Colombia

The Plight of Afro-Colombians

Afro-Colombians traditionally occupied North-Western Colombia, or rather the coastal region. They are descends of the African slaves brought to colonial Columbia to make up for a dwindling indigenous population. They were used for all sorts of labor. Even today, most of the population remains relatively poor and discriminated against. 

Recently, Afro-Colombians have been forced out of their homes by paramilitaries. They have had to move to the bigger cities. And they are not happy about it. First of all, they are a people used to living in close-knit communities by the coast, surrounded by lush vegetation. They do not feel like they belong in cities as they are out of their element and because they are not treated as part of the population. They are in great need of both financial aid, but also a program to help them relocate and readjust to a new place. 

There is also another issue associated with the displacement of Afro-Colombians. Much deforestation is occuring in North-Western Colombia. Many environmental and human rights organizations have already taken notice and have spoken out against this. The paramilitaries are also suspected of being associated with large biofuel corporations that want the Afro-Colombians forced out of the region.

A designer is much needed to help ease the plight of the Afro-Colombians. Some programs are already in place, but they address the fundamentals such as food and shelter. With design, these people could be helped to preserve their heritage and to function within a larger world. Also, the mass deforestation must be stopped at all costs. 

By Anja M.

Montreal, Canada

The Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Stadium in Montreal was built for the 1976 summer Olympics. It was designed by French architect Roger Taillibert. It is a very elaborate facility featuring a retractable roof, which is opened and closed by a huge 175 meter tower (the tallest inclined structure in the world currently). The Olympic pool is located under the tower. What used to be the velodrome has since been converted into the Montreal Biodome.

Both the Biodome and the Stadium are incredible feats of architecture and design in their own right. The Biodome houses many animals native to different regions of the world. Their native environment has been created from the vegetation to the climate. One are of the Biodome is extremely humid and striking parrots roam free. Another area is cold, recreating Northern Canada, such that one might even need a coat. A huge amount of thought went into the design of each environment. The Biodome is where biology meets architecture and interior design. The Stadium is a magnificent structure that towers impossibly over everyone. The Stadium has a delicate quality about it that many similar structures today lack. It doesn't seem of this world.

The Olympic Stadium in Montreal should be visited by the designer-traveler because in one go a person is able to explore and experience a beautiful structure, and also to observe how design can be applied to science. Besides all this, travelling to this site would provide an architect or designer with an interesting puzzle to solve. The structure, as wonderful as it is, has many flaws and the building requires a lot of work to maintain. What could have been done differently in the design to avoid this? Are the materials ideal? This is an opportunity to save a piece of history and to really redesign a structure within tight constraints: you already know the aesthetics of it, so how can the inside, the construction, work better?


by Anja M.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Recoleta in Buenos Aires -- Design Center and more...

Buenos Aires is referred to as "the Paris of South America". It is a beautifully quaint and elegant city, with a thriving art and design scene. Specifically, the neighborhood of Recoleta is home to a lot of the most important art/design related sites. The Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Art), BA Design Center, and the metal rose are all contained within this area. The Museum has a spectacular collection of European and significant South American artists. Most museums like the Met like lacking in South American masters, so this museum definitely fills in that void for the curious traveler. The BA (Buenos Aires) Design center is housed within an old fortress near the water. It is mainly underground. It consists of numerous stores containing, sort of in the style of the MoMA stores, that have a range of beautiful furniture, lighting and product design. The BA Design Center also has a scultpure garden in front. The metal rose is in the park that lies between Recoleta and the water. It's a massive metal sculpture that opens its petals during the day and closes them at night, very much like a real flower would. This sort of design touch can be found all over Recoleta. It is sometimes very subtle and sometimes not. For example, a lot of the the restaurants in Recoleta have experimental interior design that creates an entire experience that goes along with the meal.

All in all, Recoleta is a top notch location for the curious designer-traveler, who wants to see how another culture keeps recreating itself and what their aesthetic standards are. The wonderful thing about Recoleta is that all this new creation is occuring next to exceptionally beautiful old buildings that look like they've been plucked out of Paris and placed on another continent. A designer would definitely benefit from seeing all the amazing things that the designers down there are creating.


By Anja M.


Top image: The metal rose.
Middle image: A view of the main avenue in Recoleta.
Bottom image: BA Design Center, outside.

PlayPumps International

I think that this project is so clever. I actually came across this project about a year ago at a water exhibition held at the Natural History Museum in New York City...

PlayPumps International, a non profit organization, has designed, fabricated and put into opporation an extremely easy and, believe it or not, fun way to maintain a water pump system by utilizing the largely available child work force in Africa in order to pump fresh water from the depths of the Earth's aquifers into a large storage tank.

