmental impact of the project choices.

RD CONGOKINSHASA

period2003-2005 causeUN Millenium Development GoalscategoryDevelopment typologyMedical Structure: surgical ward technology&materialReinforced concrete

ASF partnerASF ONLUSlocal partnerSagrado Corazon de Jesus donorManos Unidas NGO

ST FRANCIS JAVIER HOSPITAL: CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SURGICAL WARD

The San Francisco Javier Hospital, recognised by the National Sanitary System as public hospital of Assin district, is the reference structure for 41 surgeries scattered in the area. The New Surgical Ward project proposal is meant to offer an answer to the increasing demand of beds and to create a ward dedicated to the stay in hospital of post-operated patients. The project solution respects the typologies and the constructional techniques of the existing structures. The application of environmental planning and the environmental impact valuation are the main methodological aspects applied to have a correct and integral organisation and management of the building process in order to guarantee the real sustainability of the work. The benefi ts that can be obtained by using renewable energies have been optimised by the use of local resources, producing great advantages for illumination, ventilation and cooling. Correlating typological and technical characteristics of the building with the climate characteristics has minimized the contribution of the systems.

GHANAFOSO

period 2003-2005causeUN Millenium Development Goalscategory Cultural mediationtypologySocial housing: a new model ofhosting center for refugees

ASF partnerASF ONLUSdonorSelf funding, Cesarch (CentroStudi degli Architetti di Roma)NEW HOSTING MODEL FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES CENTER

The project aims at formulating guidelines for future sustainable projects of “Second Hosting Centre” for refugees asking for asylum, in order to contribute to the improvement of the Hosting System in Italy. This system turned out to be inadequate and privileges the assistance character and not the participative character, typical of the existing hosting centre management. ASF Onlus worked out the typological and composition scheme of a New Model of Second Hosting Centre, that would be suitable to be used by local Administrations to apply it to the recovering processes of buildings or for new ones, to create a built-up and functional space, taking into account the communities’ interculturality in order to stimulate integration in the neighbourhoods and in the city.The project has been developed in a participatory way together with groups asking for asylum and occupying two dismissed buildings near the future “Nuova Stazione Tiburtina dell’Alta Velocità” in Rome.

ITALYROME

period 2008-...cause Safeguard of cultural heritagecategory Development

ASF partnerASF Portugallocal partnerAIDIA (Associação Independente para o Desenvolvimento Integrado de Alpiarça); Politécnico de Santarém.donorSelf funding

Safeguard of cultural heritage

AVIEIRA´S CULTURE LEGACY

The condition and geographical universe of these fishermen populations are unique in Europe and unrecognized since is unknown to the major public. This culture is still alive and embedded in its particular traditions and beliefs; however there is an imminent risk of losing their identity due to various factors and threats. The present survey is part of an overall project to promote Avieira Culture as a national heritage. The scope of our work has focused on the material legacy, recognizing the evidence of its intrinsic value, but also revealing the particular characteristics of a sustainable development process, in which we consider preserving the environment, ecological systems and biodiversity, opportunity to disseminate and implement socio-cultural aspects and the creation of economic factors that will contribute to the well-being of the community. We will address the significance of the housing typology in the lives of Avieiros’ people: from the boat to pile dwellings and piers and from the houses to different settlements, putting them in context historically and socially. We will bring into play the analysis of field data that extensively documented the situation and examined different strategies for the safeguard of its cultural heritage in the perspective of integrated and sustainable development. The analysis will focus on the boat as the realm of their first dwelling and the pile houses as imported models of dwelling which were inevitably modified by the urgencies of their evolving livelihood. The survey of the housing and interviews will be a key task to understand the phenomena therefore ASFP will create a database of relevant information on this specific vernacular architecture. Retrieval and dissemination of the Avieira’s Culture will inevitably have to start by rebuilding housing heritage and adapting it, for example, to face a certain cultural and touristic influx. Avieiros’ people and its descendants will always be in the centre of decisions and actions that may affect their future and possibly their patterns of cultural activity. We hope to develop the necessary information in order to support the future recovery of boat and pile dwellings and settlements, as well as, to promote the Avieira’s Culture as a critical and exceptional element for research in anthropological studies.

