AREMCW - وقميرا
Afghan Resilience, Eductaion and Music Centre for Women
Compe on Entry Cludia Petre 2020
street view - dwelling cluster
Afghanistan
AREMCW - وقميرا Afghan Resilience, Eductaion and Music Centre for Women
popula on 32 million war begining - 1979 refugees dispalced abroad during the war – 2.6 m refugee widows – 1.5 milion unemployment rate – 43% women unemployment rate – 67 % illiteracy rate 70% educa on amongst women – 91% only primary educa on foreign visitors per year – 20.000 GDP – 19 billion $ exports – 45% fruits, 12% resisns, 10% oil, 2.5% handmade goods ar sans keeping the intrument making cra alive - about 30 to 50 ar sans in the whole country unique Afghan instruments - Rubab, Zirbaghali, Tula, Tamboor, Doyra, Ghichak, Tabla, Harmonium
during the last 40 years of nearly perpetual war, Afghanistan has been suffering con nuous destruc on in all aspects of life. women and children have been the most affected having gone through tremendous suffering from viola on of human rights to con nuous physical abuse. for many, there was no chance of escaping the tyranny inflicted by the Taliban regime, during which girls were deprived of educa on, locked inside their homes, hidden away from the public sphere. music was banned during their rule in late-1990s represen ng both an a ack over cultural heritage and self expression & crea vity. however, as the country slowly opens up and shyly embraces ideas of democracy, women are star ng to carve out space for themselves demanding access to educa on and equal rights. could there be a way to re-integrate the women and children of Afghanistan into our global word of opportuni es? could women have a voice that would be heard all over the world? could there be an exchange in experience and culture? a digital – analog trade. the following proposal imagines a chance for a new beginning, protected from the surrounding violence and injus ce, with access to educa on and training for both children and women with the ul mate goal of becoming self-sufficient and keep the rich Afghan heritage alive. a pla orm is envisioned, a mee ng space for Afghanistan and the world through music. tradi onal music classes would be run by local ar sts along with instrument making workshops from the few remaining ar sans. a further exchange would be created by volunteers from abroad running daily classes on different subjects, with emphasis on digital subjects and foreign languages in exchange of musical training. sounds played and produced on site would be broadcasted through an online radio pla orm, Afghan vibra ons would enrich people beyond borders. a base for women and their children to have their voice heard and take part in the global world would arise.
site model
Kandahar city
Arghandab river the site
Kandahar Ghanzi Hwy
Kandahar old town
loca on plan - close proximity of Arghandab river, fer le soil, amongst the few arable regions in the moutntainous landlock country. the site also has a great connec on to the old trade center of Kandahar base dwelling for one family base dwelling for one family shared saloon public green space 1/2 unit 1/2 unit significant ins tu on
1/2 unit
religious centre
commercial & cultural centre
1 unit for 4 families with a shared courtyard
1 unit
dwelling clusters structure - opportunity for expansion
4 base dwellings ready to be extended for extra uses
individual dwellings access
the sequence of spaces and func ons has a primordial inspira on the medieval pa ern of Kandahar city and its Afghan architecture. the site becomes more permeable and welcoming as one moves inwards, the ‘town’ square brings together the main func ons of a self sufficient community: educa on, commerce, religious and accommoda on. it represents the heart of a resilient community where women can feel at home and children can play and learn in peace.
Kandahar Old Town urban fabric sequence of spaces
the unit is designed to ul mately accommodate 4 extended families, that is at least 3 genera ons
following a hierarchical sequence of spaces that can be observed in the layout of the old town of Kandahar, dethatched units and mul -story accommoda on flanks the central square that holds the most important func ons – educa on, commercial and religious. similarly, the bazaar and the music centre are focal points, a symbol of strength and hope. beyond the vaults of the bazaar, a large square provides the ground for community ac vi es, children play and gossip. a large educa onal centre comprising a school for children, training classes for women in subjects such a foreign languages, computer skills and entrepreneurship, a library and a canteen emerge almost like a reflec on across the square.
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behind the li le town, allotments offer opportunity for a self sufficient community to grow crops and set up greenhouses which would provide fresh food all year round.
