The hall of the Children’s Library (photo BvdL) From 25-27 February this year, the Children’s Library in the centre of Accra formed the nucleus of ‘Accra Revisited’, an event with presentations, debates and workshops that brought together a group of visionary thinkers in architecture and urban space from West Africa. Also present were students from the Berlage Institute from Delft and a group of Dutch consultants and architects in an attempt to identify common grounds and fields of operation. For the Berlage students, the event was an insightful introduction for their commencing studio work, aiming at developing proposals for three nodes in Accra’s urban fabric. The urban challenges were not only debated by architects and urban planners. Also finance, mobility, education, design, marketing, the social and other sectors were represented, offering multiple dimensions and perspectives on Accra and the way it is developing. Rap, dance and architecture in the Old Kingsway Building (photo BvdL) The Children’s Library was a manifestation in itself; ArchiAfrika, the local organiser of the event, made a huge efford through local support in funding and in kind to restore some of the glory of this 1956 monument that is threatened by demolition. ArchiAfrika showed what it stands for by not only bringing back life into the library, but also bringing the key note lecture of upcoming star architect Kunle Adeyemi to a public stage in the derelict Old Kingsway Building in James Town, sided by two of Ghana’s most successful rappers of today. This event was literally ground shaking and was attended by many, all impressed by Adeyemi’s approach and stamina in introducing new ways to architecture and city development in Nigeria and elsewhere. Workshop sessions focused on specific issues and challenges of a variety of scales in Accra. African Architecture Matters was present as well, to workshop the role that heritage can play in the city and to project the private investment model that has been successful in Amsterdam for over 60 years and in recent years has been effectively adapted in Paramaribo and Zanzibar on the case of Accra. Results of Stadsherstel Amsterdam and Paramaribo (photos Stadsherstel) Heritage constitutes an important source of identity and cohesion for communities. Losses caused to heritage can deprive a community of its memory, the physical testimony to its past, but also of a precious resource for social and economic development. Heritage tourism is a main source of income for many historic cities. In Accra, parts of the city can also be identified as highly valuable heritage. This is not limited to sites listed by UNESCO, it is even likely that areas like James and Usher Town are of more importance for identity and cohesion for the communities and have great potential for economic development. ArchiAfrika showed this by organising Adeyemi’s lecture in the Old Kingsway Building. It seems obvious that care of heritage is in the hands of the governments. However, capacities may be insufficient and governments may lack the visionary approach towards opportunities that is characteristic for the private sector. Successful examples of private contribution to heritage protection are scarse. Stadsherstel Amsterdam N.V. is such an example that started as a private initiative in 1956, developed later into a public private partnership with the local government and contributed largely to the development of the historic city centre into an important economic driver for Amsterdam. Interest from overseas triggered the company to assist in similar initiatives elsewhere in the world. Stadsherstel Paramaribo has restored and is renting out a growing number of historic buildings since 2009. On Zanzibar some of the larger investors joined hands and are about to start with Hifadhi Zanzibar (Preserve Zanzibar ) on the East African island, famous for its World Heritage Site that is in needy shape. Key in the three cases is, that the shareholders, mostly representatives of the local private sector, retain only a modest dividend, while the remainder of the profit is reinvested in extending the portfolio of the company. Property is never sold, but rented out on a profitable basis and well maintained. The visionary shareholders aim at maximising the investment in heritage based development of the city. Their benefit is long term; a more healthy urban environment also will be a better business environment. A recent shareholders meeting of Hifadhi Zanzibar (photo BvdL) Is this a model that could work in Accra as well? Berend van der Lans, closely involved in the establishment of Hifadhi Zanzibar, presented what has been reached so far in Amsterdam, Surinam and Zanzibar, followed by a discussion on the fertility for such an initiative in Accra on the basis of concrete examples. The most important conclusions of the discussions were: 1 The model needs a small group of visionary investors, who are keen to take this up as a challenge. It was believed that in Accra such a group could be formed; 2 An extensively discussed issue was the land ownership situation, especially in James Town, the example that was taken as a potential pilot site. Many plots are in family ownership and traces of family history go back centuries. This on the one hand underpins the great heritage value of the property, on the other hand it may result in extensive negotiations with a large number of family members who all have or claim a say in an eventual transfer. 3 Also, it was mentioned that the value of the plots in Accra and/or James Town is overrated. Expectations of owners may be far too high. This is a potential problem. 4 Nevertheless, examples from for instance Johannesburg show that the potential of investment in built heritage can be very profitable. It means a critical look at sites and buildings in the larger region of Accra. Feasibility studies for buildings in James Town but also in other areas that historically are valuable need to be set up, to test the profitability. Similar studies have been set up in Paramaribo and Zanzibar, prior to the establishment of the respective companies. 5 There was a concern that projects undertaken by such a company would mean that original inhabitants would be evicted and replaced by wealthier inhabitants, so called gentrification. This is partly a fair point, but the example companies from Amsterdam, Surinam and Zanzibar have high standards in that sense and either give existing inhabitants the possibility to come back at decent costs, or offer alternative housing. Also, the companies contribute to job creation and by improving the urban environment; the chances for work and development are improving as well. James Town with Sea View Hotel in the front (photo www.eveanderson.com) ArchiAfrika and co-organiser Dasuda both issued reports on the event recently, each reflecting on the eventful February days with their own eyes. The ArchiAfrika Magazine showcases the great input that among others Lesley Lokko, Theo Lawson, Kunle Adeyemi, Isa Diabaté, Jean-Charles Tall and Mpho Matsipa had. The Dasuda publication focuses mainly on their fields of expertise. With the above, a more or less complete picture of the event emerges. Although it would have been better just to be there … #heritage