PORTUGALTAGUS RIVER

period 2007-...cause UN Millenium Development Goalscategory SensibilisationtypologyPublic service

ASF partnerASF Portugallocal partnerM.I.R.A. (Migration Interfacefor Refl exion anda Activism)donorSelf funding

HOSTING CITY PORTO: CALL FOR IDEAS

Migration: Our ideology stands for a new mentality, presented in our Manifesto.Interface: A platform that supports and connects different individuals, projects, organizations, ideas… building bridges between them.Reflection: The process of individual awareness starts by creating individual consciousness.Activism: Being active with effective answers to different problems and situations, denouncing, reclaming and redefining.Our objective with this initiative was to promote a refl ection on the city, its physical and social territory concerning the problems of social exclusion, specially associated with migration issues. Therefore, this competition of ideas has as object of study/intervention, our own city,Oporto, represented by four places: 1- Rotunda da Areosa; 2- Urban void near Casa da Música; 3- Blocks behind S. Bento Train Station; 4- Viela do Anjo. By choosing these places we’ve searched for identifi cation in our urban territory of different case studies associating public space refl ection, citizenship, social exclusion and migrants’ settlements. Our aim was to encourage participants to propose ideas and concepts for an intervention on the suggested places bearing in mind a critical refl ection on the issues mentioned above. The proposal must have also seek raising awareness and reclaiming social integration, in order to develop amore democratic territory and a more active role of each individual in the community.www.mi-ra.in/hostingcity.com

PORTUGALPORTO

period 2005-2006cause Tsunami 2004category Post emergencytypologyMedical structuretechnology & materialBrick

ASF partnerASF Portugallocal partnerHealth Ministry of Sri LankadonorDoctors of the World Portugal

HEALTH CARE CENTRE

Sri Lanka was one of the countries most affected by the Tsunami tragedy (more than 40.000 people died) and serious problems continue, mainly at the level of public health. The severe damage to health infrastructures is one of the leading problems today. Jaffna, one of the most affected regions, situated in the north of the country, continues to be neglected by international NGO’s and the government, due to the existing bad relationship with the Tamil.In partnership with ASFP, Doctors of the World - Portugal (MDMP) intended to build a Centre of Primary Health Care in Jaffna. Along with the Health’s Centre, the MDMP will also expand their work through benefi cial repairing at the Point Peter’s Hospital, renewal of the dental clinic and the construction of a blood bank. The ASF involvement consisted of allocating a suitable technician in the scope of construction management and technology. During a site visit, 2 ASFP technicians carried out a cautious and thorough survey in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the program.The team assessed the following issues: social and technological context of the country and province of Jaffna; possible favourable locations for the health centre to be built; hospital units organization in order to rehabilitate those in most need.

SRI LANKAJAFFNA REGION

period 2005-2006cause Tsunami 2004category Post emergencytypologyMedical structuretechnology & materialBrick

ASF partnerASF Portugallocal partnerHealth Ministry of Sri LankadonorDoctors of the World Portugal

DENTAL CLINIC AND BLOOD BANK

This project is the outcome of the visit realized by two ASFP technicians to Sri Lanka between the 23rd of November and the 8th of December in the scope of a partnership with the Doctors of the World - Portugal. The involved projects of the Doctors of the World - Portugal in Sri Lanka originated in the context of human relief after the 2004 Tsunami. The partnership between ASFP - MDMP intervened in the northern province of Jaffna and its main objective was the sanitization of two units of Point Peter’s Hospital. The hospital is in need of critical maintenance work in several areas. Moreover, specifi c types of surgeries are not possible to carry out because of the inexistence of a blood bank. For example: in order to accomplish a simple appendicitis operation the patients have to make a trip of one hour until the hospital of Jaffna. MDMP – ASFP will install a blood bank in one of the exterior blocks, in a small building that currently serves as warehouse. Also the redevelopment of the spaces intended for the Dental Clinic is planned. Currently, the Dental Clinic is placed inside of the hospital’s main building and is divided in three compartments. The new project proposes to establish a connection between those three compartments: two of them will be designed as the operating room of the two dentists; the remaining compartment will serve as an in-between area subdivided into two autonomous spaces. These two compartments combined will work as a supporting area for cleansing and sterilization, and will also comprise of a secretary space.

