Globally Local Design Networks “Think globally, act locally, plan modestly.” – Victor Papanek
“We must design with communiEes, rather than for clients, and rethink what we’re designing in the first place…” – Emily Pilloton “It is not possible to just move objects, tools, or arEfacts from one culture to another and then expect them to work.” – Victor Papanek “To do good humanitarian work overseas…an open mind and a willingness to listen to the locals may be your best asset, along with paEence and ingenuity.” – Lisa Delgado
“To make design more relevant, is to consider what design issues are.” – Bryan Bell “The only sound way to solve the problem of poverty is to help people help themselves.” – John Kenneth
Importance of Designing Locally
DeforestaEon in Malawi: • PopulaEon had grown from 5 million in the 70s to 14 million today • Most locals have no electricity or gas and have shiYed culEvaEon • Most local forest has been cut down for firewood or to build homes • With forests gone, much of the wild life has faded away as well
Ripple Africa
How Ripple Africa Has Helped: • Developed a more efficient stove that uses 1/3 of the wood it used to take • Introduced micro-‐loans for local businesses • Helped develop fish farming, beekeeping, and vegetable growing programs • Provided equipment for the locals to opened community tree nurseries • Constructed a local healthcare center, schools and a community library
Ripple Africa
Lack of water in poor Indian communiEes: • Poor rural communiEes suffer the most from scarcity of water • They have lible to no sources of income • They may lack hygienic sanitaEon and drinking water sources • They are drought-‐prone
Barefoot College
How Barefoot College has helped: • RooYop rain water harvesEng in schools with underground wells for preservaEon • Divert surface run off water into unused open wells in villages so that more water percolates into the ground and revitalizes dry handpumps and irrigaEon wells • All iniEaEves made are for and executed by poor, rural communiEes • Trained over 13,600 men and women as water engineers, handpump mechanics, drillers, surveyors, chemists, wasteland developers, masons and architects
Barefoot College
AYer the earthquake in HaiE: • Lack of medical services • Lack of dental services • Rebuilding and reinforcing • Clean source of water
Love for HaiE
How Love for HaiE helped: • Designed earthquake safe structures and helped locals build • Installing water treatment systems in several schools and orphanages • Setup medical, dental and mental health faciliEes • A team of psychologists have been training locals to train one another and to hold seminars on how to respond to disasters
Love for HaiE
What is Rural Studio? • Rural Studio is an undergraduate program in the Architecture School at Auburn University in Alabama • ObjecEve was to improve the living condiEons in rural Alabama while giving architecture students hands on experience • From 1994 to 2011 they have completed over 100 projects for the communiEes in Hale County • Programs offered are 3rd year, Thesis, Outreach and Wood Workshop • CiEzen Architect
Rural Studio
Network of Learning Centers • Think and be united globally, while acEng locally • Not for but with the local populaEon Sustainable: primarily using local/ naEve resources • Design: buildings, spaces, systems, products, landscapes • LocaEons in rural communiEes all over the world • 2-‐3 year commitment per community
ProposiEon