From 9-11 April, The Government of Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Social Security Fund and African Architecture Matters organised a dynamic and successful workshop in Reclaim Women Space in Stone Town. This resulted in the Ng’ambo Housing Action Plan, which was presented to the community of Kisimamajongoo and Kisiwandui on Saturday 11 April. The workshop focussed on affordable and accessible housing in the densifying neigbourhood of Ng’ambo while respecting its tangible and intangible heritage. The residents of Ng’ambo, of which a majority of low-income groups, are the bearers and beholders of the intangible heritage of the area. Consequently affordable housing is essential to maintain intangible heritage in Ng’ambo. According to the newly adopted Master Plan, Ng’ambo will become the centre of Zanzibar Metropolis. Densification of Zanzibar Town is identified as strategy against further urban sprawl in the recently produced planning documents. Moreover, it gains opportunities to invest in infrastructure and public space within the area. The workshop brought together local and international expertise, with presentations by Shelter Afrique, the World Bank, the City of Amsterdam, Stadsherstel Amsterdam, a private developer from Finland and Zanzibari knowledge on the city. Three housing development strategies that may be followed were discussed: via (1) a housing corporation, (2) a housing association or (3) a private developer. The workshop advised the creation of the Ng’ambo Housing Action Team. This core group will consist of residents and stakeholders from the private and public sectors. Their focus will be to quickly initiate a pilot housing development project, which can be up-scaled for regeneration of historic urban areas elsewhere in Zanzibar later. The Action Team will contribute to Zanzibar’s goal to create a liveable, vibrant and inclusive city aiming at becoming the most sustainable city of Africa in 2030. The report elaborates on the discussions and conclusions of the workshop and includes the results of further research into finance methods and processes to be followed. The report presents final conclusions and recommendations and will soon be handed over to Zanzibar Social Security Fund, who was the core funder of the project. The research and workshop forms part of Ng’ambo Tuitakayo, ‘the Ng’ambo we want’, a series of steps that together aim to achieve an inclusive and sustainable, heritage-based urban regeneration for Ng’ambo. The Government of Zanzibar has adopted the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach for heritage based urban regeneration and Ng’ambo is forming a pilot project for the implementation of this. In the coming years, projects like the pilot housing project will be realised and create feedback to policies that are developed for up scaling in other historic urban areas. #Zanzibar #affordablehousing #Unesco #HistoricUrbanLandscape

