Defiant Imagination

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October, 2008 Monthly archive
Urbanism and architecture
October 27, 2008
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An eco-town for Afghanistan

The Afghan government wants to build an eco-town that will be home to three million people in the north of Kabul. The city, already baptized Deh Sabz, is being designed by the French firm Architecture Studio and will be financed by the Afghan government as well as independent developers. The project was born in response to the overpopulation problem faced by Kabul, where 80 per cent of the population lives in shantytowns, according to the firm. Ninety per cent of its energy needs will be provided by renewable energy sources.

Source: “Le gouvernement afghan étudie la construction d’une ville nouvelle écologique près de Kaboul,” Le Monde, Oct. 16.

Environment
October 26, 2008
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The eco-zoo

This really cool animated and interactive website will introduce you to the characters living in this energy-efficient beanstalk. Meet Mr. Roo, Yagi-Chan and their friends!

Urbanism and architecture
October 26, 2008
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Prince Charles loves new urbanism

Prince Charles loves traditional towns where you can walk to the supermarket and wander around little streets. He’s spreading that idea through his Foundation for the Built Environment, which works with residents to apply the principles of new urbanism in British communities and in third-world countries. The projects also aim at developing renewable energies in cities by installing windmills or solar panels, for example.

Source: “Le prince Charles veut exporter son modèle d’urbanisme ‘à l’ancienne,’” Le Monde, Oct. 25

Urbanism and architecture
October 10, 2008
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Sustainable architecture in the townships rewarded

Carin Smuts has proven that sustainable architecture doesn’t have to be elitist. The South African architect won the second Global Award for Sustainable Architecture a few days ago in Poissy, France. Smut has been working for almost two decades in South African townships, where she builds low-cost housing and public buildings. She says her work is sustainable —she calls it “micro-sustainable”— because her projects are designed in collaboration with the local populations in order to understand their needs as well as the daily reality of the neighbourhoods.

Source: Le Monde.

Environment
October 9, 2008
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The Vatican goes green

Workers were installing solar panels on the roof of one of the Vatican’s auditoriums last week. The panels will generate enough energy to heat or cool the 6000-seat room, used by the pope in case of bad weather for his weekly audiences with pilgrims. Pope Benedict VI has voiced his concerns about the environment several times since his election in 2005. The panels will allow the Vatican to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 200 tonnes every two weeks, according to one of the workers.

Source: BBC News.

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Defiant Imagination showcases inspiring ideas and provides analysis on the intersection between culture, modernity and change. Written and curated by Flavie Halais.

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