SRI LANKAJAFFNA REGION

period 2004cause Appeal from local associationof RasgocategorySensibilisationtypologyRural development workshoptechnology&materialStone

ASF partnerASF Portugallocal partnerAssociação RasgodonorCâmara Municipal de Vale daCambra

TREBILHADOURO

Trebilhadouro stands as a typical example of the abandonment of the Portuguese rural landscape, where agriculture almost ceased to exist and only a few elderly, lonely and poverty-stricken remain, as the younger migrate or move towards the larger cities located along the country’s coast line. In 2004, ASF Portugal was invited to participate in the International Festival of Trebilhadouro, promoted by local association of Rasgo, just as, in the press, offers were being made to “sell the whole settlement” to the best bidder. A field workshop was promoted in which an assessment of the present situation was made. Former inhabitants of Trebilhadouro were interviewed and guided the group through fi eld visits to the remains of the settlement. Landscape designers,sociologists, researchers, rural history experts and philosophers were called in (in a series of on-site conferences) and data concerning the architectural characteristics of the ensemble were gathered (measurements, condition assessments, photographic descriptions) to document and preserve the memory of Trebilhadouro.

PORTUGALTREBILHADOURO

period 2008-...causeAffordable housing, secure tenure and proper sanitationcategory Education & researchtypologyHousing, urban design and physical planning

ASF partnerASF Sweden local partnerSPARC-India, Mahila MilandonorTo be found

COLLABORATION BETWEEN ASF-SWEDEN, SPARC-INDIA AND MAHILA MILAN

ASF-Sweden is working on a long-term collaboration program with Society for the Promotion of Resource Areas Centres (SPARC) in alliance with Mahila Milan, which are parts of the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) that organise hundreds of thousands of slum dwellers in 73 cities across India and has networks in 32 countries around the globe. The aim is to develop a concrete collaboration program and to apply knowledge about design and planning from a developmental and socially responsible point of view. ASF-Sweden will support SPARC’s work to produce solutions for affordable housing, secure tenure and proper sanitation. ASF-Sweden is to send professionals to India in order to learn how to practically apply enabling housing and urban design strategies and to creatively work out alternative models for affordable spatial and physical solutions together with SPARC and local professionals. It is estimated that ASF-Sweden will contribute with special competence in the following fields:- theories and practical knowledge about enabling housing and planning strategies with respect to upgrading of slums;- the use of earth and other natural, local materials in the construction of houses in urban areas;- the relationship between house types, block types, urban types and densities;- sustainable urban development, including theories about the compact city, the role of urban form for choice of mode of transport, theories on factors behind behavioural change, how to promote sustainable transport of goods and people, and the benefits of the Ecosan toilet;- use of models and other visual techniques when presenting planning and design proposals that may be understood by laymen in a process of participation.

INDIAMUMBAI

period 2007-...causeDissemination about the work of HRC; contributing with experiences of integrating a child perspective in urban planningcategory Information and Methodology developmenttechnology&materialExhibitions, computer aided lectures, networking, workshops and more

ASF partnerASF Swedenlocal partnerHebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC)donorSwedish International Development Cooperation Agency

RESTORING AND UPGRADING THE OLD TOWN OF HEBRON

ASF-Sweden engages in a project of co-operation with the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, which since 1996 has been restoring the ancient fabric and upgrading the infrastructure of the Old Town of Hebron - one of the oldest cities in the world and a cultural heritage for humanity. The aim of the committee’s work is to safeguard Hebron’s architectural heritage, but also to revive traditional craftsmanship, create jobs and allow the inhabitants to stay in their city.Since several decades, the presence of militant Israeli Jewish settlers in Hebron’s Old Town is a threat to its physical and social survival. Houses are demolished and emptied, and vital streets closed for Palestinians. The inhabitants are expelled or trapped-in, shops closed forcibly or by lack of access, children attacked on their way to school. In this everyday situation the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee work to rehabilitate and restore the houses and to graduate the infrastructure in the Old City. The role of ASF-Sweden is to spread information about the situation in Hebron and the valuable work of HRC, and to contribute with Swedish experiences of integrating a child perspective in urban planning (start in 2010, end 2012). Methods developed in Sweden by experts, and experiences from practical work of Swedish architects, will be adapted to the local context together with the HRC staff in recurrent workshop sessions in Hebron, in which children from schools of the Old City will participate. The goal is making the child perspective a natural part of the work process of HRC. The project will be followed up and evaluated by HRC, ASF-Sweden and Sida, to see if this cooperation could be further developed and/or applied in other places in Palestine or elsewhere.As a test project, ASF and HRC have become partners in a cooperation with three universities in Sweden (KTH, LTH and Alnarp), tutoring and supporting four students that have made their master diploma work in Hebron. The common theme for all students is making proposals for buildings, places and/or town/landscaping in Hebron Old City, with a strong child perspective in mind. A presentation by the students will be held in Hebron in November 2009 By the beginning of 2010, the outcome will be subject to evaluation by ASF and HRC.

