Australia Canada FranceThis was the best lecture I witnessed in attendance of the 2009 AIA convention in San Fransisco. The weekend was packed with lectures, expo, vendors, representatives, architects, students and San Fransisco. The following lecture was an explanation of the projects of
Emergency Architects. This idea/firm is spreading around the globe. I had the chance to see the presentation and hear Q & A. The team is a collaboration across a number of continents. Much like
Architecture for Humanity the teams devote themselves to assisting communities in developing countries. However, they do not limit themselves to merely developing countries. The premise is to devise, invent, educate, and develop techniques in areas requiring disaster relief. The disasters do NOT have to be geologic disasters. They point out inequities of existing UN, UNESCO, RedCross relief systems and devise solutions, often working with the local populations. Sometimes this results in architecture, but more likely it results in learning and education. The prominent issue that I gathered was that disaster areas need an open method of communication and and open mind to educate the local communities. The answer was NOT merely a 'super architectural' solution. An example being that a UN school had been built and while that was a helpful structure the community had NO teachers and therefore was in existence unused currently helping no one.
4 main disaster relief points learned from presentation of president Patrick Coulombel
1. provide know-how
2. transfer know-how
3. identify construction
4. implement sustainable techniques for specific population/region
The discussion and examples of architecture did a fantastic job of addressing the varying disaster relief efforts. More could have been discussed in regards to how the foundation works, is funded ( a question posed & answered), the politics of disaster relief architecture, collaborations with other pursuits/firms/agencies etc, and how to continue involvement in this process. I have since googled and looked on TED for more on this group. Most of the information resides on their websites. I would like there to be discussion regarding this topic. It was a very focused topic throughout the convention. The AIA should post soon all the lectures and their respective information. AIA seminar info
wiki:
website
Over eight years ago I particpated in the Busan International Student Design Seminar (BIADS), hosted by the city of Busan. Concurrently the city hosted the Busan International Architectural Competition (BIARC). BIADS received attendance by most of the architectural colleges in Busan, something like 8-10 colleges as I recall. Five other Texas Tech students, Dean Vernooy and Professor Michael Mussotter joined together to vist South Korea and the seminar/competition. The event was well received by all parties and well celebrated.Today, as I skimmed through Bustler and Archinect I see the following rendering by Columbia University students. The exact same location as the competition and seminar. Busan has been acquiring and hosting competition after competition to design and develop Gwangalli Bay. I'll be interested to see the eventual developments in Busan as the city continues to grow, the different demographics, the population change and locations of populous etc.
Busan Wiki
busan demographics
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