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| Wednesday, 10 March 2004 |
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Rapidly randomly an urban jungle Infrastructure development and the architect Architect Lalith de Silva, President The developing world is being transformed into an urban jungle rapidly and at random. In 1950, Mexico city had a population of 3.1 million and Sao Paulo's population was just 2.8 million. But by the year 2000 Mexico was teeming with 25 million while Sao Paulo was no less crowded with 22 million people calling the city their home. In contrast New York city, the largest metropolis in 1950 took half a century to expand by 8 million while, Mexico and Sao Paulo match this growth in 15 years. In Asia too the situation is the same. Metropolitan Bangkok accounts for 86% of gross national product in banking, insurance, real estate it has only 10% of Thailand population. In most developing countries, modern productive activities are conducted in large urban centres, often at a level higher than their share of national population. This explosive growth of cities has become an unmanageable problem. High rates of unemployment and under employment as urban labour markets are unable to absorb the expanding numbers of job seekers, soaring urban poverty and the infrastructure facilities which cannot cope with the teeming population leads to failing infrastructure facilities - insufficient shelter, inadequate sanitation, inadequate or contaminated water supplies, air pollution and other forms of environmental degradation, congested streets, overloaded public transport systems. Sri Lanka like other developing countries is no exception to this situation. How could we frame our development policies to integrate and mobilize development at national level to manage our economic and social growth. Can architects contribute in solving these problems by creating proper built infrastructure? Learning from experience Chairman Mahaweli Consultancy Bureau Eng. Dharmasiri de Alwis on the sessions:- The constitution of Sri Lanka has made provision in the national constitution for the well-being of the citizens of the country but .... Infrastructure in the water sector Polgolla barrage - in the early 1970s irrigation was given priority but now the policy is to make optimal use for hydropower generation. The priorities have changed for Kalawewa water too with the water being used not for agriculture but for drinking purposes. Infrastructure in the building sector Large-scale clearing of jungle for housing projects has had adverse impact in water shed areas ex. Hantane Location of the Open University contrasted with the location of the Peradeniya University. High flood levels not being considered when building in low-lying areas. Due consideration not being given to locality and surroundings. Infrastructure in the transport sector The Southern expressway has made people leave ancestral lands and also has had disastrous affects on cultivable land - railway could have been developed more profitably. Environmental impacts in upper watershed Commercial agriculture in the hill country has resulted in erosion and subsequent deterioration of quality of water in the rivers and reservoirs. Urban development and infrastructure Development and upgrading small towns help to slow down the migration to towns. International Funding Agencies International Funding Agencies have made it mandatory in infrastructure developments to appoint international consultants - These results in large portion of the funding being re-absorbed by the donor-agency recipient has few funds for actual work. Local expertise is paid meagre salaries and they also stretch for long periods of time. Conclusions & suggestions Planning infrastructure bottom up approach. Loan agreements social, cultural and religious aspects. Environmental impacts. Sri Lanka - Lost Opportunities Architect Vidya Jothi Ashley de Vos on the sessions:- What If ... An architect should view Infrastructure on two platforms - Macro & Micro on International, regional, national, and local levels. Infrastructure needs men and women of vision to dream up ideas and good systems to implement them. It requires political and civic discipline and dedication. It cannot be imported and forced on people. Each country is unique and it has to grow from within together with aspirations. Sri Lanka is full of lost opportunities, a visionless, rudderless ship floating in a rough sea. The concept have to be long-term to succeed. What if ... is a short survey of what could have been done if someone was willing to listen. Imaginative use of the Beira Lake Architect Priyanga De Fonseka on the sessions: - Combining commerce and leisure - creating the Urban Magnet Cities change and evolve with improvements to their infrastructure, in step with the advent of new modes of transport, power/energy, distribution and communication technology. These have resulted in major changes to cities. Improved healthcare resulted in increased population increasing the complexities of the habitat. However these changes have not always improved cities resulting in haphazard growth, congestion and uncontrolled expansion and untidiness. This present challenges as re-using obsolete architecture in an innovative and commercially profitable manner. * Example of revitalized obsolete infrastructure in Australian cities. * Some examples of rejuvenated Urban areas attracting leisure and commerce. * Of commercial opportunities rising in Colombo, two of the most prominent may be. * Rehabilitation of the Colombo Fort * Imaginative use of the Beira Lake precinct Thus transforming them to "urban magnets". A challenge that we architects have to accept in order to contribute to the future direction of development of the city of Colombo. 'Forgotten, Ignored or misunderstood' Architect Rukshan Widyalankara at the sessions on Infrastructure Development Architect in Built. Theme - "Architect in Built-Infrastructure Development" It is undeniable that Architecture by its very nature is an intrinsic accompaniment to all development activities. In as much as developments initiate and promote architectural activities, development itself is catalyst-driven and architecture is an essential component of such supportive facilities meaningfully referred to as infrastructure. Often however, the role of architecture as a major component of infrastructure is either forgotten ignored or misunderstood. If transportation facilities such as roads and railways, communication facilities and the provision of other services such as electricity, water supply and sewerage are considered as infrastructure, it is not merely the road surfaces, railway lines, communication networks or laying of pipes that form such infrastructure. Transportation requires facility buildings such as airports, railway stations, bus and coach stations and their workshops, administrative buildings and a whole range of other buildings to make them work. At the same time, roads and streets are used also by pedestrians, vendors and other people, and therefore the design and development of streets and transport related facilities cannot be simply "engineered" Similarly, communication systems, generation and distribution of electricity, water supply and management of sewer systems etc. require well- planned buildings and spaces to ensure that they meet the needs envisaged and create environments that will incite and facilitate subsequent development. Thus the role of the Architect in Infrastructure Development is undeniably a central one although until recently, scanty attention has been paid to initiate and promote such architecture. Great architecture across the globe comprises such constructions as Archt. Santiago Calatrava's bridges and Sir Norman Foster's Airport Buildings to name just a few. It is undeniable that the architects have a role to play in determining the forms and shapes of whatever is built and the SLIA is keen that the Nation understands and recognizes this inherent role and responsibility of the architects. The SLIA hopes to take up the major issues with regard to the engagement of architects in infrastructure projects brought to discussion at this forum and to work for their resolution. It is the intention of the SLIA to promote the architects to be engaged in infrastructure projects from roads bridges. ###################### Kite up Design approach The Colombo School of Architecture had many of its students' projects displayed in the student section. Visitors showed keen interest on some of these projects and the relevant design models displayed to view. Among the models shown was one of an open restaurant in the Galle Face Green, called a-kiosk. Its creator Uditha Kumarasinghe a 3rd year student explained that it was somewhat a structure of an open canopy restaurant on a ship decked base. The canopy taking the shape of a kite. One could even call it a "Kite-Bite" Restaurant and shopping area. The design is open for free flow of the breeze, which is the hallmark of the Galle Face Green. People come there to enjoy and relax in the Sea-setting open space watching kites up in the sky. Any construction to be made in this space had to blend and merged with this setting. Designer Kumarasinghe said, he had to go several days to the Green, watch the scenario, talk to the people, get their ideas as to what kind of a Restaurant with a shopping arcade complex they would like to have in the green. The whole structure is to be of timber, and very light. Above is the Galle Face Green Kite-Bite Kiosk Complex of Uditha Kumarasinghe. |
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