http://www.idr.co.ug/dfwa-u/gallery.htm
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 15:16:33 -0600 (CST)
From: ADULE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: ugnet_: Local Architect
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mw. Bwanika, Happy New Year to you.
You raised an important point regarding the Parliament. I have not had an
opportunity to walk it's corridors but I can imagine it's state. The last
time I was in Uganda, plans were underway to redo the whole building
though I am not sure if anything has been done.
Technically, these structures require alot of maintenance and I think we
all know what happens when it comes to maintenance of anything in Uganda.
However, this is a worldwide problem. Money is becoming scarce and alot of
these structures require a high level of maintenance. That is why
countries like Britian have told their monarch to use their fortune to
maintain their palaces; churchs all over the world are opening up their
downs with pans for donations to maintain their century old buildings and
many other examples.
Mw. Bwanika, you are right when you say that architects are to blame for
having designed high maintenance buildings. Now the world is turning
around to them and requesting for structures that are not going to
empty their coffers. Architects have no choice but begin to look at
designing self-reliant and low maintenance buildings.
Uganda's architectural problem is farther complicated by its inheritance
of an alien architectural typology. The Parliament's design was based on
the British System while the National Theatre was designed as a European
Arts Centre for Europeans in Africa. Personally, I associate National
Theatre with French because of the French School and not anything to do
with African Arts. No wonder both buildings are still struggling to fit
within an african context.
Considering the Parliament, its layout and structure are entirely
British. Does that mean our ancestors never debated or even met to
discuss and decide various cultural group issues? Of course NO. They
always met in some form and place with an organized system of things.
However, anything indigenous was consider primitive and western culture
meant progress.
The challenge in Uganda today is to create buildings and spaces that have
a strong individual identity and respond strongily to our tropical
climate, the site and context. The solution must respond to the natural
and cultural landscape of the site. Such a response will produce a
landmark that makes a positive contribution to the society knowing that
something is actually our own. Traditional architecture can offer
alot of metaphors and with a strong consideration of our environment,
the nation can be able to go a long way to solve it's architectural
problems. Right now, buildings like the Parliament and National Theatre
do not have any national attachments at all and we are paying the price.
The essence of architecture is capturing the sense of place and we have
not been able to do so in Uganda.
Adule
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 11:43:34 -0600 (CST)
From: ADULE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Akolo, Akonyu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
cc: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: ugnet_: Re: Local Architect
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Culu Akonyu, Happy New Year to you and your family.
True, it might be too early to suggest that a Frank Wright is being born
in Uganda. I must admit, Frank Lloyd Wright was a wrong choice. However on
the other hand, if I had argued that Uganda might be having a top designer
in the making, then I am sure it would be the right time to
give Mw.Sentongo some encouragement
As for his work, the "Profession-protectionist" mentality in me would have
jumped at him by critizing the city engineer for adjusting his drawings
and approving them knowing very well, he does not have any
architectural-design background. I decided to look at the whole issue
from a point of the message and not the messenger. He should be given
every opportunity to explore his talent fully. Here is a gentleman who
uses his brain, designs a building (I would love to see it or at least his
approach to design), goes around the bureaucancy and gets his drawing
approved with a little bit of help. Personally, I think there is some
potential in Mw.Sentongo.
I will give you another example that I came across while in Uganda over
1998 Xmas holidays. My sister rents a house in Ntinda that the owner
rehabiliated. This gentleman used some creative ideas on his house turning
it into an aesthetically pleasing little structure especially with all the
additions. Even his own private residence that he designed is quite
impressive for someone who did not go to Design school. Incidentally he is
a teacher by profession and right now teaches in South Africa where he is
taking part-time design courses. Without doubt, one can guess why he
decided to take up a part-time education in design. I am sure he realised
he has the creativity(art) but not the science.
Getting back to Mw. Sentongo's situation, it's his ability to be creative
and find a solution to a problem that really caught my attention. To me
that is a strong plus considering Creativity is one of the key corner
stones of architecture. Sometimes in life, we have to side-step from
traditional mentalities and habits and study the present and not the
presenter.
However, that does not mean I support him or my sister's landlord
designing single-handedly. Both of them lack the required building
construction and science knowledge and of course that comes through
school and/or working under the guidance of a trained architect. That is
why architects start off as interns under a licensed architect. Going out
on your own is a possiblity but you will have to work harder and harder
"Reinventing the tool"
However, architecture in the 21st Century is beginning to see a
different face. Virtually every code, regulation, bill, etc is undergoing
major scrutiny. The population is getting more educated and diverse. The
days of designing for an able bodied 6 feet white male are gone. Now we
have to look at a population of people with all forms of disabilities.
That means, doorways that are wider, less or no stairs and many other
issues. Designs have to be ecologically and flexible in nature. (Note we
are all Temporarily Abled Bodied (TAB) and so we have to consider what
happens when one cannot climb the stair due to old age, do you leave your
house??) We have the whole issue of "sick-building" sydrome due to the the
chemicals from the various appliances and materials we use in today's
houses. How do we go about it?? How one orients his/her house can help
in ventilation instead of relying on airconditioning (tropical lands have
this advantage and why we do not use it, heavens knows best), and many
other factors.
Regarding a number of architectural works in Uganda, I fully agree with
you that some buildings are standing by God's grace. There are a number of
"briefcase" architects who walk the streets. They carry old plans and as
soon as they get a client, they show the plan of a building from their
briefcase. A number of times, the "briefcase" architect has no idea where
the building site is located and completely cares less; they have no idea
of the client's needs and most important of all,they offer a "good" price
for the client. These recycled plans go for anywhere between Ugshs.500,000
and Ugshs.100,000. So when the client agrees to a price, the "briefcase"
architect takes off to get a Xerox and of course a licensed architect to
sign it. Usually the architect will charge the "briefcase" architect
somewhere between Ugshs.200,000 to Ugshs. 50,000 for just a signature.
However a number of these "briefcase" architects have their own main
licensed architects that they deal with. The "approved and signed" plans
are then returned to the aspiring houseowner who takes them a building
contractor.
This is another sad situation where codes and regulations are developed on
building site as construction progresses. In most cases, the quality of
materials, cement-stone-sand mixtures and workmanship is horrible. I had a
personal experience while working on a building site in 1990 as part of my
industrial training while still a student at Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo.
On my second day of work, I questioned the head foreman on what was an
obvious poor cement-sand-stone mix for the building foundation. I was
fired the next day on the grounds that I was instigating workers to ask
for higher wages. I could not believe it but left disappointed because the
future of that building was in jeopardy right from the beginning. I later
found out that the head foreman was using less cement so that he could be
able to siphon some for his own structure he was building somewhere. He
was fired a few months after me. When I look at the building now, I really
wonder how it stands because it still rests on that foundation and it's a
3 storied structure.
I could go on non-stop regarding architecture in Uganda. Even when you
widen the scope, it gets worse. Urban Planning policies are quite
disappointing. Interior Architecture is yet to arrive in Uganda!!
Regarding Landscape architecture, that is almost non-existent.
As I said yesterday and I will mention it again, Uganda needs fresh blood
in it's design sector. The good news is that the nation is beginning to
realise the problem and hopefully we can be able to workout a solution
faster.
Meanwhile good luck to Mw.Sentongo.
Adule
__________
bwanika
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