Lagos….
Aah… the city of my mothers birth… Having recently watched the first episode of BBC2’s excellent Welcome to Lagos, further research led me to the above clip, Lagos la Vida Loca, which I share with you to provide an insight into this most amazing of global cities. In Bregtje van der Haak’s 2006 film Lagos: Koolhaas, Rem Koolhaas, the interview of whom provides the content for the film, affirms that he would “start from scratch” if asked to correct the ills facing the informal segmant of Lagos. A model familiar to academia, Lagos as the capital of Nigeria gained its independence from the Commonwealth in 1960, experiencing an economic boom up until the 1970’s during which time the city underwent large public spending initiatives. Following this relative boom period, Lagos experienced financial recession and became fractured from the global market – this significant change of fortunes forced the city to enter a reactionary survival mode. Koolhaas suggests that Lagos entered into reverse or a different direction to modernity of the 70’s, and yet: ‘ even as it goes backwards and even as it then enables people to develop an incredible amount of improvisations there is still dependency on the original model”: the model of prosperity that proceeded recession.
The first episode of Welcome to Lagos, uncovers life in the Olusosun rubbish dump. Here, around 1000 people live on top of the rubbish in houses built from scrap. The film follows the daily lives of two men who have become skilled at turning rubbish into gold. Eric, aka Vocal Slender, is a musician, and every bit of scrap he finds brings him one step closer to his dream of launching his music career, and Joseph a trader who works hard to provide for his wife and two small children, and who has filled his house with things he has found on the dump. ‘If there was a bigger, dirtier, stinkier dump where I could earn more money for my family, then I’d go there to work,’ he says.
Koolhaas’ research on Lagos echoes much of that that is resonated in the first episode of Welcome to Lagos. Though omitting information in his asssertation of Lagos as a city of processes, Koolhaas evocatively highlights that that which is most key to the survival of the city appears inert to the Western eye. He explans that salvaging on waste sites (as demonstrated by Eric and Joseph), interactions with policemen, and the us of every available segment of trade all contribute to the informal economy. Koolhaas preserves these revelations by isolating them as pure processes. He describes the city as being in a state of permanent congestion, a collection of ‘go-slows’.
Given the developed world is rapidly running out of space to dump its ever increasing amounts of landfill, one wonders how long it is until we here in britain are settling amidst the products of our profligecy? Perhaps in a near future, City bankers will not be taught how to analyse stocks and shares, rather how to sift through rubbish looking for valued wares??
Sage Catering – smarter than your average buffet
Illustrated above are The COC’s bespoke businesscards for the conceptual catering company Sage Catering. Founded by stand-up comic and caterer to the stars Alan Salad, the company claims to be smarter than your average buffet. Distancing itself from traditional business models, Sage is interested in exploring modes of cullinary collaboration and as such required business cards to reflect this. Providing both an unusual ingredient for each potential client whilst contributing a scent akin to that of marijuana, each card is filled with dry sage leaves, the contact details printed in brail - like a Heston Blumenthal recipe, not only is the clients sight sensually divulged, but also their taste, touch and smell.
Briefed to provide a British themed buffet for 100 guests at a family ceilidh in the North West of England, Sage indulged the adults and children alike with a combination of sensual sensations each adhering to the relevant requests of the client. TBC
Church Machine – the computer – narrating contemporary society…
Church Machine from Matt Storus on Vimeo.
Of interest due both to its exploration of parametrics, the workings of which I was exposed to for the first time at the AA Santiago Global School held at the Universidad de Catolica over 10 of the last 14 days (about which more to follow shortly) and also its use of the computer as narrative device and primary investigative tool in contemporary society as is being explored in La Pelicula, Church Machine by Matt Storus of Harvard GSD 1311 Mediums option studio makes for highly recommended viewing.
Of significant value for the purpose of my current documentative discourse is the use of the computer as narrative device. Initiated by the exposure to the work of Elemental through contemporary media (internet and periodicals), La Pelicula investigates the realities of contemporary social housing in Chile rather than solely documenting the critically acclaimed works of Elemental to which we are all familiar due to its media exposure. Using the computer as primary investigative device, the computer is thus to be used as a narrative device in La Pelicula. Allowing for ease of transcession through a variety of locations through zooming into an image on screen and then inhabiting the portrayed image in filmic space, the computer as narrative device optimises the potential for exploring what is essentially the initialisation of a thesis or longer investigation into Chile’s social housing using film as its medium.
The American Model for Affordable Housing
What Is Affordable Housing? from the Center for Urban Pedagogy on Vimeo.
Given the research I am currently pursuing into affordable housing policies and the corresponding architectural responses here in Chile, the above video by America’s Centre for Urban Pedagogy seemed apt in its pragmatic approach to explaining what Affordable Housing is within the United States. Given much confusion exists surrounding the definition of affordable housing within differing countries, the CUP should be applauded for their attempts at explaining policy within the United States in such a simple manner. Though currently preoccupied with documentary making, The COC is keen to provide a simialr video explanation of affordable housing policy within the UK.
