aanewsletter january2010 eng

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E XPEDITION TO M APUTO AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES 2009 : News Fig 1_ Cover of African Perspectives 2009: Expedition to Maputo booklet. Following the African Perspectives side-event to Maputo in Sep- tember 2009, we are happy to announce the launch of the booklet African Perspectives 2009: Expedition to Maputo. With the inten- tion to explore Maputo within the theme of African Perspectives 2009: (Re)Source the City Centre a trip to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, was prepared by the Faculty of Architecture and Physical Planning in Maputo Mozambique (FAPF). Trips to vari- ous areas of the city and lectures were organized as part of the short but captivating trip. This publication serves to capture our experience and impressions of the city on the Indian Ocean and opens what we trust will be a fruitful relationship bringing many possibilities for cooperation. The booklet can be downloaded via the ArchiAfrika website. Together with this launch, Rachel Stella Jenkins, our visual and communication manager, responsible for our newsletters and website, has spent two months in Mozambique. There- fore this month we issue a special feature on the city of Ma- puto, including visuals and pictures from the city Maputo to illustrate the remarkable tradition of urban designs and the creativity of the informal areas. The core contribution is focused on the question: if informality can be seen – or appreciated - as modernity. This topic was Maputo - Newsletter January 2010

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EXPEDITION TO

MAPUTO

AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES

2009:

NewsFig 1_ Cover of African Perspectives 2009: Expedition to Maputo booklet.

Following the African Perspectives side-event to Maputo in Sep-tember 2009, we are happy to announce the launch of the booklet African Perspectives 2009: Expedition to Maputo. With the inten-tion to explore Maputo within the theme of African Perspectives 2009: (Re)Source the City Centre a trip to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, was prepared by the Faculty of Architecture and Physical Planning in Maputo Mozambique (FAPF). Trips to vari-ous areas of the city and lectures were organized as part of the short but captivating trip. This publication serves to capture our experience and impressions of the city on the Indian Ocean and opens what we trust will be a fruitful relationship bringing many

possibilities for cooperation. The booklet can be downloaded via the ArchiAfrika website.

Together with this launch, Rachel Stella Jenkins, our visual and communication manager, responsible for our newsletters and website, has spent two months in Mozambique. There-fore this month we issue a special feature on the city of Ma-puto, including visuals and pictures from the city Maputo to illustrate the remarkable tradition of urban designs and the creativity of the informal areas.

The core contribution is focused on the question: if informality can be seen – or appreciated - as modernity. This topic was

Maputo - Newsletter January 2010

discussed between Rachel and our partners from the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo: Luis Lage, Júliho Carilho, Anselmo Cani, Vecente Joaquim and João Tique. The discussion is a con-tinuation of the debate which was held during the above mentioned visit to Maputo as part of the African Perspectives conference.

What else can we put in the Spotlight of this issue other than the work of Pancho Guedes, responsible for a large production of amazing architecture in Mozambique. In September 2007 an exhi-bition on his oeuvre was opened in the Swiss Architecture Museum in Basel. Since then the exhibition has been travelling around the world and amongst others shown in South Africa and Portugal. But for those who missed this, we found an alternative.

In this newsletter you will also fi nd a call from Iain Low, editor of the Digest of African Architecture. Iain is in search of signifi cant buildings which will be built and realized by 2010 for a special issue of the Digest commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the African Union of Architects. This issue will be presented at the AUA Con-

gress in Angola in 2011 and subsequently at the next UIA Congress later that year. An excellent opportunity to show the world what Africa has to offer to the architects com-munity in the world, so make sure that Iain will be updated on your fi ndings.

Within the organization of ArchiAfrika, a lot is happening. Whilst starting the preparations for the African Perspec-tives conference in Casablanca in 2011, other works are underway. In the next newsletter we aim to inform you fur-ther on this. First enjoy this issue, but be on the lookout for the next one!

Fig 2_ 2_ 2 Spreads taken from the booklet African Perspectives 2009: Expedition to Maputo.

Maputo is rich in architectural heritage, walk-ing around the ‘concrete city’ is like walking around an open-air museum. Pattern, sym-metry and bold shapes can be found in the Modernist and Art Deco relics strewn across the city.

The selection of pictures shown were taken while walking around the streets of Maputo.

