Visions and Visionaries

Last week I introduced the Philippine audience to the colorful Singaporean planner and architect William Lim. Lim’s views on Asian urbanism and architecture form part of an emerging discourse on the nature of post-colonial, post-modern development of Eastern and Asian nations; the physical manifestation of which is increasingly centered in these nations’ urban centers and primate cities.

Next week, this discourse is physically coming to our shores in the manner of a conference. Urbanism vs. Urbanization: Sustainable Development Through Smart Growth is the theme of the conference organized by the Yulo Foundation for Sustainable Development, Inc., Palafox Associates, the University of Santo Tomas College of Archtecture, AIM Scientific Research Foundation, Philippine Airlines, Bluprint magazine, the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation, the Management Association of the Philippines and the Marilag Corporation

This mix of co-hosts indicates the multi-disciplinary interest in, and broad scope of, the problems that plague Eastern and Asian cities. The conference is actually the third of what is becoming an annual affair, one that is increasing in duration, number of speakers and participants. (You can still try and book a place in the conference by dialing the organizers at 848-1639, 848-1661.)

The conference looks at the Asian urban problem from a general perspective of physical planning, urban design and architecture. But this perspective is balanced by views from other speakers in the same conference who will present the socio-economic, cultural and environmental aspects of urbanization, the impact of globalization on urbanism, and the sustainability of chosen or considered trajectories of development.

The two-day event is structured by the organizers using a framework appropriated from architectural historian Spiro Kostof’s classic series of books on urbanism. The three focus areas will be The City Shaped, The City Assembled and the City Managed. The City Shaped will be handled by four speakers: William Lim, Demetri Baches of DPZ & Co., architect Felino Palafox, Dean Luis Ferrer of the College of Architecture, University of Santo Tomas, and architect David Teh of the Malaysian firm, Pakatan Reka Arkitek Snd Bhd.

The City Shaped

I profiled Mr. Lim last week. He will speak on "New Urbanism in Asian Emerging Economies." Knowing Mr. Lim, this will be an interesting journey covering a wide and wooly scope from social justice to urban density. It’ll also be spiced up with references to the Philippine scene, with which he is acquainted. (He keeps in contact with the likes of architect Bobby Manosa, Karina David and F. Sionil Jose, an interesting mix of intelligentsia and part of a network he has established in various countries in the region).

Mr. Baches is a planner/architect with the firm of Duany, Plater-Zyberk creators of numerous "new urbanist" towns in the United States. He will speak on "Rural Urban Transect /Smart Growth." This topic is very relevant to issues we face here of controlling sprawl and managing the growth of Manila and other fast-expanding urban centers. The talk touches on the continuing loss of prime agricultural (rural) land versus a spreading metropolis that becomes increasingly inefficient and socio-eco-unfriendly.

Architect Felino Palafox needs no introduction to local audiences as he probably has the highest public profile that crosses the usually narrow field of architecture and planning. Jun’s concerns relate to Philippine-style urbanization and growing frustrations with continually declining indices of quality of life. Despite everything, he is a perennial optimist and this is shown in the outlook of his talk: "Sustaining Positive Growth in Cities." Reading the abstract of his talk, he hopes to throw the challenge to his fellow professionals and to civil society to act now to reverse the effects of our current urban malaise.

Dean Luis Ferrer of the UST College of Architecture will present the physical realities of life in informal settlements. His study on building typologies and the urban morphology of "squatter" settlements is important as well as a timely look at the evolution of the Filipinos’ competence in providing themselves with a roof over their heads, given the government’s failure to do so. Adversity is the mother of alternative urbanism and the Philippine model merits much scrutiny. While David provides us a peek at the Malaysian model through the development of "Regional Architecture: Malaysia."

The City Managed

The City Managed portion of the conference will feature talks covering issues on sustainability, environmental management and heritage conservation. Architect Gian Carlo Magnoli of the MIT will give us insight into sustainable urban strategies in "Sustainable City Design — Egypt." Lilia GC. Casanova of the UN Environmental Programme — IETC will fill us in on the "Urban Environmental Challeges Facing Cities in the Developing World."

The section and the first day will end with Agusto Villalon’s "Impact of Urbanization on Urbanism: The Challenge of Preserving Built Heritage in the Developing World." Toti is a practicing architect of renown and the president of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS). He is also a well known columnist and writer. (His wonderfully written and illustrated new book Lugar, published by Lori Tan of Bookmark, just came out — I hope to do a review soon).

The City Assembled

The second day begins with a talk delivered by yours truly. I will speak on the urban history of informal settlements in Manila. "Lungsod Iskwater" is the story of the marginalized, mistreated and maligned segment of our city now known as informal settlers – from the 19th century onwards. I hope to show the various (mostly failed) interventions of the government, the elite and finally civil society in dealing with the "problem" of slums. The story also seeks to expose this "invisible" city, its social as well as physical construct as developed, vibrant and robust as the "visible," but similarly problematic, world of high rises, gated subdivisions and "villages," posing the question: shall the twain ever meet?

Nick Perlas follows with a broad picture of "The Impact of Urbanization in Developing Countries on Agriculture and Society." Perlas, president of the Center for Alternative Development Initiative, is a fervent advocate of participatory development bringing in all sectors of society, government and business into the process.

Following him are three non-Asians: Dr. Griffin Thompson of the US Office of Energy, Robert Can Pulley of the World Bank, Peter Smith of the Australian Agency for International Development and Anthony Mann of the ADB. They will talk on issues of physical energy (power generation technology and urbanization) and fiscal energy, where we could get all the green folding stuff with which we can green up our urban environment.

The conference ends with another visionary, this time from the sub-continent of India – architect and planner Balkrishna Doshi of the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. Doshi had trained with Le Corbusier and is recognized internationally for his architecture and urban design. His work weaves in traditional forms in an appropriated modernist yet textured rationality. He will give us a look into his process of designing structures and an urbanism that fits in the Indian context – culturally specific to India and physically dealing with high densities without compromising a sustainable social construct of Indian modern life.

Modernity, globalization, sustainability, urbanity and urbanism (new or re-discovered) – these are a number of key concepts that the conference hopes to bring to public debate. These speakers will "talk their talks" but it is up to all of us to "walk the walk." The journey to a better life in better cities starts with a conference like this. Discourse and debate give direction and definition to a sustainable urbanity – an Asian and a Philippine one, an ennobling urbanity that allows us personal satisfaction, social fulfillment and full participation in an exciting and globalizing world.

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Feedback is welcome. Please email the writer at citysensephilstar@hotmail.com.