La maqueta, the RIBA, and ethics in architecture
Following around fourteen hours of work spent constructing the 1:20 maqueta pictured above for one of 20 “vivienda’s sociale” my host Diego Portales plans to construct and sell, I sat in the commodore of my apartment aware that there were a multitude of other priorities far more pressing that I should have been attending to (as opposed to a basic but time consuming model of a structure I consider to be ethically flawed in any case – see recent BD online article Should architects resign from bad projects? I’m inclined to agree with Peter Barber ).
That I did the work as a favour for Diego – an extremely kind and gracious host – shall come as no surprise to those with experience in the architectural profession. One of the many reasons for which I blame the dyspotic state of the profession is the consistent exploitation of architects at feasibility stage. While an affordable risk during the building boom of the 90’s, free feasibility studies became an expected norm which clients have continued to pursue for the duration of the recession. Keen to bank land while its value is in a cycular trough, clients are continuing to exploit the competitive nature of our profession. Expecting architects to work without payment to prove maximum value of a potential plot prior to purchase, clients are aware that if one practice wont do the work “at risk” , then another will. Proving value is an obvious and necessary process for any developer and as such one I understand – that in the majority of occasions the developer is unwilling to even cover costs, let alone pay the architect as an operational business is what I dont understand and a practice I strongly feel the Government / RIBA needs to disallow. Do other industries work for free with the frequency of architects – not that I know of – in the one instance that I can immediately think of, that of Law and the “no win no fee” contract, the margins are such that this is an affordable risk and in many instances the result is in the lawyers hands – the construction of any development will always be dependent on the investor. This is not a competitive process. This is not a fair process.
That the architects position has been weakened to the point where one is now considered little more than another sub-contractor in many contractual (see Design and Build) situations, is a problem to which there must exist a solution. The position of the architect in the contemporary built environment is one which needs to be strongly reevaluated as in its present state the industry is surely unsustainable. Is it possible that an industry in which working for free, providing unrealistically low fee bids, and with a notoriously unsatisfied workforce can be a thriving one? For now I would propose that someone or some persons in the relevant positions of power need to sit down and grow a pair(TBC).
La Pelicula – storyboard 1
A quick storyboard for the opening sequence of la pelicula – I am having trouble with the license for Premier and as such proper timelines will be added and thus “chronographic” status achieved when these issues are overcome. While I have been busy sketching, filming and taking photos for la pelicula, this weekend architect Claudio Sovolero and I are to go on a cycle around Santiago looking for further locations and experimenting with camera techniques (camera between bicycle spokes anyone?). To help the process I have started to formalise sequences, the first of which is documented above – the draft status will be amended once I can get Premier to work again!
The Electoral Legacy Toolkit – democratising excess
With the Chilean Presidential election due to be held in Santiago in a weeks time, there is currently a profligacy of electoral propoganda adorning almost every lampost and street sign to be found in Santiago. Consisting of 2×1m panels constructed using 7m(2×2m, 3×1m) of 25×50mm softwood battens wrapped in printed polurethane, yesterday the COC undertook a survey of a square kilometre of Bellavista in order to better quantify the overall material consumption the election campaign seems to produce.
The image above highlights a 150m stretch of Calle del Arzobispo where it meets Calle Bellavista. Identified in the image are the locations of six campaign signs for the Alianza candidate Sebastian Pinera.The material consumption for the 150m of advertisement depicted is the equivalent of 42m of timber and 12m2 of polurethane – based on this calculation and given Santiago is a large, sprawling city, it is frightening to contemplate what the overall consumption for the various campaigns must be. In contrast to the decadent consumption the signs represent, below is a picture depicting the same materials being put to a far better use: by day a sun-shelter for the stray dogs that roam Parque Bustamante, by night a ”living room” from which the local homeless watch their illegally powered television.
Globally recognised as a country whose populace have strong political beliefs and opinions, it is unsurprising that a large number of the electoral advertisements succumb to vandalism. When querying the fate of the broken signs I was amazed to discover that they meet the same fate as those which remain intact – they all get sent to the skip.
In reference to projects such as Studio Superniche’s The Blue Fence Project, and A77’s We Can Xalant The COC has devised an Electoral Legacy Toolkit where the signs from the election are to be recycled for the people - rather than simply providing empty promises and political eyesores, physical interventions such as the sustainability centre below are provided in an aesthetic union of the opposing candidates.
Arte, Estetica Y Politica Urbana Workshop with A77
Writing on the blackboard above are Gustavo Dieguez and Lucas Gilardi hosts of todays Arte, Estetica y Politica Urbana workshop and founders of A77. Having only received advice of todays workshop 40 minutes prior to its commencement, I entered the Universidad de Chile’s Facultdad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo not knowing what to expect other than a discussion on interventions within South America’s public spaces. The day that unfolded was a joy to participate in – though there were times at which I understood little to nothing as the artists, architects and designers gathered discussed interventions in contemporary society, my spanish has improved enough for me to at least hold my own while speaking about my own observations and interests (if in a very untechnical manner).