This and Previous page, photography byRachel Stella Jenkins

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3 4

5

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1 _ Royal Netherlands Embassy (photo B. vd Lans, Archiafrika)2_ Santo Antonio da Polana church3 _ Santo Antonio da Polana church4 _ Radio Moçambique headquarters5 _ National Museum of Money6_ Hotel Tivoli

Images taken from Faculty of Architecture and Physical Planning image bank.

Is Informality Modernity?By Rachel Stella Jenkins

In accompaniment to the launch of the book: AFRICAN PERF-SPECTIVES 2009: EXPEDITION TO MAPUTO. An open discus-sion circa the subtopic of the book; Modernity and Informality, was held at the Faculty of Architecture and Physical Planning (FAPF) at the University Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Maputo, Mozambique on Friday 15 January 2010. Present at the round-table discussion were: Luís Lage, PhD (Director of the FAPF and Lecturer), Júliho Carilho, PhD (Lecturer and Researcher at the FAPF), Anselmo Cani (Lecturer and Deputy Director for Academic Affairs), Vicente Joaquim (Lecturer and Deputy Director for Administration), João Tique, PhD (Lecturer and Deputy Director of Research at the FAPF).

Mozambique’s overall population is estimated to be 22.635 million in 2010. The current 38% urban dwellers are expected to rise to 54% (31.117 million) by 2030. In 2003 it was estimated that 94% of households were in slums. Presently, by estimation of Profes-sor Paul Jenkins (School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art & School of the Built Environment, Heriot Watt University), the informal sector (informal access to land, informal dwellings and informal access to services) makes up 80%.

Below is a selection of quotes made during the discussion giving an insight into the issue of informality and formality in Maputo.

Is informality modernity? And vice-versa modernity infor-mality?How are the concepts of informality and modernity defined in the Mozambican context?Can our cities be directly designed and transformed by their inhabitants? What would be the value of this? And lastly, what are the key concepts for the construction of the habitat of the 21st century Maputo city?

Report

Fig 1_ Informal dwelling, Maputo. (Image taken from Traditional Informal Settlements in Mozambique: from Lichinga to Maputo (2004) FAPF, Maputo).

· Not only in Mozambique, throughout Africa, populations are rapidly urbanising. New ways of living and making cities are needed. True knowledge of the African context is needed to change the reality of cities without ap-parent character and proper organization to a reality with character, organization and dignity.

· The transformation and appropriation process be-ing undertaken in the city is based on the way people live: their culture, knowledge and reality. This needs to be taken into account, and used as a guide when looking to the fu-ture. When we talk of our city, this transformation process should be our model, it is what is happening now, and what is happening now will indisputably impact the future.

· Eighty to ninety percent of cities are being built informally in Africa and in other developing countries due to the big discrepancies faced - we are talking of big ur-ban developments in countries with immense demographic growth. This ‘popular’ architecture is adaptive as it is di-rectly influenced by tradition, acquisition of materials, con-struction techniques, construction solutions and largely by economical reasons. At first glance it is simply a ‘domestic’ architecture but within itself a framework is created. By ag-gregation of family units bigger communities are created, this territory is organically organized within an urban con-text and we need to recognize this framework of ‘popular’ modern architecture because that is what is happening and will continue happen.

· The informal belt circulating the city suggests a contemporary way of making cities with existing condi-tions by its proper inhabitants. It is a space where an interception between peoples past references, tradition, are confronted with ideas of modernity and modern reali-ties.

· There lies a question in the separation of informality and tradition. What makes a society survive is innovation and the ten-dency to move ahead, as such there has always been some con-siderations and manifestation of modernity even if they may be considered as traditional today. As the world moves and changes around us we need to recognize and understand these new val-ues. There is a great lack of research and literature addressing informality and creating a distinction between informality and tra-dition.

· There is an internal organization that is based on neces-sities. Planners divide space and organize territories, architects design and build houses, the majority of the built environment within the city however, is built by non-professionals. It is built by the population themselves. An apparent grid is visible, however within the islands of the grid an internal organization and planning occurs. We should not close our eyes to this. We should study the process in order to be able to learn how we can offer a significant influence and intervene positively. Why should we not plan an in-formal market? Correspond with what reality needs.

· Time is an issue in our exploding world. Things happen so fast. We need more adequate methods for collecting, receiv-ing and reacting to what is relevant in our new societies. What is the face of modernity? Or informality? New analysis is needed of these two terms. As we do not have a good understanding of how people live and create, our methodology for planning is not fitting with the flow of what is happening and the search for solutions to the problems affronted. By the time it takes us 5 – 6 months to in-vestigate a particular problem and its dynamics, then 5-6 months to implement the intervention, the situation is over.