PALESTINEHEBRON

period 2006-...causePromote integration amongchildrencategory EducationtypologyPublic service: school

ASF partnerASF Swedenlocal partnerAsere Hawariat Moya SchooldonorPrivate funding

EDUCATIONAL CENTRE IN ADDIS ABEBA

This project is an extension of a school in Addis Ababa, in the form of an Educational Centre. The school’s target is the poorest families and street children and its pedagogy is based on humanism and everyone’s equal rights. Through the years the school has helped thousands of children to a better life.Ethnical segregation has increased dramatically in the Ethiopia in recent years. The main purpose of the Educational Centre is to counteract this tendency and promote understanding among different cultures. The idea is that it will become a place where the students themselves can exhibit items from their own cultures and tell each other about them. Another important aim is to create pride in Ethiopia to hinder the brain-drainage and make the children stay in the country and contribute to its development once educated. Moreover, the centre will include exhibitions on the history of Ethiopia and women’s and children’s rights. The building will be approximately 600 sqm and focus on creating spaces for exhibitions and opportunities for informal and formal meetings. It will also be a useful supplement in the school’s everyday education - for outdoor lectures, drama and music classes - and it will form the main meeting point for students and teachers. Building materials are chosen with sustainability and local availability in mind.

ETHIOPIAADDIS ABEBA

period May 2009 cause Homelessness, positive change category Training, education typologyPaviliontechnology & material Recycled materials

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerEden Project, St Edmonds Society, Noah Enterprise Centre, Homeless link donorHomes and Communities Agency

THE KEY RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW GARDEN

ASF-UK created a symbolic pavilion centrepiece for a major show garden at 2009 RHS Chelsea Flower Show to help raise the issue of homelessness and positive change. The project highlighted the work of Places of Change, an £80m capital improvement funding programme managed by the Homes and Communities Agency which seeks to identify, encourage, engage and realise the potential of homeless people enabling them to move on with, and turn around, their lives. The Key garden was the product of a unique and ambitious collaboration between the Homes and Communities Agency, Communities and Local Government, the Eden Project, Homeless Link and Architecture Sans Frontières-UK. Poets, artists, gardeners and craft workers around the country who have been or remain homeless all helped in creating a place of hope, aspiration and community within a garden whose main theme is homelessness, as part of ‘The Key’ show garden design at Chelsea. The design was founded on sustainability, resourcefulness, and the creative adaptation of materials that were once discarded by society as waste. These materials were transformed by people who have themselves experienced social exclusion through homelessness and who are now being trained at St Edmunds Society in Norwich and Noah Enterprise Centre in Luton. The pavilion brief was to create a place of hope, aspiration, community and activity. At the same time it has been a tool which has encouraged and enabled as many people as possible to contribute to its creation. The “Place of Change” pavilion was defined by reclaimed timber posts. Artworks are stencilled on the timbers expressing a personal life journey of offending, homelessness and redemption. The centre-piece of the pavilion was a large multipurpose meeting table which doubles as a planting bench, made from salvaged old doors and windows. Car windscreens were used to cover sitting shelters and the posts and timber were all reclaimed materials. The garden received formal recognition in the form of an RHS Silver Flora medal and third place in the People’s Choice Awards. The pavilion has been a springboard for those who participated in the process to achieving increased confidence and inspiration, new skills and networks, and employment opportunities.

UKLONDON

period April 2009 cause Urban poor housing evaluation/grass root organisation support category Development, educationtechnology & materialRecycled materials and PRA

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerSociedade Primeiro de Maio, Movimento dos Sem Teto da Bahia (MSTB) donorSelf funding

BUILDING COMMUNITIES IV

In April 2009, ASF-UK in conjunction with Dr. Alex Frediani of the Development Planning Unit, University College London, carried out a two week workshop in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Salvador da Bahia is the third largest city in Brazil with more than 3 million inhabitants. The 8% of land that is still available is highly desirable to developers and the 90,000 homeless estimated in 2000. Collective action has been the major mechanism for the poor to claim land in Salvador da Bahia. The workshop explored and assessed two contrasting initiatives – one led by the state government and one led by a social movement - to address the housing crisis of Salvador.During the first week participants reflected with local residents of Novos Alagados on the impacts of the poverty alleviation programme Ribeira Azul (managed by the state government of Bahia and the Italian NGO AVSI), by looking at how the interventions are affecting residents’ ability and opportunity to achieve their housing aspirations. Through photo mapping exercises and discussions individuals shared their views and further insight was given to members about how problems, common or otherwise, affect each other and the community as a whole. Based on these discussions, each group made a poster expressing the findings, then shared with the Socieda de Primeiro de Maio. In the second week the focus turned to Escada and the occupation by the MSTB, an active group occupying strategically unused buildings and sites for the construction of temporary and permanent houses. The objective was to contribute to the clarification of the mechanisms for the consolidation of occupations, strengthen local solutions and explore mechanisms to scale them up. One group approached the task with an ‘institutional’ perspective, another with a ‘community’ perspective and the third focused on the ‘house’ and ‘building components’. The workshop highlighted problems on an individual, community and institutional level. The participatory and visual tools enabled participants to engage with the community to understand their perspective, the impact of projects and how future development programmes can address not only the manifestation of current problems but also their root causes. Through a follow up workshop in 2010 ASF-UK hope to continue to build capacity of the local organisations on the ground in Salvador.

