(This article is a personal feedback on the webinar done on the works of Ar. Arif Hasan in Karachi and Ar. PK Das in Mumbai titled: Water: Let’s Reclaim Our Ecology. The recording of webinar is attached at the end of article. Do listen.)
“I will not do projects that will irreparably damage the ecology and environment of the area in which they are located; I will not do projects that increase poverty, dislocate people and destroy the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of communities that live in the city; I will not do projects that destroy multi-class public space and violate environment friendly bylaws and zoning regulations; and I will always object to insensitive projects that do all this, provided I can offer viable alternatives.”
-Arif Hasan, 1983
This pledge by Arif Hasan shows the power and authority of a true learned man. Ever wondered what if we all professionals who know about the right and wrong, short-term and long-term consequences of a decision, take a pledge like that, and make a choice of not doing any damage to the environment that is created by The Creator for the comfort on the creations? And a life lived and work done by keeping it as a guiding principle what sort of impact it can create? Well find it out yourself on his website and check out how a work of service looks like.
Climate change affects every corner of our planet – from the poles to the tropics, and from the mountains to the oceans. People and nature worldwide are already feeling the effects: water supplies are shrinking, extreme weather events increasing in frequency and intensity, forests burning, and coral reefs dying. We need to step up efforts to switch from using fossil fuels – the biggest cause of climate change – to clean, renewable energy. And we need to help people and nature adapt to the inevitable changes ahead. (WWF)
We need to understand that we are into this together. Whatever damage or healthy actions being done in one part of the world is playing a role in damage or betterment for the entire world, respectively. Therefore, there is a need for the advocacy to protect our city’s natural assets from privatisation and its role in global climate change. Since, the understanding and vocabulary that architects and urban planners would have cannot be expected by other professionals like engineers and policy makers and vice versa. But when, they work together and play their role individually with sincerity they can create huge change in long-term.
Mumbai and Karachi are extremely rich in natural assets. Urbanization and privatization has been destroying nature and adding to climate change. And in order to prevent climate change, we need to protect our natural assets and advocate for its rightful use and a better use that can build economy and social change around it for the well-being of community.
Ar. Arif Hasan’s work in Karachi was presented by Ar. Suneela Ahmed, the presentation focused on the hydrology of the city and its surrounding areas and what are the threats to them, the nature of struggles that have taken place in order to protect those areas and how the act of protection can be continued and strengthened through research, advocacy and community’s participation. He believes that water bodies from beaches to nallas are important factor not only for global climate change but for community’s well-being as well and how cities respond to the water must be understood and acted upon sensibly.
Ar. Pk Das’s presentation focused on methods to achieve integration and reinvigoration, climate change, design intervention, people and their quality of life, and reimagining the city in order to raise the point to rethink the idea of urbanization and how to achieve the goals of sustainability. He emphasized that we are witnessing the small changes and actions that are contributing to climate change to the point that it feels like being submerged. Quick actions and community participation and advocacy is needed.
We can learn different approaches to placemaking and community led projects based on place and its demand and strengths from these two Architects-Activists!
And I will end this article today here with this advice by founders of placemaking movement – Fred Kent and Kathy Maden: (because we are into this together globally)
“One of the ways to reinvigorate towns and cities everywhere is to capitalize on the appeal of waterfront. The best waterfronts showcase a city’s rich history and offer diverse activities which create a dynamic place to live, work and play. With one-of-a-kind commercial spaces, entertainment venues, parks, plazas or markets, waterfronts frequently serve as a city’s living room and highlight its special qualities. The increasing incidence of flooding also means that waterfronts are particularly open to temporary activations, which is a key tool of Placemaking.” (Social Life Project)
Enjoy the conversation!
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