11th Urban Space and Social Life: Theory and Practice Sustainable “Glocal” Space and Social Life

June 16 - 19, 2023

Zanzibar University | Zanzibar, Tanzania

Ruijun Qin

Guangxi University for Nationalities

Title:

The symbolic meaning and significance of houses in a rural village in Guangxi China: A cross-generational comparison from architectural sociology perspective

Abstract

Although a home and a house carry a prominent symbol in people’s heart, the study of the psychological significance of the houses in rural settings lacks the emic perspective of architectural sociology. It is important to examine the symbolism of rural housing from the dimensions of cognition, emotion, and action of the villagers, beginning with the theory of architecture and identity. Using Nalu Village in China as an example, this paper explores villagers’ perceptions of houses, which they call home, across-generations with an ethnographic approach. Systemic observations of the houses in the village were conducted. A total of 30 in-depth interviews, 10 villagers in each of three generations were carried out. The study forces on how they construct the meanings and significance of the houses along their experiences in rapid political, economic, social and cultural changes taken place in the last 30 years of development in China. In particular, this study seeks answers on how do people of different generations build or rely on houses from different historical periods to help them overcome the challenges posed by social transformation. The findings of this study extend our understanding of the fluid and dynamic construction of place and home identity from one of the most important basic human needs, yet symbolic significance of a house and a home.

Japhet Jonas Mwanangombe [keynote]

Title:

Assessment on the Change of Design Strategy of Apartment Building in a Post-pandemic Era

Abstract:

The outbreak of the pandemic has significantly impacted the design of apartment housing. The main focus is to explore the sustainable design strategy that should be taken for apartment- style housing in the post-pandemic era in terms of media, sensory, and action elements, and to analyze the impact of these measures on the three pillars of sustainability - environment, society, and economy. The study analyzed cases of apartment building and comparative analysis to compare the design measures before and after the pandemic in the cases. The study shows that while these measures mainly affect the environmental and social aspects of sustainability, some aspects of old buildings remain difficult to adjust. The existing standards of new building design need to be adjusted to make necessary changes. Through analysis, it is believed that although the original green building system provides a good foundation for the adjustment of housing in the post-pandemic era, residential design should still provide a more reliable framework for possible future epidemic defense.

Keywords: Past-pandemic era; apartment building design;sustainable design ; green building technology

June 16 - 19, 2023

Zanzibar University | Zanzibar, Tanzania

Khamis Juma Abdalla State University of Zanzibar, Lecturer Department of Communication and Media Studies

Title:

Processes and Producers of PPPs in Solid Waste Management in MSASANI WARD, Dar Es Salaam Tanzania

Abstract:

This study examined the role of public-private partnership (PPPs) in solid waste management in Msasani ward, Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region. Specifically, it analyses the PPPs processes and procedures pertaining to solid waste management. A mixed research design was employed in collecting the data analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data were collected by means of a questionnaire while qualitative data were collected through interviews, focus group discussion, document review and field observation, which were analysed using descriptive\7e statistics and thematically respectively.

The findings revealed that, solid waste used to be disposed of directly in the environment before the PPPs initiatives started, but the environment became clean and the community was satisfied with the work done following the PPP’s intervention. However, there is clear evidence that in some streets PPPs’ processes and procedures failed to bring community into action as PPPs being a new form of privatization in solid waste services. The current PPPs processes and procedures are top down procedures, which makes PPPs look like a government project, and not the community’s own project. There a number of factors influencing the performance of PPPs in the area. These factors are affordable tools, technology, community participation, awareness creation and the presence of good infrastructure at the waste collection points.

Generally, the findings shows community satisfaction with the work done by PPPs in solid waste management. This could be useful to policymakers for future environmental conservation programmes in Msasani Ward for the betterment of local communities.

Tejshree Rade

P.G. Student of Urban Design Course, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, India

Title:

Rethinking Developmental approach for local cultural clusters: A Case of Mumbai

Abstract:

The cities are pressured to market an ‘Image of the city’ to increase social and economic vitality on the global platform. The New Urbanism movement developed a thematic fragment approach in large suburban subdivision, where migration fuelled creative capital of the cities, creating a concept of Fragmented Metropolis.

Cities have several ‘Clusters’ with their subaltern identities which, with their local traditions, symbols and role of social cohesion, invoke a sense of place in the complex global world act as a physical manifestation of localization while fuelling the creative and innovative capacity of the city along with cultural vibrancy and diversity that enhances the economic prosperity of the entire city. But in fragmented megapolitan cities like Mumbai in developing countries, the global platform has generated unique identities which requires cultural adaptation; thus the creation or strengthening of the local identity and preserving socio-cultural diversity for economic materialization raises questions around politics of ‘Neighbourhoods’ right to branding’ and it further evolves into ‘right to the city’.

This study looks at how branding of localized identity of one of such clusters in Bandra (Mumbai) potentially improve the identity of the overall city while battling the urban political question of developing an integrated approach towards such clusters within the overall urban development of the city.

Keywords: Urban Identity, Urban Branding, Cultural clusters, Developmental Approach