Now I am not talking about the horrible manipulation of children's human rights, but I am talking about water pumping equipment that doubles as playground equipment; more specifically the timeless and beloved playground icon: the merri-go-round.

Essentially how it works is as the children spin around on the merry-go-round it pumps up fresh water found about 40 meters below the ground and passing it to a 2,500 liter reservoirs tank seven meters above ground.

So far, 1,000 Play Pumps have been donated and installed in communities in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia.

The project has begun in sub-Saharan Africa, where girls are responsible for fulfilling the jobs of water carrier. Because they have to carry water back from springs and lakes, they are usually late for school and have to join the boys later on in the day.
With this system, the idea is that all the kids help the process move faster and the girls don’t have to be late for school, improving their education opportunities.

Egypt

photographs by: Phillip Cook

As one of the oldest testaments of human civilization, the ancient ruins in Egypt demonstrate how cities, power, and monumental architecture develop simultaneously. The country’s initial growth during the protoliterate period (3000BC) occurred due to trade with Libyan tribes and Western Asia. In combination with trade, the Nile River served as the access route between agricultural settlements developing along its 500 mile stretch. During the New Kingdom (1600-1300BC), the presence of foreign invaders (the people of Hykos) enabled the Egyptian Empire to further expand to the greater part of Sudan, Palestine, and Syria.[1] Considering the contribution that trade and foreign relations had in the economic success of ancient Egypt, its history exemplifies the point made by Georg Simmel:
For in trade, which alone makes possible unlimited combinations, intelligence always finds expansions and new territories, an achievement which is very difficult to attain for the original producer with his lesser mobility and his dependence upon a circle of customers that can be increased only slowly.[2]
With political power, monuments such as the pyramids of Giza (outside of Cairo) were built in order to pay homage to the Pharaoh, the “divine and all powerful.”[3] Such building innovation influenced other developing civilizations due to correspondence with “strangers.” [4] In the same way, Egyptian architecture exemplifies its connection with other countries and foreign powers occupying Egypt. For a traveler visiting present day Cairo and the nearby city of Alexandria, one can observe Moorish architecture built during the expanse of the Ottoman Empire (i.e. Tulun Mosque), British architecture from the 1920-30’s constructed after 1882 when Britain gained control of the country, or modern European architecture designed by imported architects (i.e. Bibliotheca Alexandrina built by a Norwegian designer).[5]

POSTED BY LINNEA COOK

[1] Spiro Kostof, A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 67.
[2] Georg Simmel, “The Stranger” (1908), in The Sociology of Georg Simmel. Translated and edited by Kurt H.
Wolff (New York: Free Press, 1950), 403.
[3] Kostof, A History of Architecture, 67.
[4] Georg Simmel, “The Stranger,” 408.
[5] Dr. Bill Quant, The Culture and Politics of Egypt (verbal lecture), University of Virginia: Semester at Sea, 2008.

The Indian Grand Tour

The Tirth Yatra (Holy Pilgrimage) is the closest version of the Grand Tour that exists in India. The journey entails visiting the 7 holy shrines (pre-determined by tradition and ancient lore) and paying homage to the Gods that reside in these temples. The main purpose or reason why people undertake this often strenuous but spiritually fulfilling journey, is to gain niravana in the afterlife and guarentee their place in heaven.

This journey is considered sacred because "Tirth" in Sanskrit roughly translates to "holy sites that are believed to be crossings between the wordly and divine spheres". They are places where Gods are said to descend to the earth and are thus believed to be gateways to the divine realm. Each of the seven temples/ temple towns have mythological lore and rich history attached to it. They are explained and often refrenced in the vedas (the holy books of the Hindus)

There are thousands of temples and holy cities all over the country, but there are seven of them in particular that are the most popular and are considered to be the ‘principal centres’ (only some of which are represented in the images above). Most people visit a few sites at a time as opposed to undertaking an ardous journey to all the 7 sites at once. The sites, listed in no particular order of importance, are:

Haridwar
Varanasi
Mathura
Kanchipuram
Badrinath
Puri (Hosts the famous annual Jagganth Yatra (procession)
Rameshwaram
Dwarka

As far as the traveler goes, all Hindus can go on these yatras. There are no restrictions based on status, caste, gender, etc. These trips are more popular with people above the age of 60 (as they would have entered the stage of Sanyasa - Stage of renouncement in their lives). Going to every single scared site in India may take an entire lifetime (if done the traditional way by foot) like the traveling monks and sages who can be seen all over the country.