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having a 30% ground coverage, the proposed layout envisions 100 family homes for families of 5 members on average. 25 dwelling units each made up of 4 homes spread across the site to 2 boundaries (one North one South) and 2 clusters (one East and one West).
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Spaces 1 - access road 2 - main site entrance 3 - bazaar 4 - workshop 5 - music room 6 - main square 7 - educa onal centre 8 - mosque 9 - allotments 10 - dwellings units
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site plan
Kandahar fortress
school and dwelling units Spaces
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a - por co b - entrance c - classrooms d - IT rooms e - teachers’ quarter f - canteen g - access to library and upper level classrooms h - bathrooms i - religious centre j - dwelling units
dwelling unit sec on as built
Spaces 1 - entrance 2 - day area 3 - kitchen 4 - saloon 5 - courtyard 6 - bathroom 7 - ver cal access 8 - children’s bedroom 9 - mother’s bedroom 10 - terrace opportunity for future expansion
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2 10 7 1 ground floor plan - day area
1st floor plan - night area
2nd floor plan - roo op dwelling unit
inspired by local construc on methods such as clay bricks, vaults and courtyards, the dwellings would be made out of bricks made locally produced on site and in the local vicinity. jobs would be created for the local popula on and for future residents. an in-situ concrete frame allows opportunity for expansion and a strong base the as-built dwelling comprises a kitchen & dining space, a saloon shared between two families, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shared courtyard. as-built, there are 3 terrace spaces per house, 2 of them shared between two households. these spaces provide the base for future extension and their uses, nego ated between the two households. the house could be extended in various ways which suit the family best. there is an opportunity for 2 to 3 more bedrooms and study spaces.
dwelling unit axonometry - kitchen, dining, saloon and courtyard
dwelling makeup exploded axonometry
dwelling unit sec ons - adapta on - life a er 10 years
the oven is the centre of the house, the place where women pass down skills and knowledge while preparing food, where the family and the community comes together. a er the suffering they’ve been through, people cherish their loved ones greatly and need to s ck close together. a first meal is prepared together in the in mate saloon, the family finally takes a relieving breath thankful for their survival.
shared saloon axonometric view
courtyard axonometric view
dwelling quarter eleva on - adapta on - life a er 10 years
an open plan day area comprises kitchen and dining / living room. the dwelling make up provides in macy from the street, opening up to the courtyard. vaulted ceilings provide a cool space during the summer months.
dwelling interior view day area
a great way to keep in contact with the wider neighbourhood is oered by large terraces which could be used as exterior rooms. terrace view
inspired by the tradi onal Islamic architecture, the shared courtyard provides a shaded and in mate space where women can perform household ac vi es together and share skills and stories. a community is star ng to form around each dwelling unit, through mutual help and friendship.
shared courtyard view
each courtyard oers shade and privacy.
shared courtyard view
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music centre and bazaar plan Spaces
music centre and workshop interior axonometric view
1 - entrance 2 - covered bazaar 3 - shops 4 - music shop 5 - workshop 6 - music room 7 - consilia on centre for women 8 - clinic 9 - main square 10 - storage 11 - ver cal acces to upper floor workshop 12 - bathroom 13 - dwelling units
Sufis refer to music as the ‘food of the soul’. the legend says that when god created the first man he was soulless, then he created the music which Adam started playing bringing him a soul. the music room resembles the ‘baithak’ - entertainment room in tradi onal houses - where the wider family, the community comes together through music and dance, cathar c ways of self expression that have the power to heal the wounds of the soul. the music centre offers instrument making workshops where the old ar sans would share their skills to younger genera ons, ensuring the tradi on is passed on. a par cular focus is placed on the Rubab, the na onal instrument of Afghanistan with origins da ng back from the 7th century also known as ‘the Lion of Instruments’. the Rubab is made out of single piece of wood, using both tradi onal tools such as wood chopping and carving and modern electrical tools. the decora on is what gives the instrument its unique signature by applying the emblem of the ar san family to it, in ourcase, the emblem of the woman’s community, AREMCW.
music centre and workshop exterior axonometric view
bazaar interior view
AREMCW - وقميرا
Afghan Resilience, Eductaion and Music Centre for Women
Compe on Entry Cludia Petre 2020