April 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

Really Ar? is a sharing session for architects/designers organised by Singapore based architecture society,Really Architecture. Their call for speakers are as follows:

Theme: “It’s I, It’s You, It’s We, who build Community ”
Date: June 2009
Dateline for entries: 10 May 2009

Remember the song that we all used to sing in kindergarten? Well, for our first Really Ar? of 2009, we would like to discuss architectural work relating to Humanity and Community Projects. What exactly are these and how do architects go about doing it? What role does architecture play in all these? If you have an interesting project that fits this theme and would like present at the coming Really Ar?, we would like to hear from you!

This should be completed projects or proposals that engage the community to improve their living environment. For example, a masterplan that was designed through a participatory process or a small scale project, like the building of a school, bridges (in rural areas), or disaster-relief projects that involved the community in the re-building process, etc. If you are interested, do prepare an abstract description and include some images of your project so that we can have a better idea what it is about.

Some other issues we would like to explore at the sharing session: While the current reality of the architecture scene worldwide is one of mass reduction of projects and retrenchment, we would like to ask the question of how relevant community/ humanity projects are at this moment? Are we just talking in the air, ignorant of what’s really going on? Or perhaps, this is best time to consider the role of an architect and to pioneer new and more sustainable ways of practicing architecture? If so, could a more people-centred, ground-up and open-platform approach be the answer? Come to the next Really Ar? 3 in June and let us know what you think!

“Roll over the ocean… Roll over the sea… Go and do your part to build community…”

For more information, contact:
Suleen: suleenlau[at]gmail.com
Prasoon: kumarprasoon[at]yahoo.com

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Adib is the co-founder of FIVEFOOTWAY and a senior designer at FARM. He is also sometimes known as misterdibster.