Architectural [Field] Office : research

Theoretical work is carried out through a combination of field research, analytical mapping and urban & architectural propositional testing. Research begins at an urban scale, where spatial ruptures of conflict and power are most visible. The vulnerability of post-conflict cities (and states) and their exposure to utopian visions and master planning ,which are invariably neo-liberal in their interests, lead to what can be called ‘Turbo Urbanism ’.The loss of public space, erection of generic speculative high-rise with the commensurate eradication and marginalization of low-income/inner city communities and the impact of the interdependency between urban infrastructure, settlements patterns and ecosystems is a focus of this research. This research informs a practice of sustainablilty in which low-cost construction or ‘appropriate’ technologies are favoured.

AFO have carried out such research , published papers, conributed to and curated exhibits, delivered lectures on the subject of geo-political territories within South Africa, UK , Rwanda, Northern Ireland and New Orleans. We are visiting studio tutor's at the KTH in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Johannesburg and KIST(Rwanda).

AFO research informs and motivates our teaching & practice. AFO theoretical interests are varied but lie principally within the exploration of the relationship and interactions between the man-made (social, political, economic) and the natural (eco-systems etc) and resultant impacts upon the built environment.

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AFO research focuses on three main areas –

1. Poower structures and transformations within post-conflict built environments.

2. Relationship between human settlements and natural/manmade environments

3. Architecture’s role as public service as a sustainable practice.

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Research, teaching and practice underpin motives to elicit more effective results within architecture as as a service, as opposed to architecture as a product.

GEOPOLITICAL ECOSYSTEMS:

An interest in geo-politics and ecologies first emerged during time in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina where oil & gas multi-nationals exacerbated erosion of natural wetlands around the city, through the dredging of canals in order to expedite tankers shipping times between the Gulf Coast to the Port Of New Orleans. In turn wetland erosion has weakened New Orlean’s natural defensive barrier against hurricanes and increased its exposure to flooding; the destructive results of which in 2005 have permanently fragmented the physical and social fabric of the city.

Images and Maps / AFO©

POST-CONFLICT URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS;

The vulnerability of post-conflict cities (and states) and their exposure to utopian visions and master planning ,which are invariably neo-liberal in their interests, lead to what can be called ‘Turbo Urbanism’.The loss of public space, erection of generic speculative high-rise with the commensurate eradication and marginalization of low-income/inner city communities (informal in Rwanda and South Africa) and the impact of the interdependency between urban infrastructure, settlements patterns and ecosystems is a focus of this research.


Architectural [Field] Office	About	Fieldwork	Observations
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WETLAND URBANISM : Ongoing Research & Design Studios at KIST

Both Kigali and New Orleans are heightened examples into concepts of prolonged urbicide, more so as both cities re-emerge from ethnic war and a natural disaster. These examples underpin research into the rupturing effects of capitalism (in this case through mining and hydrocarbon exploration) on ecosystems which would otherwise bind urban and rural territories. These examples could become a platform for discussing theories and strategies behind ecological urbanism ,with a site within Kigali’s wetlands serving as a potential site to test through a sustainable design proposal.

Image of Wetland Strategies from KIST Studio 4

SUSTAINABLE/APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES;

With the limitations imposed on construction in Rwanda, being landlocked and lacking connectivity, the country is reliant on importing materials and goods from neighboring Uganda and Kenya which are heavily taxed. Therefore building in Rwanda muest adapt to these physical and fiscal constraints, predicated on the need for alternatives methods of construction and a general knowledge of sustainable design.

Work in Rwanda has led to research in the field of alternative methods of construction using alternative materials such as eath, rubber and risk husks. Having constructed one medium sized project in Rwanda, and designed two low-cost projects for local NGO’s, faced with the limits on construction, the issue of sourcing materials is by default, an immediate consideration of ours. We've been investigating using earth building techniques such as poured earth, rammed earth, compressed earth blocks (fabrication), wattle and daub and more recently earth bag construction.