BRAZILSALVADOR DA BAHIA

period June 2008cause Seismically vulnerable regioncategory Education, constructiontypologyIntermediate sheltertechnology & materialTimber, concrete, CGI, reclaimed materials

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerSEEDS India, Gomti Prayag Jan Kalyan Parishae donorChristian Aid, self funding

VULNERABILITY AND RISK WORKSHOP

In June 2008 the ‘Vulnerability and Risk Workshop’ series continued in India in Langasu Village, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand in partnership with the Indian NGO, SEEDS India and the local organisation, GPJKP. Chamoli district was at the epicentre of an earthquake in 1999 where almost 100 people lost their lives. This region is vulnerable in terms of seismic activities and there is a high probability of another earthquake in the near future. ASF-UK engaged in a complex two-week programme of investigation, design, procurement, negotiation and construction of a small intermediate shelter behind the local school. This shelter would serve not only as a prototype for the local community, but also as a much needed additional temporary classroom for this school. The brief was ambitious and the context in which the scenario was based broadly introduced the majority of issues development practitioners have to engage with, when working in a post-disaster scenario.The design for the shelter developed as information on the different technologies/materials/vernacular was collected in the area. Research into humanitarian standards from secondary sources was fed into the rigorous design process. Locally available materials were procured and local masons hired within a budget of £625. With a very ambitious programme a careful redesign was necessary to remain within the budget and finish the building on time. The post workshop evaluation process revealed the successes and challenges of the workshop. An interim shelter was designed, procured and built in just 10 days and the group witnessed the process evolve through sketching, building and thinking. The participants had to juggle the overlapping agendas of the intermediate shelter and its future use as a school classroom which added an interesting dynamic to the process. The reflections and evaluation process have been formalized through the production of a publication following the workshop. Another task that a separate team was engaged in was designing solutions for retrofitting the existing school for earthquake resistance and to develop a model school proposal. This has been progressed further since the workshop and ASF-UK are supporting SEEDS and GPJKP to develop a funding proposal. One year on and the interim shelter is in full use as an additional classroom for the school.

INDIACHAMOLI

period April 2008cause Social minority communities, social status & living conditions category Education, developmenttechnology & materialPRA, found materials

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerCASE Japan (Community Architects for Shelter and Environment)donorGB Sasakawa Foundation, Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation, self funding

BUILDING COMMUNITIES III

In Easter 2008 the ‘Building Communities’ workshop series continued in the KitaShiba area of Osaka, Japan with local partner CASE Japan. Participants experienced a city where public housing has been formalized, and were given opportunities to understand the after-effects of slum eradication and an effective community upgrading programme. Working within one of Japan’s social minority communities (the Buraku), participants explored the housing solutions provided by the Minoh government and those solutions the community developed in order to cope with their change in social status and living conditions. This was achieved through a series of lectures and interactive exercises, which focused on four main issues affecting the social realm including public housing, public spaces, and homelessness in the land of housing and issues of social interactions. The participants developed an understanding of the Barakumin discrimination issue in Japan and an insight into the complexities of working as a professional with communities in long term development projects. Through the partnership with CASE they explored the methods and techniques a local architecture practice employs when working with communities, and prototyped a tool for community engagement that was shared and enhanced by the local community on the Community Spring Festival day (which coincided with the final day of the workshop). The group had started the two weeks with expectations of engaging with the local community and exploring an unknown side of Japan. At the same time they were keen to find out what an architect can specifically do in this kind of project with his/her skills. The workshop enabled students to learn about the current social housing strategy in Japan and broaden their skills as architects to engage with a community and some of the complex issues it faces.

