Bangkok: the final frontier
When this years’ BUDD group convened for the first time back in September 2011, thinking about the field felt like a long way off. It’s difficult to calculate exactly how and where the time went these past 8 months, but it has been a ride of a lifetime. And now finally we are here: Bangkok – the final frontier for BUDD.
Bombay and Brescia now seem like a dream compared to the real time, real life, in-your-face complexities of Bangkok. The past months of theory and deliberations in the studio now confront us in the field beckoning critical and strategic responses.
I am very excited about the field trip and the subsequent chance to understand CODI and its Baan Mankong project in further detail. Thus far we have been introduced to four communities: Naengleng, Chalanchai Nitmitmai, Phra Gluay, and Bang Bua.
The welcomes we got at the communities were extremely endearing and showcased how strong the sense of togetherness was between the residents. Moreover, it reaffirmed our commitment to our field trip by illustrating how serious the residents were about our interest in their dynamic social processes.
Our report group met tonight to discuss and revise our strategies and approaches to site and case analyses over the next few weeks. As it stands, our definition, principles and criteria remain the same:
Definition of Transformation: A flexible process of activating citizenship through systemic changes in spatial production that enables the long-term restructuring of the political and socio-economic status quo; this restructuring requires recognition of the complexity of the urban poor and catalyses strategic decentralization of decision making.
Criteria:
1. Recognition of the complex nature of urban poverty
2. Enabling long-term sustainability (scaling-up, building skills, livelihoods, construction quality, maintenance, tenure)
3. Promoting active citizenship and empowerment
4. Representative spatial production (of socio-economic diversity)
5. Flexibility and adaptability, targeting aspects other than housing
More from Bangkok later.
Sarah N. Ahmad
Bangkok: the final frontier
When this years’ BUDD group convened for the first time back in September 2011, thinking about the field felt like a long way off. It’s difficult to calculate exactly how and where the time went these past 8 months, but it has been a ride of a lifetime. And now finally we are here: Bangkok – the final frontier for BUDD.
Bombay and Brescia now seem like a dream compared to the real time, real life, in-your-face complexities of Bangkok. The past months of theory and deliberations in the studio now confront us in the field beckoning critical and strategic responses.
I am very excited about the field trip and the subsequent chance to understand CODI and its Baan Mankong project in further detail. Thus far we have been introduced to four communities: Naengleng, Chalanchai Nitmitmai, Phra Gluay, and Bang Bua.
The welcomes we got at the communities were extremely endearing and showcased how strong the sense of togetherness was between the residents. Moreover, it reaffirmed our commitment to our field trip by illustrating how serious the residents were about our interest in their dynamic social processes.
Our report group met tonight to discuss and revise our strategies and approaches to site and case analyses over the next few weeks. As it stands, our definition, principles and criteria remain the same:
Definition of Transformation: A flexible process of activating citizenship through systemic changes in spatial production that enables the long-term restructuring of the political and socio-economic status quo; this restructuring requires recognition of the complexity of the urban poor and catalyses strategic decentralization of decision making.
Criteria:
1. Recognition of the complex nature of urban poverty
2. Enabling long-term sustainability (scaling-up, building skills, livelihoods, construction quality, maintenance, tenure)
3. Promoting active citizenship and empowerment
4. Representative spatial production (of socio-economic diversity)
5. Flexibility and adaptability, targeting aspects other than housing
More from Bangkok later.
Sarah N. Ahmad
Posted 1 year ago & Filed under Sarah N. Ahmad, Bangkok Prefield,
