arch-peace news and articles

17.4.13

Volunteers session in Melbourne - Wednesday 24 April

Interested in volunteering with us?

We'll be holding an introductory session in Melbourne later this month for anyone interested in getting actively involved in the Architects for Peace team.

When
Wednesday 24 April 2013, 6.30pm-8pm

Where
The Basement Cafe (1:1 Architects office) 31 Niagara Lane, Melbourne

Why
This is an opportunity to be part of a supportive team of enthusiastic volunteers, expand your professional and social network, and have some fun - all while contributing to the promotion of sustainable urban development based on social justice, solidarity, respect and peace. As an active volunteer, you will be mentored in our operations, but also encouraged to initiate and implement your own ideas to further our shared objectives and take ownership of your contributions.

Come along to find out more about what's happening behind the scenes, and how you can contribute. For specific positions we're looking to fill, please check out details on our website here.

To register your interest, please RSVP to team@architectsforpeace.org by Friday 19 April.

PS Not in Melbourne? You're not alone - we have team members based in other parts of Australia and in far flung parts of the world. There are a number of ways you can contribute remotely - to find out more see our current position descriptions here.

9.4.13

Charla de lanzamiento del libro "La espacialidad del niño que no ve"

Inaugural speech for the launch of the book: "Spatiality of the child who doesn´t see" (Dic.20, 2012).

En el nombre de Mónica Díaz Vera y Constanza Mena Maino, autoras del libro “Espacialidad del niño que no ve”, y en mi nombre (Beatriz), les doy las gracias a todos por estar aquí. Para mí fue una sorpresa y es un verdadero honor haber sido invitada a lanzar este profundo, sutil e importante libro y que además cuenta con un prólogo especialmente escrito por Juhani Pallasmaa.

A través de la investigación realizada por las autoras y a través de los estudios a los que ellas se refieren—desde la perspectiva del aprendizaje espacial de los niños que no ven—este libro nos educa, nos sensibiliza y nos hace receptivos a una percepción distinta de lo cotidiano. De la misma forma en que un niño ciego enfrenta el mundo—como bien explican sus autoras, desde el detalle (o de lo particular) a lo general—este libro nos asiste a entender que quizás el cambio que necesitamos hacer para acoger diversidad, no es tan dificultoso, es más que nada un cambio de visión (me gusta la intencionalidad con que Mónica y Constanza han usado este término) y de voluntad.

Invitación al lanzamiento del libro, Dic. 20, 2012. 

7.4.13

Volunteer with Architects for Peace! Latest position descriptions

Been thinking about getting involved with Architects for Peace but not sure where to start?


Public art project at Architects for Peace forum 'IntentCity'


Maybe you've been a member for a while, made the odd comment on Facebook - even come along to an event or two? Or perhaps you just stumbled across us and are wondering what it's all about? Architects for Peace is always looking for members to join our active team. Our organisation is fundamentally defined by our principles and the talents and energy of the volunteers behind it.

We are an inclusive and close-knit bunch. We are all volunteers juggling work, study and whatever else comes along. We're more than happy to have a chat to you about what's involved, what you're looking to get out of volunteering and what our expectations are. The role descriptions below give you an idea of the time commitment involved for certain key positions - though this is a guide only. If you are interested in a particular role, please email team@architectsforpeace.org with a CV and a bit about why you'd like to be involved. Remember to state the position for which you are applying.

1. Pro bono service team members (Melbourne):

If you believe good design is a right that should be accessible to everyone, we need you! We are looking for people to facilitate matches between willing pro bono architects and community groups in need of design services.

You have:
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Access to email to provide timely responses to pro bono enquiries
  • A general understanding of and interest in establishing design project parameters
Role
  • Receive applications for design services from community organisations, review with the pro bono team and determine eligibility
  • Work with applicants for services to help develop briefs and project scopes
  • Prepare notices for Expressions of Interest from service providers
  • Assess applications from service providers and identify suitable matches
  • Update project information on the website
  • Assemble and maintain a database of interested service providers
  • Promote the pro bono service among not-for-profit organisations
Time commitment: one pro bono meeting per quarter (max. 2 hours), plus 4-8 hours per month


2. Talk series coordination team members (Melbourne):

The monthly Words talk series has been running since 2005. It provides an alternative forum for the discussion of social justice in the built environment. Previously based at the RMIT public art department, we've recently moved to a brand new venue at the Victorian College of the Arts, and are exploring the notion of 'spatial justice' from a range of angles in 2013.

This position would suit members with a demonstrated interest in contributing to a critical discourse on current urban, architectural and environmental issues affecting our cities and communities.

The series is well-established and there is a wealth of information available to the new coordinator, plus an experienced team available to help you get started and provide ongoing mentorship and support.

This is an opportunity to gain experience, and be part of a dynamic team of enthusiastic volunteers. We are looking for people with any or all of the following skills to join the team:

You have:
  • An interest in creating informative and enjoyable social events, enjoy publicity, promotion and graphic design and/or ongoing debate via web based communications
  • Advance planning of future events
  • Lead brainstorming sessions with the team to plan future talks and other event initiatives
The roles
  • Graphic design (event flyers, online and print media)
  • Advanced blog posting
  • Writing (flyer content, event reviews)
  • Video recording and editing
  • Distribute promotional material (online and print media)
Time commitment: 4-8 hours a month

3. Blogger (anywhere in the world):

Do you enjoy blogging?