JAPANOSAKA

period 2006causeUN Millenium developmentgoalscategory EducationtypologyHousing: orphanage

ASF partnerASF UK, with Archaoslocal partnerHearts of HopedonorSquire and Partners

DESIGN PRIMER COMPETITION FOR AN AIDS ORPHANAGE

The AIDS crisis in South Africa has left 12 million orphans aged 0 to 17 (2005). The purpose of the Design Primer Competition for an AIDS orphanage was threefold; to generate ideas or a design primer, to raise awareness of the scale of the AIDS crisis in South Africa and further afield, and to raise money. It was a theoretical exercise to challenge students to consider how to improve the provision of facilities for AIDS orphans with an emphasis on innovative design ideas in terms of materiality and spatial and formal relationships. It offered an opportunity to enrich a simple building through consideration of shelter, privacy and small scale detailing. From a notional brief of accommodation, locally sourced materials, budget requirements and environmental considerations a diversity of design ideas emerged. These ranged from pragmatic to playful solutions, at different stages of refinement. Themes of ownership, thresholds and identity were explored through formal and organic solutions in the landscape at different scales.

SOUTH AFRICAOLIFANTSFONTEIN

period September 2006cause EducationcategoryPost emergency reconstructiontypologyTemporary shelter: asimulation activity of postdisaster reconstructiontechnology&material Waste material

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerIDee, The Eden ProjectdonorSelf funding

VULNERABILITY AND RISK: REBUILDING COMMUNITIES AFTER DISASTER

Following on from the success of ASF-UK’s Summer School, in 2005, a second summer school took place at the Eden Project in Cornwall in 2006.This year the emphasis was on linking relief and early interventions with longer term developmental goals. It included a 2 day component of lectures and workshops led by world renowned speakers including Professor Nabeel Hamdi (Oxford Brookes University) and Mr. Anshu Sharma (SEEDS, India) who discussed rebuilding communities after disaster in relation to their own work. Students were encouraged to discuss the issues of vulnerability and livelihoods, and vernacular responses to emergency shelter. The theories were put into practice with the building of temporary structures from waste materials in the Hot Tropics Biome of the Eden project in Cornwall. The structures stayed in the Biome for several months and continued to engage public understanding regarding living conditions of vulnerable people worldwide.

UKCORNWALL

period June 2006causeEducationcategory Community participation methodstypologyInstallation: urban playgroundtechnology&materialWaste material

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerLondon Architecture Biennale

RE-COVER(Y)

Re-Cover(y) was a project launched by ASF UK for the London Architecture Biennale, 2006. It involved a team of students and architects, lead by Peruvian architect Mariana Leguia. The aim of the installation was to demonstrate how peoples’ interactions with London and its built environment are changing, and raise issues of development, society and sustainability in relation to urban settlement. Traditional design practice was abandoned in favour of more participatory and democratic methods of design. Through unconventional methods of mapping the participants discovered contrasts, idiosyncrasies and qualities that might have otherwise been missed in Vernon Square near Kings Cross in London. Different methods were used for generating design ideas encouraging students to take on the roles of ‘user’, ‘negotiator’ and ‘technician’ exploring the potential of the site and resources available. All of the materials had been salvaged or donated including pallets, carpet tiles, plastic bottles, 2 sails and 3 doors. The installation allowed people to see the potential in the space and ideas for the future change.

UKLONDON

period September 2005cause EducationcategoryUrban developmenttypologyHousing, simulation of building by people for peopletechnology&material Waste material

ASF partnerASF UKlocal partnerIDee, The Eden ProjectdonorSelf funding

BUILDING COMMUNITIES I

In September 2005, ASF-UK held a summer school at the Eden Project in Cornwall involving 35 students and professionals. The theme of post disaster shelter and settlement engaged the participants’ creative skills and ideas with key global issues: the environment, poverty and human rights. It is estimated that one-sixth of the world’s population live in informal settlements (2006). With this in mind the participants considered the role of the architect and how the built environment might become sustainable. They explored participatory practice and dialogue with vulnerable people in order to sustain livelihoods, resources, cultures andcommunities. Plans made in the classroom were superseded by the need for immediate innovation as students set about building shelters in a day to sleep in, with materials sourced from the Eden Project’s waste management team. The process gave the group an insight into how people innovate under extreme limitations on time, space and resources to fulfill the basic needs of shelter.