![[a77+wecanxalant_Página_32.jpg]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_INU6VTJK6o4/StSGFOoA7zI/AAAAAAAABlY/EaeB0Mn46rU/s1600/a77%2Bwecanxalant_P%C3%A1gina_32.jpg "A77 WeCanXalant")
Following A77’s presentation on their wonderfully conceived We Can Xalant ”public station” in Mataro – an area of Barcelona, Spain – I returned home to further investigate the practice’s work following conversations with Gustavo and Lucas at the Faculty’s cafe. Basing their work on the recycling of existing materials, A77 quote Archigram in their admiration of a plug-in urbanism, a notion clear to see in their works and based on the success of We Can Xalant one to be implored.
During my conversation with A77 I observed that it would be unlikely a similar permanent public structure would be allowed in the UK given the obscene amount of bureacracy and legislation that exists in the UK - a problem recently identified at Governmental level in Conservative leader David Cameron’s speech of 02/12/09:
I think we’d all concede that something has gone seriously wrong with the spirit of health and safety in the past decade…It is clear that what began as a noble intention to protect people from harm has mutated into a stultifying blanket of bureaucracy, suspicion and fear that has saturated our country, covering the actions of millions of individuals as they go about their daily lives.
Whether you care for the opinion of Cameron or not is not the important matter, what is is that the excessive bureaucracy and legislation in the UK is being recognised by the leader of the opposition and as such suggests that there is still hope that the restrictive handcuffs within which the UK’s designers are tied might one day loosen.
What was interesting in A77’s response to my observation was the different forms of bureaucracy that exist around the world. While in Mataro A77 were allowed to construct We Can Xalant with a largely amateur workforce, Gustavo and Lucas were keen to point out that while in Spain the people were constructive in helping the process, a similar project in Argentina would encompass much more problems – not due to legislation and bureaucracy as it exists in the United Kingdom, rather because so many different people would want to have their say and input the project would get lost in a cacophany of different voices. Fortunately for the people of Mataro, the relatively bureaucracy free environment in which A77 were able to build We Can Xalant has provided the community a wonderful intervention, one which due to its success is to be now being used as a protoype for similar such structures in the region.
Postcards from Muscleworks London Bridge – 3 of 4
Fast Food Farming & Iconic Waste Disposal…Sushi sourced from the Thames, avian produce sourced from the sky, or agricultural produce farmed from the proposed urban farms worked by the bridge’s muscular inhabitants, every available food source is exploited and used to provide high protein nourishment at the “fast food” outlets scattered at Boardwalk Level. Muscleworks promotes a fast food based on healthy eating, the culturally varied culinary offerings mirroring the nutritional requirements of the elite level athletes inhabiting the bridge.
Sustainable sources of energy production are exploited at every possible level. Water based algae – at 20% efficiency the most efficient of renewables – is harvested from the Thames by filtration robots, robots which in turn charge their batteries by day from the pedestrian powered Piezoelectric flooring prior to expending the same energy harvesting as darkness falls. Excess agricultural produce is recycled in the biomass boiler, its by products separated and stored in the bridges iconic teat shaped silos. The methane and faecal matter produced as a result of the Muscleworkers high protein diet is harvested and used to produce further sustainable sources of energy – where a means exists it is exploited, a sustainable landmark for London is created.
The COC to attend AA Santiago Global School 2010: Game (On) Santiago
In January 2010 the AA will launch its Global School at the School of Architecture of the Catholic University in Santiago de Chile, one of most rapidly changing capital cities in South America. The intensive ten-day studio based design workshop is open to students, young architects and other designers worldwide. In Chile the construction of a new sports infrastructure to house the 2014 Pan-American Olympics – ODESUR – is being treated as an unparalleled opportunity to transform a range of environments. By taking a critical look at the ambitious plans currently under development, and proposing design alternatives, the workshop aims at defining strategies applicable at different scales. Participants will approach this project by integrating different fields of architectural action. This design research will encourage explorations ranging through material properties, construction processes, parametric design and digital fabrication, right up to the urban and landscape scales, taking account of the local cultures and Chile’s spectacular landscape.
Given the COC’s ongoing research and documentation of issues existent within Chilean architecture, the opportunity to attend the AA Global School referred to above is one I felt should not be missed given the opportunity it provides to further extend one’s knowledge in an expert environment. It is interesting that outside those architects I have met and talked to here in Santiago, few Chilenos are actually aware that the 2014 Pan-American Olympics are to be held here and as such unaware of the many plans to upgrade and improve national infrastructure and facilities.
From my discussions with local architect Claudio Saborla, it seems that Chile is using the Pan-American Olympics as an opportunity to diminish the divide that currently exists between Santiago de Chile and the rest of the country. As is common in many countries, there is the opinion locally that the capital city, Santiago, does not truly represent the country due to its heightened cosmopolitan nature. By improving infrastructure and facilities on a national level such that Santiago is no longer seen as having “todo”, it seems the 2014 Pan-American olympics has the potential to provide a more successful legacy than those currently anticipated from our own 2012 London Olympics.