· Urbanism happens everywhere. And for this reason we need to be careful in recognising this process as a ‘characteristic’ or ‘identity’. Despite the implicit elements confronted within the city this, at the end of the day, is a reality. We need to look at what is necessary, and not be satisfied with what is happening. We must be able to look ahead and putting things in place. The informal needs, to some degree, to be regulated.

· Faced with the situation we are in, the process of transformation should be considered as part of the city. The informal assimilated to become formal. We cannot build Ma-puto, with all necessary basics, with only 4USD per person. If opportunities are not given to the people, they will create their own opportunities. The future is insecure, therefore as the urban population becomes evermore larger the recogni-tion of the informal must become an integral part of urban-

‘The majority of occupied plots are illegal, not only in terms of documentation, but also in terms of use of the plots. The tenants are not even aware of their legal rights, least of all, of existing mecha-nisms to consolidate these rights. In general, the only documentation in their possession is devoid of any legal value.

Despite the insecurity that stems from this situ-ation, the owners are still building permanent houses with “modern”materials. In this way the “city of reed huts” has hardened, so to speak, and become a reality that cannot be ignored within the urban landscape and that grows and spreads in a physical and psychological net of new values and relationships, from which a new and peculiar ur-ban culture of Maputo emerges.’

Extract taken from Traditional Informal Settle-ments in Mozambique: from Lichinga to Ma-puto. (2004) FAPF, Maputo.

“A house without a verandah is like a face without a nose”

Informal dwellings found in the outskirts of Maputo. Photos and Study by Luís Lage.

Colourful paintingsColourful paintingsColourful paint of services and commodities offered from the various dwellings and small businesses decorate the walls of the informal districts. Air-time, Alchoholic bever-ings of services and commodities offered from the various dwellings and small businesses decorate the walls of the informal districts. Air-time, Alchoholic bever-ingsages, washing powder, car parts , construction materials are a few of the examples including hair salons and barber shops as seen in the image above. Photo by Rachel Stella Jenkins.

In the Spotlight

Mozambique is rich in architecture, that is clear when visiting the country and in particularly Maputo. Responsible for the most amaz-ing work no doubt is Pancho Guedes, who produced a large number of outstanding buildings in his long life. As mentioned in the introduction, an exhibition has been travelling around the world, to make his work more widely available. Even earlier, Cedric Green took the challenge to launch a website specifically on the work of Pancho Guedes. This website give you a introduction on his work, not only as an architect, but also as a painter and sculptor. The publication ‘Viva Pancho’ is available in pdf format via the site. Be amazed by Guedes’ work via http://www.guedes.info .

Smiling Lion (Maputo), Architect Pancho Guedes Photos by Berend van der Lans, 2009

Delft University of TechnologyDe Twee Snoeken Automatisering

FBW Architectenbkvdl

Dioraphte Foundation

ArchiAfrikaP.O. box 14174

3508 SG Utrecht Netherlands

tel +31 (0)30 223 23 20 fax +31 (0)30 251 82 78

www.archiafrika.org

ColofonText Rachel Stella JenkinsBerend van der LansDesign Rachel Stella JenkinsEditingBerend van der LansTranslationAnne-Marie van den Nieuwenhof-Damishimiro FONDATION SHIMIRO, Pointe-Noire, CongoElisabeth Bastemeijer

Supported byArchiAfrika receives support from the following institutes and

organisations:Stichting Doen

Acquisitions Agenda

25 February 2010 Urban Ecology Seminar, African Centre for Cities,

South Africa

28 - 30 April 2010 International Regional Conference on Sustainable Con-struction. Revitalisation and Rehabilitation of Districts,