UKCORNWALL

period 2001-2007cause Homeless childrencategoryDevelopmenttypologyReception centre

ASF partnerArchitekten über Grenzen Germanylocal partnerAIDA Germany/Munich,AIDA Brasil/TanguádonorGerman Ministry for Development, BMZ

CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND JUVENILES IN TANGUÁ

In 1999 the german NGO AIDA started a social project with the construction of a small convention-center for disadvantaged children and youngsters living on the road or in diffi cult families. The initial cooperation with a German technical college was stopped still in the course of the construction because of utter disagreements. Because of the lack of an adeqate location for the children already living on the site a member of Architekten Über Grenzen (AÜG) was asked in June 2000 to design a residential building for 10 children and their foster-parents. With only little time left, the design-job had to be done by ourself. The construction of the first children’s home started in March 2001 and was finished in September. Surveilling the erection of the loadbearing structure and the beginning of the interior completition a member of AÜG was on the spot twice. AÜG took over the costs of the flight. A Brazilian architect could be engaged for the surveillance of the completition of the first children’s home and the construction of the following ones. The erection of the last children’s home was sponsored with funds of the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development). AÜG helped the german NGO AIDA during all stages of the project: from the application scheme to the request of financial transfers until the proof of the expenses. After a lot of initial diffi culties with the responsible local staff and repeatedly hold-ups, the project as a whole has fi nally become successful. All four children’s homes have been occupied and a last important project has just started in 2007 with the construction of a building for education, job training, staffl ocation and administration. We took part in the overall design of this project as well, but now the new local holder, the 3rd order of the Franciscans has taken over full responsibility for the further progress of the project.

BRAZILTANGUÀ

period 1999-2003cause WHO analysiscategoryDevelopmenttypologyPublic service: primary school

ASF partnerArchitekten über Grenzen Germanylocal partnerDESWOS, Anglican Church ofKeniadonorGerman Ministry for Development, BMZPRIMARY SCHOOL IN NAIPA

In 1998 two doctors who worked for the WHO in the Region of Naipa in the northwest of Kenia asked “Architects over Frontiers” Germany to help them to build a primary school for the region. In the follow up process “Architekten Über Grenzen” and the German Development Organization DESWOS were engaged in the school building together with fi nancial support of the German Ministry for Development, BMZ, and the Anglican Curch of Kenia as a local partner. In 2003 the school has been fi nished and handed over to the local partner. The school has 4classrooms, a staff room and a directory with a base of 220 squaremetres. For a cost of all in all 35.000 Euros “Architects over Frontiers” Germany and DESWOS were able to build a school in which today nearly 500 children are getting lections from teachers paid by the State of Kenia.

KENIANAIPA

period 2008-...cause Health carecategory DevelopmenttypologyDouble storey disability centre

ASF partnerAWF Australialocal partnerKianh FoudationdonorRMIT University, Planet Wheeler Foundation

DIEN BAN DISABILITY DAY CENTRE

The Dien Ban Disability Day Centre is a proposed health and educational facility that the Kianh Foundation plans to build in 2010 in order to meet pressing needs for disability support and services in Dien Ban/Hoi An, Central Vietnam. Architects Without Frontiers are working with pro-bono firm, BURO Architecture, from Melbourne, RMIT University, RMIT International University Vietnam (RIUV) to develop concept designs for the 1600m2 facility. The Kianh Foundation is a UK charity that has been helping disabled and disadvantaged children at the government-owned Hoi An Orphanage in Hoi An since 2002. It hopes to expand its work by building a separate, purpose designed facility in Dien Ban, located 8km from Hoi An. Dien Ban was heavily bombed during the war and has the highest proportion of disability in the Province, with over 800 children with disability who do not have access to essential education and therapy services. The Disability Day Centre will help to address the gap in services by providing much needed medical and educational assistance. It also aims to set a benchmark in green building design. The two-storey facility will provide space for physiotherapy, education and training, administration and recreation. It will also include outdoor physiotherapy, playground and landscaped areas. Concept designs for the proposed facility were prepared in July 2008 by AWF’s partner firm BURO Architecture. However, due to a change of site location, and the recent impact of Typhoon Ketsana, the concept is being re-developed. AWF staff visited Dien Ban in October 2009 to review the new site and also to assess damage by Ketsana. The typhoon hit Quang Nam province with winds of up to 144 km/h with the flow on affect of the worst flooding on record. Fortunately the Kianh Foundation has been spared significant damage on this occasion. AWF will work with BURO architecture over the next 3-4 months to develop revised concept designs for the Disability Day Centre, which is scheduled to go to construction by mid 2010.