The Tirth Yatra is extremely popular in India. Even though several thousand years have gone by since its inception, it is still very relevant in Indian culture. Children are still taught about it, you can read about this pilgrimage in books, it is often refrenced in colloquial speech, media and the news. Having lived in India my entire life, I have heard so much about these temples and the pilgrimage that I am not only intruiged by the mythology and stories behind these beautiful temples but also by their design and ornamentation. The architecture of these breath-taking temples differs so vastly and depends on where they are located and which era it was built in (as a simple example, temple architecture is extremely different in the northern and southern regions of India, irrespective of time period). My reasons for going on this pilgrimage, spirituality aside, would be to see what everyone has been talking about for thousands of years now in my country and to be inspired by the beauty of these marvelous temples.

--Preethi Chethan

Lampedusa - Travel for Necessity

A tiny island located 205km from Sicily and 113km from Tunisia, Lampedusa politically belongs to Italy but geographically belongs to Africa (since the sea between the lands is less than 120m deep). The landscape on this island is completely arid and resembles the environment of North Africa in many ways.

Lampedusa, in spite of its size and climate, has had a very interesting and colorful past. It was the landing place and a maritime base for the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. It was only in 1860 the island became part of the new Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, the island was captured by British forces in Operation Corkscrew. The western part of the island became a U.S. Coast Guard transmitter in 1972.

Currently on the island, there is a severe problem of illegal immigration that has attracted global attention and media in the recent past. Since this city is so conveniently located between Italy and Africa, it is known as being the gateway from Europe to Africa. It is a prime transit site for illegal immigrants hoping to enter Europe from Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

On a typical weekend, aid workers and Italian officials expect about 1500 refugees to arrive in Lampedusa. The immigrants usually pay Libyan smugglers for transit. Since the holding camps on the island can hold only a few hundred people at a time, the Italian government transfers them to detention camps in mainland Italy. They are eventually released and their deportation is not strictly enforced.

An article in a British daily sums up the situation very aptly:
British National Party- Aug 1, 2008
"The Italian government’s decision to declare a state of emergency over the immigration invasion being suffered by that country has been proven correct with the news that a tiny Italian island has been brought to its knees after more than 800 illegal immigrants arrived by boat from Africa within a space of 24 hrs.
The migrants, all from Africa, arrived on Lampedusa, south of Sicily, pushing its services to breaking point. Government officials said the huge influx underlined the need to issue a state of emergency over the problem of illegal immigration which has become a key concern of the new Italian government".

These are some other countries where illegal immigration is currently a huge problem, listed in no particular order:
Angola
Argentina
Bhutan
Chile
China
European Union
Greece
India
Iran

Immigration, having become one of the biggest problems countries all over the world are facing, is one of the best examples where people travel for necessity in order to escape their oppressors or their living situations.

--Preethi Chethan

Akshardham Temple

The Akshardham temple is located in New Delhi, India. Priest Brahmaswarup Yogiji expressed a wish in 1968 that the temple be built on the bank of the river Yamuna. Therefore his wish was fulfilled and the making of the Akshardham temple began in 2000. It took 300 million man hours by 11,000 volunteers of priests, artisans and various other people. The temple was completed in an astonishing period of 5 years only through the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Akshardham means “ the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the abode of eternal values and virtues of Akshar as defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine Bhakti, purity and peace forever pervades.”
The temple is extremely beautiful with a lot of intricate artwork on the exteriors and interiors with images and sculptures of various Hindu Gods and Goddess’s. The pillars, ceilings, domes and other aspects of the temple are ornately carved in pink stone and pure white marble. The pink stone symbolizes bhakti in eternal bloom and the white marble symbolizes purity and eternal peace.
The temple depicts India’s ancient architecture, art, culture and rich heritage.
Besides the temple there is a boat tour here, which takes you through an experience of the discoveries and inventions of the rishi-scientists of India and other significant buildings and monuments. There is also a giant movie screen where one can watch the journey of an 11-year-old child yogi’s epic pilgrimage of India.
Therefore the Akshardham temple offers a great learning for those interested in the ancient Indian culture and traditions.

Source for information and images : http://www.akshardham.com/
-- Radha Kapoor

Study Abroad

Most colleges offer study abroad programs. It gives students the opportunity to study in another part of the world - different from where they've chosen to go to school for a set four years. Students can go for a semester, a year, or a several weeks during Winter or Summer break. Parsons the New School for Design has a school in Paris where many students from New York City go to study. They not only get to see a new city, experience a new culture, try new foods, speak a different language, they get to learn in a whole new environment. Different people, students, and professors all offer new and different ways of seeing and doing things. It is important to get away from what you are so comfortable. Being away from that is a challenge, but could also help students grow and refine their styles. It may help a student to mature and feel more worldly. Study Abroad is not just an opportunity for students to go party and see the world - it is an opportunity to travel and see and try new things. There is opportunity to see new art, new architecture, meet new people and create new contacts. Being able to say you studied in Paris or in London may be the leg up on the next graduate applying for the same job you are.

