Beirut – 08 March 06
Gaetan SIEW – UIA President
1. Introduction
Not an Expert – Just an architect
Much, if not all, has been said on these subjects
I am an African
I am an Eurasian from Africa
You see that outside looks may sometimes be misleading
1. Time & Place
0.1 Time
2 novels
1 Arundhati Roy – Indian - Architect-Writer
“The god of small things”
It’s the same story told by several characters in successive layers
The whole gives a complete vision of reality
Une même histoire racontée par plusieurs personnages – Couches successives
2 Milan Kundera – The curtain
Imagine a composer who writes today a concerto
With the same rules and the same talent as Vivaldi
It will still be considered as – « Façadism »
3D + 4th D – Time
0.2 Place and Identity
Place and Identity – Identity is made of multiple origins – It is dynamic
Amin Maalouf , Lebanese, is excellent in this exercise
1 The appropriation of the italian Mercato today by the Ethiopians in Addis
2 The transformation of Stonetown in Zanzibar
There is no sense of belonging in the heritage built by others
Colonial Past or Painful Memories
2. The profession
0.3 UIA
When you discuss in the next days and propose recommendations you will remember
That UIA is 1,4 m architects - + 116 Countries.
Can you imagine the Cultural Diversity!!
Who all want to build tomorrow’s heritage!
How to control so much enthusiasm?
0.4 Architects
Architects are often the targets of the press, the authorities for all the troubles of the
cities.
Paris suburbs were a recent example.
We should remember that we are only responsible of 10% of the world’s construction?
And we are told what to do by a model of universal developer who reincarnates
throughout the centuries to build
Symbols of Power
1 From Shi Huang Ti – The Great Wall
2 Into Louis XIV – Versailles
3 Into Houphouet Boigny – Cathedral of Yamasoukro
4 Into Mitterrand who has built his own pyramid.
Nevertherless all is not negative
Bilbao – Guggenheim – counter-example redynamise the whole city
R Moneo has shown the possibility of Coexistence
If there is a responsibility that we must take and that we know how to
Multi disciplinary – he who coordinates and this is our new role of dialogue!!
Creative Coordinator!!
0.5 Let’s have a Vision that is not focussed on the Western World
There are other market forces – other than Developers
1 What do we do with the 400 000 squatters who occupy the suburbs of Nairobi?
2 What do we do with the 400 000 squatters who settle down where they can in
Cairo?
3 What do we do with all the informal sector which invades the latin-american,,
African and asian cities?
4 These are also market forces
0.6 Development v/s Conservation - Integration
Not only aesthetics – Physical and visual
A city is also for people
Work-Live- Play!!
Opposition – Why ?
Flexibility –Case by Case – Each Project – Each City
1 Renaissance – does not happen without exception to the rules
2 Moderation – the right balance
3 Sustainable conservation
In poor countries, Heritage = Resource
We must use this argument to convince the “Réfractaires”
1 Shanghai – Xin Tian Di
2 Singapour – Lau Pa Sat
Freezing the city and building elsewhere is not always good
See the new capitals
1 Astana – Kazakhstan
2 Canberra v/s Sydney– Australia
3. Conclusion
Don’t shoot the architect
His mission is far-reaching, far beyond the artist’s etiquette, social role
He is the man of dialogue who can speak each stakeholder’s language
I would not like our cities to die untouched and pure.
Work-Live- Play!!
Let them enjoy life!!
Gaetan Siew
UIA President