Dare with care; collaborative design for flood-resistant housing construction in Rural Kenya
| dc.contributor.author | Prem, Carina | |
| dc.contributor.department | Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE) | sv |
| dc.contributor.department | Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE) | en |
| dc.contributor.examiner | Adelfio, Marco | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Da Cruz Brandao, Emilio | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-26T11:08:56Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-26T11:08:56Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.date.submitted | ||
| dc.description.abstract | In response to the pressing challenges posed by climate change, particularly in vulnerable communities, this master thesis project aims to practically test a methodology of community engagement and participatory design in feldwork for fostering collaboration between local communities and foreign architects. Embracing decoloniality, the thesis confronts biases and preconceptions that inherit power dynamics embedded within the researcher-community relationship. Using a bottom-up approach, it rejects the notion of imposing solutions, facilitating the community‘s reclaim of agency over their narrative and future. By doing so, it aims to contribute to reshaping the norms of the architectural profession, aligning it more closely with human rights principles and the imperative for systemic transformation. With a focus on addressing the impacts of fooding in rural Kenya, the primary objective is to co-design innovative housing constructions that prioritize community needs and enhance foodresilience. The ten participatory actions over the course of eight weeks culminated in a ‘workshop workshop’, that was organized to collaboratively construct a prototype structure while engaging in traditional crafts. Despite some challenges and adjustments, the event proved highly productive, fostering hands-on learning experiences and mutual enjoyment among participants, demonstrating the effcacy of community-based knowledge exchange and participatory engagement methods. The journey as a white Austrian migrant from Sweden to Kenya has been a profound exploration of privilege, perception, and power dynamics. Through my experiences in Kenya, I have grappled with the complexities of wealth, race, and cultural exchange, confronting both the privileges afforded to me and the ethical responsibilities they entail. From navigating perceptions of wealth and race to negotiating boundaries and addressing systemic inequalities, this thesis challenges to critically examine the role of the architect in a foreign context and refect on the impact of their actions. Despite complexities and uncertainties encountered, one thing remains clear: the importance of genuine human connection through respect and empathy in fostering meaningful change. | |
| dc.identifier.coursecode | ACEX35 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/308474 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.setspec.uppsok | Technology | |
| dc.subject | participatory design, feldwork, food-resilience, community-based knowledge exchange, role of the architect | |
| dc.title | Dare with care; collaborative design for flood-resistant housing construction in Rural Kenya | |
| dc.type.degree | Examensarbete för masterexamen | sv |
| dc.type.degree | Master's Thesis | en |
| dc.type.uppsok | H | |
| local.programme | Architecture and planning beyond sustainability (MPDSD), MSc |