Many people believe that architecture is used inappropriately to obtain fame, richness and prestige with a disregard for societies’ welfare, and that it is not capable to contribute socially and environmentally to humanity.
In this context, this essay focuses on presenting the ‘Do it Yourself Design Approach’ as an initiative to establish self construction processes to adapt high-technologies in communities affected by distressed conditions.
Four architecture and urban projects undertook during the last four years exemplify how this vision could be achieved to improve the quality of life in both the city and rural areas.
Designers have the opportunity to draw a balanced future for all acting as mediators in community involvement. Through this essay, I call everybody to expand their action beyond paper, beyond the studio; benefitting wealthy and poor communities alike, in order to reduce the social, economic and cultural gaps of our societies.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Revalorizing the empirical
3. The eco-cylinder, a shelter from waste
4. The systemic eco-touristic community
5. The self-manufactured shelter
6. The quarry as a place to be
7. Conclusions
Objectives & Research Themes
The primary objective of this essay is to advocate for a "Do It Yourself Design" (DIYD) approach in architecture, which emphasizes the adaptation of ancestral knowledge and local resources to create socially conscious, sustainable, and equitable living solutions for communities in need.
- Critique of high-technology application in impoverished social contexts.
- Revalorization of empirical and local construction knowledge.
- Development of self-sufficient architectural typologies using recycled waste materials.
- Integration of community participation and manual labor in construction processes.
- Restoration of natural landscapes and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism masterplans.
Excerpt from the Book
2. REVALORIZING THE EMPIRICAL
During the last years, I have had the opportunity to understand, after a series of visits done to communities in the Peruvian Highlands, how insufficient the technology could be when it is applied in an arbitrary and disrespectful way.
Some foreigners NGO’s proposed the use of photovoltaic cells to generate electricity in a group of poverty-stricken communities. After a couple of months the project was abandoned because locals could not maintain the machines and appliances, being very difficult for them to operate the electrical systems.
On the other hand, a DIYD approach would have focused on real solutions by boosting their cultural knowledge and local activities through projects such as construction with earth bricks, the composting of manure, the recovery of the andenería (agricultural platforms) and rainwater storage for irrigation that certainly could have been a better option to improve their current conditions for a long term. Could this mean that the most obvious answer is not always the most used one?
Traces of empirical knowledge left by the Peruvian ancestors, the INCAS, can be still found nowadays. In many distant villages and towns of the most isolated communities, the empirical knowledge has been always the only way to afford life. From religious beliefs and food’s preservation methods to ancestral construction techniques with the use of organic materials, are all part of a culture legacy that should be rediscovered as a searching of a cohesive society that governments over 190 years after the colonial independency have not been able to do.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author critiques current architectural trends that focus on high-tech solutions for the wealthy while ignoring the needs of impoverished populations, proposing a "Do It Yourself Design" approach instead.
2. Revalorizing the empirical: This chapter argues for the importance of integrating ancestral and empirical knowledge into modern design to create sustainable solutions that are culturally relevant and maintainable by local communities.
3. The eco-cylinder, a shelter from waste: The author presents an architectural solution using discarded plastic bottles and steel cables to address overcrowding and lack of shelter.
4. The systemic eco-touristic community: This section details a masterplan for a self-sufficient tourist community in Peru that merges urban and rural attractions while fostering environmental awareness.
5. The self-manufactured shelter: Focusing on the practical application of DIYD, this chapter explains a modular building system designed to facilitate cooperative work between tourists and farmers.
6. The quarry as a place to be: The author proposes a masterplan to restore the sillar quarries in Arequipa, aiming to protect cultural heritage and provide educational opportunities through sustainable tourism.
7. Conclusions: The author concludes that achieving a sustainable future requires professional architects to act as mediators who empower communities to adapt technologies to their own specific needs.
Keywords
Do It Yourself Design, DIYD, Sustainable Architecture, Social Consciousness, Empirical Knowledge, Local Resources, Self-construction, Eco-cylinder, Urban Planning, Community Participation, Sillar, Low-tech solutions, Environmental Awareness, Post-colonial Architecture, Cultural Heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The essay explores the potential of "Do It Yourself Design" (DIYD) in architecture, promoting the use of local skills, recycled materials, and community participation to address social and environmental challenges.
What is the core research question?
The central inquiry is how to provide effective, global architectural solutions that are truly sustainable and equitable when faced with a vast variety of challenging local conditions.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the critique of unsustainable high-tech architecture, the importance of cultural and empirical knowledge, sustainable masterplanning, and the democratization of construction skills.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The paper employs a case-study approach, presenting four specific architectural projects developed by the author to demonstrate the practical application of DIYD principles.
What does the author discuss in the main body?
The main body details specific proposals: the "Eco-cylinder" (a shelter from waste), an eco-touristic community masterplan in Arequipa, self-manufactured shelters for tourists, and the restoration of volcanic stone quarries.
What keywords best characterize this research?
Keywords include DIYD, sustainable architecture, social consciousness, self-construction, and community participation.
How does the author propose dealing with "human waste" in the self-manufactured shelters?
The author describes an integrated environmental system that works with inputs and outputs in cyclical dynamics, allowing users to transform waste into energy or new construction materials.
What is the significance of the "sillar" stone mentioned in the masterplan?
The "sillar" is a white volcanic stone historically used in over 60% of Arequipa's architecture; the author aims to protect these quarries from illegal commercialization while promoting cultural education.
- Arbeit zitieren
- B.Arch (First Class) Carlos Bartesaghi Koc (Autor:in), 2011, Do It Yourself - Towards self-construction in architecture, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/176417