Mandatory Evacuation

Emergency evacuations are the movement of people from a dangerous place due to the threat of a disastrous event, such as a bomb threat or fire in a building, floods, or hurricanes. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, about 1.2 million residents of the Gulf Coast were ordered to evacuate. This of course does not mean that all of them did, but this is a situation when traveling was absolutely necessary. It seemed as though all of the South was in danger and the only way to escape the effects of the natural disaster were to flee from home. Even those who did not evacuate when told to, later needed to leave New Orleans due to the fact that Katrina wiped out everything. Losing your home, your cars, your schools and stores, are not one's ideal reasons for traveling, but there are certain times when it is necessary to just pick up and leave. The act of actual evacuating is not much easier than convincing yourself that you should. The traffic jams and accidents caused from entire towns and cities trying to escape all at once is a nightmare.

Carnevale, Venice

   
The first written account of the of the Carnevale Di Venezia was in 1268 and the wearing of masks has always been a part of carnevale[1].  Traditionally, Carnevale began on St. Stephen's Day (December 26) and lasted until Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which is the day before Ash Wednesday [2].  Now Carnevale begins two weeks before Ash Wednesday and the dates for the 2009 Carnevale are February 13-February 24 [3].  I have always been curious about this event probably because Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.   And the tradition of carnevale as the great equalizer because everyone was hidden behind a mask is something that I find very liberating.  Also according to accounts of the modern day carnevale a party can begin during carnevale at any time and any place if there are enough people in one place [4].  I see the Carnevale Di Venezia as a once in a lifetime in experience that is a perfect blend of old and new, which is something I am always on the lookout for when I travel.  This event also suggests another motive for travel and that is escape.  Not necessarily as a means of escaping danger because that falls under necessity, but escaping as a means to get away from your life or your problems and just experience.  This is travel as escapism. 

1&2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauta,_mask#The_Masks

3&4&Pictures: http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4

Governor's Island: design for a green culture

Governor's Island once upon a time known as the "Nut Island" due to its abundance of hickory, oat and chestnut trees has a rich history. When the Dutch first discovered this island they traded it for two ax heads, a string of beads and a handful of nails. After being traded back and forth between the Dutch and the British, the British finally got control over it. They used the island to house their Governor from which it derives its name "Governor's Island". It also played a significant role for military, army and air force purposes and was also used during World War 1 and 2.
In the early twentieth century the island went through some transformation making it more green with rocks and dirt from the excavations of the Lexington Avenue Subway. Eventually after several debates the Island was sold to the people of New York for a nominal cost for public advantage.
Governor's Island proposes to be created into a public space with a new public park surrounded by the New York harbor and spectacular views of the skyline. Governor's Island will be developed as the next great "world park" which will serve as an icon for New York City.West 8 a well renowned company for Urban Design and Landscape was selected as the winner of the prestigious international design competition for Governor's Island and therefore will be responsible for the master plan and landscape design for the island.
Therefore the new design of the park will be a compelling reason for the public to go visit. It responds to the current and future needs of a city like New York where this green space is required as it is overcrowded. It will not only restore its history but create a new excellent design for an organized park system facing the harbor with a great promenade. There will a lot of interactive activities. One can go there to enjoy the lovely green space, the historic sites, the water and the harbor. The re-design will reduce maximum cost to build a green environment. Hence by using recycled materials and building a park with flower beds, playgrounds, an amphitheater, arts and cultural center etc we see a new vision of a contemporary green culture at the Governor's Island for the betterment of the life of the public. I look forward to the opening of this new public park in May 2009 which will benefit us New Yorkers a great deal.
-- Radha Kapoor

Shanzhi, Taiwan

UFO Houses

The UFO houses, as they are called, were built about 30 years ago as a luxury resort in Taiwan. They have sat abandoned since then, the wind and rain slowly destroying the structures. Nobody knows for certain why they were abandoned. They now stand eerily grouped around pools with water slides and bridges. The UFO houses are not prized as indispensable to design and architecture, but they are incredibly fascinating. A designer definitely go see the resort. Firstly, the proposal to have people inhabit the UFO-like pods is an interesting concept in itself. Could it be plausible? How are the living quarters arranged in this untraditional structure? How is the structure designed? The pods are attached to central, concrete structures, but how are they held up? Who came up with the concept, who was the designer or architect? Apparently, the pods are fiberglass and as such inside they would be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. But as the pods were abandoned, we can’t know this for sure. How can they be redesigned to prevent that from happening? It would be quite impressive to go explore this at the actual sight, and to make educated conclusions about the UFO houses. The failure for this resort to be inhabited would also be important to consider. Yet, so few have actually seen the UFO houses. This unusual site would be ideal for a trip whose goal is to see what everyone is talking about.

by Anja M.