Spain

19 - 27 August 201011th International Docomomo Conference - Living in

the Urban Modernity, Mexico

Granted by FAPF (Architecture & Physical Planning Faculty, University of Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo) Júlio Carrilho, Sandro Bruschi, Carlos Menezes, Luís Lage (2004) Tra-ditional Informal Settlements in Mozambique: from Lichinga to Maputo. FAPF, Maputo.Granted by Antoni Folkers Ng�g� wa Thiong’o (1981) Detained: A writer’s prison diary. Heinemann Kenya Ltd, Nairobi in association with Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, London.Fariba de Bruin-Dearkhshani, Barbara Murray (Eds) (2009). Prince Claus Awards 2009 - Culture & Nature. The Prince Claus Fund, Amsterdam.Fariba de Bruin-Dearkhshani, Barbara Murray (Eds) (2007) Prince Claus Awards 2007 - Culture & Conflict. The Prince Claus Fund, Amsterdam. Gisella Pierre-Nina Leach. Africa my Life/ Children of the World/ MR Sykes Monkey. [Years of publishing & publisher unknown].Reinhard Künkel (2005) Ngorongoro. Leo Press, Arusha.Mr. G. H. Shelswell-White, Mr. J. O’Brien, Sir John Gray, Mr. H. L. Ren-wick (1952) Zanzibar. Government Printer, Zanzibar.Granted by Livin MoshaLivin Mosha (2005) Architecture and Policies: The Transformation of Rural Dwelling Compounds and the Impact of Ujamaa Villagisation and the Nyumba Bora Housing Compaign in Missungwi – Tanzania (Thesis submitted as partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctorate in Applied Sci-ences: Architecture) (Promoters: Prof. dr. Han VERSCHURE and Prof. dr. Albert MARTENS). Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Faculteit Toege-paste Wetenschappen, Heverlee, Belgium. Purchased by ArchiAfrika at ICOMOSWilfred Thesiger (1964) Title: The Marsh Arabs. Publisher: Penguin Group, London.Karin Bautz, Giselher Blesse, mit Beiträgen von Katja Geisenhaner und Christine Seige (1999). Die Vergessene Expedition: Auf den Spuren de Leipziger Moçambique-Expedition von 1931 Spannaus/ Stülpner (1931). Museum für Völkerkunde, Leipzig.Serena Chiatti, Leonardo Crocilli, Cidis (2000) De bomen van Afrika: Verhalen en legenden uit de Sahel. Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, Amsterdam – Novib, ’s-GravenhageFrederick Franck (1962) African Sketch book. Peter Davies Ltd., Lon-don.

15 MArch 2010

AUA | 30Cher architecte Africain / designer,

Le ‘Digest of African Architecture’ (magazine au sujet de l’architecture Africaine) est à la recherche de projets pour son édition spéciale en honneur de la célébration du trentième anniversaire de ‘l’AUA | African Union of Architects’ (Union Africaine d’architectes). L’édition spéciale sera distribuée à Luanda en Uganda lors du prochain congres AUA en 2011, et ensuite au stand Africain du congres UIA à Tokyo qui aura lieu pendant la même année. Nous vous invitons par la présente, à nous envoyer des informations sur des bâtiments, qui à vos yeux ont le profil pour être inclus dans la publication. Le but de ce journal étant d’améliorer la position de l’architecture localement produite dans le débat architectural mondial, nous vous invitons à nous remettre les projets architecturaux (5 maximum) que vous considérez comme les meilleurs d’Afrique le plus vite possible et de préférence avant le 15 janvier 2010. Le format de l’édition spéciale sera comparable à celui du ‘Digest of South African Architecture’ publié en 2008, et inclura entre autres des articles critiques et des reportages photos.

Nous avons besoin des informations suivantes au sujet du cabinet d’architecture, et nous vous serions très reconnaissants si vous pouvez nous donner les renseignements suivants pour chaque bâtiment qui a été construit et finit avant la fin de l’année 2010 :

NOM & ADRESSE COURRIEL DU NOMINATEUR :

NOM PROJET / DATE / LIEU NOM ARCHITECTE & COURRIEL IMAGE À BASSE RÉSOLUTION

01.

02.

03.

04.

05.

Plus d’informations, si disponible :Description du projet :Nom du cabinet d’ architecture : Bâtiment / Nom du projet :Adresse du cabinet d’architecture : Nom du Client :Numéro téléphone du cabinet d’architecture : Date de départ du projet :Numéro faxe du cabinet d’architecture : Date de la fin du projet :Nom du contact principal du cabinet d’architecture : Ville :Courriel du contact principal : Etat / Région :Adresse web du cabinet d’architecture : Pays :

Quelques images à basse résolution (+\ - 200k) du projet, avec appellation précise

n’hésitez surtout pas à nous joindre si vous avez besoin de plus d’informations / nous nous réjouissons à avoir de vos nouvelles / salutations et merci beaucoup,

Iain Low / Editeur Digest of African Architecture : AUA/30Tel + 27 (0) 21650 2371/4 courriel : [email protected]

15 Mars 2010

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