We need people who enjoy blogging and are familiar with the Facebook interface and HTML language.

You have:
  • A creative and a proactive approach
  • Great graphic design skills (colours, fonts, composition)
  • Preferably, a familiarity with uploading documents to web services such as Scribd/Issuu and generating scripts to be used in websites and newsletters.
Role:
  • Participate in our editorial group (Google based)
  • Receive and upload news and articles provided by other team members
  • Provide guidance on uploading material to other members
  • Respond to and act promptly on requests to post material online
Additionally (only if interested), we would also encourage you to find great and relevant articles and seek permission for their re-publication in arch-peace, commenting and/or writing your own posts.

Time commitment: 3-4 hours per month

4. Newsletter editor (anywhere in the world):

Do you enjoy graphic design and blogging?

We need people who enjoy graphic design and are able to take responsibility for our monthly newsletter. The information (articles, editorial, activities) will be there for you. You will edit an interactive and dynamic newsletter with links to the website, based on a web-based newsletter service template (we have just started using MailChimp: http://mailchimp.com/) .

You have:
  • A creative and a proactive approach
  • Great graphic design skills (colours, fonts, composition)
  • An eye for detail
  • Preferably, a familiarity with uploading documents to web services such as Scribd/Issuu and generating scripts to be used in websites and newsletters.
Role:
  • Participate in our editorial group (Google based)
  • Complete the newsletter template on a monthly basis
  • Identify possible ways to develop the newsletter design and raise with the core team
Time commitment: 4- 8 hours per month
5. Members’ coordinator (Melbourne):

This role would suit someone with excellent interpersonal skills, computer skills and the ability to strategically match needs with skills and interests.

This is an important role and the incumbent will have the opportunity to developed a clear and deep understanding of arch-peace operations to answer enquiries and be supported by the Committee of Management.. We will provide training in this area, however an interest in getting to know us how the organisation works and our activities is an essential pre-requisite.

You have:
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Regular access to email to provide timely responses to enquiries and membership applications
  • An interest in learning more about Architects for Peace and strengthening links with our members all over the globe
Role:
  • Follow up with a personal welcome to the automatic email acknowledgement of new members, and try to match expressed interest with active roles.
  • Respond to specific queries and/or forward as applicable to Steering Committee or Sub committee coordinators
  • Identify opportunities for the new member to be involved in specific arch-peace activities
  • Maintain a database of members including past correspondence and possibilities for future engagement
  • Work in conjunction with the finance officer to create a database of financially up-to-date members
  • Regularly report to the steering committee (monthly basis)
  • Stay up to date with current arch-peace operations
  • look for opportunities for membership drive and promotion
Time commitment: 8 - 12 hours per month

For specific information about working with Architects for Peace please click: here

6.4.13

Cambodian Sustainable Housing Competition Results Announced:


Emerging Melbourne transdisciplinary practice, Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd, announced as co-winner of international sustainable housing design competition. The competition brings new life to housing design and delivery for low income families living in Cambodia. All winning projects will be built later this year. Run by three non-government organisations, the competition had over 600 registered entrants from architectural practices around the world. The other two winners were British and US architects. Once constructed Visionary Design Development’s ‘WET + DRY HOUSE’ will be home to a widowed mother of 5 wanting to open a shop to provide for her family. The design of her new house will easily allow her to do accomplish this.

Winning entries were selected by a jury made up of representatives from Building Trust International, Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, Karuna Cambodia, MIT, Collective Studio, members of the Cambodian Society of Architects and most importantly the families that are going to live in the houses once they are built. The design competition asked for designs of a $2000 house that can withstand flooding and offer a safe and secure home for low income families in Cambodia.



27.3.13

Los muros de la vergüenza: la destrucción del mural de Thierry Noir en el Barrio Lastarria

Walls of shame: the destruction of the murals of Thierry Noir in Lastarria' precinct (Santiago, Chile)

Nota: Este artículo fue originalmente publicado en FAU Opina y ha sido re-publicado aquí con el permiso de su autor, Rodrigo Vera Manríquez.

La obra de Thierry Noir en Santiago ha desaparecido. Mejor dicho, ha sido destruida -probablemente- por intereses inmobiliarios que solo vieron en el muro caras alargadas de colores sobre un fondo azul.

De todas maneras, poco importaba si quienes cometieron tamaña destrucción del patrimonio visual público de Santiago, hubiesen sabido lo que se demolía.

Un muro. ¿A quién le podría importar tanto un muro? ¿Qué trascendencia podría llegar a tener una muralla pintada con caras alargadas de colores?

Mucha, más de la que podemos imaginar. Y aunque de manera tardía, cuando ya no hay nada más que hacer, porque su destrucción fue total, vale la pena señalar una o dos ideas sobre quién es este Thierry Noir, su importancia mundial en el graffiti, y lo que significa perder esa obra que estaba enclava en el corazón del Barrio Lastarria.

Atendiendo al contexto general, esto parte mucho más atrás del inicio de Thierry Noir en el street art. Tiene que ver con el más famoso muro de occidente, el que no necesita presentaciones. Ese que separó las dos alemanias durante casi tres décadas.