VIETNAMDIEN BAN

period 2008-...cause Child educationcategory Reconstruction, developmenttypologyPreschools

ASF partnerAWF Australialocal partnerManav Sadhna, Bholu Pty LtddonorCity of Melbourne

ANGANWADI

Preschools, locally known as ‘anganwadi’, in the slums of Ahmedabad, India consist of inadequate structures and environments, and are not conducive to childhood learning. AWF joined forces with organisations Bholu and Manav Sadhna to rebuild the anganwadis by both providing design input and by sending teams of skilled AWF architects and volunteers. The vision is to upgrade and rebuild all 66 anganwadis in the Tekra Slum communityIn November 2008, Jodie Fried, founder of Bholu Pty Ltd and Jane Rothschild, AWF Project Director went to Ahmedabad and met with AWF volunteers, surveyed sites, met with the builder and set up the volunteer program with Manav Sadhna. Since that scoping visit, 6 AWF volunteers have traveled to Ahmedabad for periods ranging from 3 weeks to 5 months. In that time, they designed and built 5 new anganwadi (pre-schools), which have now all been completed. Bholu’s 3, 4 5,6 and 7 have been decorated and inaugurated and the children and teachers are settled into the new schools. The funds for the construction of these schools were donated through the generous support of the City of Melbourne. In the coming building season (October to February) seven AWF volunteers will travel to Ahmedabad to design and co-ordinate the construction of further anganwadis.

INDIAAHMEDABAD

period March-August 2008 cause Cultural developmentcategory Public servicestypologySingle storey cultural centre

ASF partnerAWF Australialocal partnerInjalak Arts and CraftsdonorThomas Foundation

CULTURAL CENTRE IN GUNBALANYA

Injalak Arts and Crafts asked AWF Australia to help them to construct a cultural centre for Gunbalanya by providing schematic design and scoping services to help get funding. The new Cultural Centre aims to provide a basis for cultural and economic sustainability and self-determination.AWF undertook two visits to carry out consultation with local stakeholders. The first meeting involved the traditional owners and many other interested people, and AWF was able to get good feedback on what the community wanted from their Cultural Centre. Returning to Melbourne, AWF’s project volunteers , Garry Ormston, Debra Kunda and Rebecca Adams, worked up a design proposal based on the information they had gathered on their visit. On the second trip, AWF took a model and drawings around to the school and the arts centre to get feedback from people, and left the proposed design set up at Injalak Arts and Crafts to encourage further feedback. Following the response, a number of programmatic changes were made to the design.The scoping document and costed schematic design was returned to the community in August 2008, completing this phase of AWF’s involvement in this project. The Cultural Centre is currently having a business feasibility study completed, and the outcomes from this with AWF’s scoping report will be used to apply for funding for the Centre.

AUSTRALIAGUNBALANYA

period 2007-... cause Developmentcategory Public services: health-caretypologyTwo storey hospital building

ASF partnerAWF Australialocal partnerDr David Mills: Medical Superintendent for Enga Baptist Health ServicesdonorPNG Government

KOMPIAN HOSPITAL

This is the largest project undertaken by AWF to date. It is based on collaboration between AWF and Engineers Without Borders. Located in Enga Province about 5 hours drive from Mount Hagen, which is the entry point to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Kompian Hospital currently has 38 beds. This project will expand the number of beds to 70, as well as providing improved facilities for wards, dispensary, and outpatient wing and operation theatres. The site is extremely remote, made more inaccessible by the condition of the roads and the steep terrain - the last 35km to the site takes 2.5hrs to travel. This makes transportation of materials to the site an issue. As all the building materials have to be transported by road from Mount Hagen, the palette is limited. Metal roof and wall cladding on timber framing (with detailing in mind for termites) and glass louvers are great for transport and light but difficult to keep clean, so the team are exploring possibility of materials such as crime safe.Further challenges in the design include a limited electricity supply (only 3hrs by generator per day, supplemented by solar power), availability of materials, vandalism, termites, cleaning/hygiene, a preference for new materials over traditional, a perception that ‘new’ has permanence and the performance of modern materials in an equatorial climate.The project was originally supervised by Catherine Love and the late Dennis Small, and models and drawings were done by AWF volunteers. These were handed over to Nettleton Tribe Architects who are doing the construction documentation for the hospital in a pro-bono capacity. Currently the focus is on the pediatric ward for which funding has been sourced from the PNG government, and which will begin construction in December 2009. Lilian Aril, from Nettleton Tribe, is working closely with the structural engineer, Tamri Curran, from Bilfinger Berger Services, who are volunteering their expertise to the project through Engineers Without Borders.

PAPUA NEW GUINNEAKOMPIAN

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