Landscape + Urbanism Studio 6
HAITI IDEAS CHALLENGE
WINTER 2011
Instructor: Dr. Sheri Blake
Image: Michelle Tustin
The Haiti Ideas Challenge competition was focused on exploring the future of Haiti, as a holistic environment, rather than just survival. Several students in Landscape + Urbanism Studio 6, Emerging Futures, worked closely with members of the Haitian community in Winnipeg, with support from planners, landscape architects and other specialists to explore a range of questions: Can Haiti rebuild itself into a healthy, thriving environment? What do they need to consider in the process of rebuilding? How can we innovate on urban design decision making to support all members of society? What role does culture play in defining a city? Should we rebuild Port-au-Prince, plan for growth, reduce its size, focus on smaller satellite communities, build the capacity of other established cities, or a combination of these approaches? If we reduce the size of Port-au-Prince, what urban design or urban planning strategies are relevant for this approach? What are the levels of wants and needs, based on the density of a community? What if we prioritized the needs of women and children in the urban and/or rural fabric? How would that change the nature of the city or community? What if we prioritized food security, urban ecology, and access to water in the design of the city? How can the complex history of Haiti be revealed in the design of the landscape? Do future climate projections impact Haiti’s future? How does the community function and how does that influence the shape of the city? How do they celebrate birth, marriage, death and other major events in life? What innovative approaches are other countries taking to address these issues? What innovative approaches have already been implemented in Haiti? How can design play a role in healing?
The resultant student design work, evolved out of a charrette, and several interactions with the Haitians, focused on one rural community near Leogane, and three urban centres, Port-au-Prince, St. Marc, and Cap-Haitian, many exploring issues of urban design, self-help housing, and/or restorative landscape ecology integrated with community economic development, along with educational and memorial landscapes.
WINTER 2011
Instructor: Dr. Sheri Blake
Image: Michelle TustinThe Haiti Ideas Challenge competition was focused on exploring the future of Haiti, as a holistic environment, rather than just survival. Several students in Landscape + Urbanism Studio 6, Emerging Futures, worked closely with members of the Haitian community in Winnipeg, with support from planners, landscape architects and other specialists to explore a range of questions: Can Haiti rebuild itself into a healthy, thriving environment? What do they need to consider in the process of rebuilding? How can we innovate on urban design decision making to support all members of society? What role does culture play in defining a city? Should we rebuild Port-au-Prince, plan for growth, reduce its size, focus on smaller satellite communities, build the capacity of other established cities, or a combination of these approaches? If we reduce the size of Port-au-Prince, what urban design or urban planning strategies are relevant for this approach? What are the levels of wants and needs, based on the density of a community? What if we prioritized the needs of women and children in the urban and/or rural fabric? How would that change the nature of the city or community? What if we prioritized food security, urban ecology, and access to water in the design of the city? How can the complex history of Haiti be revealed in the design of the landscape? Do future climate projections impact Haiti’s future? How does the community function and how does that influence the shape of the city? How do they celebrate birth, marriage, death and other major events in life? What innovative approaches are other countries taking to address these issues? What innovative approaches have already been implemented in Haiti? How can design play a role in healing?
The resultant student design work, evolved out of a charrette, and several interactions with the Haitians, focused on one rural community near Leogane, and three urban centres, Port-au-Prince, St. Marc, and Cap-Haitian, many exploring issues of urban design, self-help housing, and/or restorative landscape ecology integrated with community economic development, along with educational and memorial landscapes.