‘Nkomo/ gbaa sane’ Urban Design Conference on Accra: Accra Revisited 25th to 27th February 2015 Children’s Library Accra, Ghana In March 2013, at the Adventurers in the Diaspora event Preserving Accra’s Architectural Heritage, ArchiAfrikaChairman Joe Osae-Addo drew attention to the historic Children’s Library, a modernist gem in Accra, speaking of the need to return this remarkable building built in 1966 to its full grandeur. Today, ArchiAfrika has fulfilled its promise to the city. The Children’s Library is undergoing a magnificent transformation, with plumbing, painting and glazing being renovated through the sponsorship of Coral Paints Ghana, Micheletti & Co. Ltd, A&C Development . This great step towards complete restoration is in preparation for the upcoming DASUDA Nkomo Conversations Urban Design Conference on Accra, taking place from 25th to 27th February 2015 at the Library. The event – a DASUDA initiative, organised with Dutch partners AAmatters and Cityförster and local partners ArchiAfrika – is a series of presentations, discussions and workshops funded and supported by the Government of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency [of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (RVO.nl)] and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana. The conference is a follow up to the 'Accra Revisited: How Creative Impulses Underpinned by Economy and Culture, Can Reshape It’ mini-symposium organised by the Netherlands Embassy in Accra on the 9th of January 2015. This conference seeks to build upon existing development plans and initiatives in Accra and Ghana in order to initiate outcomes that can be built upon and executed in the medium to longterm. Invited are some of the leading voices and advocates in the realm of economy, finance and economy, design and architecture, and the creative arts and culture. This broad range of participants will lead to a balanced and unique perspective on how Accra could develop into a city that is about context, culture, economy, and most importantly, unique infrastructure in its broadest terms. Key participants of the conference include the Deputy Minister of Finance Hon. Mona Quartey and Deputy Minister of Transport Joyce Bawah-Mogtari; Representative of the Mayor’s office in Accra Honourable Robert Ansah, former Mayor of Accra Honourable Nat Amarteifio, Ghana Institute of Architects President Joseph Hayford, prominent architects from Ghana and the ECOWAS region and many others who will lend their voices and thoughts to be relook at the great potential that Accra offers. Berend van der Lans from AAmatters will contribute with a workshop on Heritage as Capital, focusing upon private interest in historic urban context that could become an important driver for the regeneration of important historic areas in Accra. The model that will be presented is based upon Stadsherstel Amsterdam NV. It is currently being established in Zanzibar as Hifadhi Zanzibar by visionary shareholders from the local private sector, in collaboration with Stadsherstel and AAmatters. The event is open to the public and takes place at the Children’s Library from the 25th to the 27th of February 2015.

Recently, the latest issue of the informative inflight magazine of Coastal Aviation, also found at many other locations in Tanzania, came out, including the first public article on Hifadhi Zanzibar. This new company, nearly reaching operation, is modelled after Stadsherstel Amsterdam NV, hence the images of a restoration project in amsterdam in the 60s. Read more about this remarkable company, that was shaped with dedication of a group of visionary Zanzibari investors, local NGO’s and public parties, with support of advisors from Stadsherstel Amsterdam and AAmatters. Read more via the link of Hifadhi’s news page. #Zanzibar #heritagemanagement

The Faculty of Architecture of the ULB La Cambre Horta and the CIVA (Centre International pour la Ville, l'Architecture et le Paysage) present the exhibition AFRICA BIG CHANGE / BIG CHANCE from 11 January to 1 March 2015. The exhibition, designed by the Milan Triennale in co-production with the CIVA, aims to describe and reflects upon the architectural and urban production in Africa from Second World War until today, through the 3 scales of architecture, urban planning and landscape design. Parallel to the exhibition, the Faculty organises a series of meetings through its Research Center HABITER. The first of these meetings is the inaugural conference on 14 January at 18:00hrs, bringing together Professor and curator of the exhibition Benno Albrecht (IUA Venezia) and the architect Antoni Folkers, co-founder of African Architecture Matters (Amsterdam). Read Ola Uduku’s reflection on the exhibition here. More information on the exhibition you can find on the site of CIVA.

Date: 29 November 2014 Time: 14:30 to 16:30. After the debate drinks will be offered Location: Het Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25, Rotterdam Language: Dutch and English Entry: Free With Marisella Casciato, Tom Avermaete, Antoni Folkers, Stanislaus von Moos and Frits Palmboom Het Nieuwe Instituut and the Jaap Bakema Study Centre host a public seminar organized by TU Delft and the Canadian Centre of Architecture (CCA) at the occasion of the publication of the book Casablanca-Chandigarh: A Report on Modernization (Park Books and CCA). The seminar is part of the ambition of Het Nieuwe Instituut together with TU Delft and the Jaap Bakema Study Centre to foster research and its public dissemination while connecting historical and cultural studies with the urgent issues of today. Presentations and debate will focus on the emergence, character and role of Casablanca and Chandigarh, two radically modern cities planned in the beginning of the 1950s. In a world marked by decolonization and upheaval, Casablanca and Chandigarh appear simultaneously as exponents of and countercurrents to modernization and its development perspectives. The research of the authors Tom Avermaete and Maristella Casciato sets the context for reading Casablanca and Chandigarh as the results of nuanced, dynamic processes of international exchange driven by the expertise of a new class of design professionals. After a presentation by Maristella Casciato and Tom Avermaete there will be reactions to particular themes and perspectives by Stanislaus von Moos, Antoni Folkers, and Frits Palmboom. PROGRAMME Introduction Dirk van den Heuvel – Jaap Bakema Study Centre, Het Nieuwe Instituut and TU Delft Staging Casablanca and Chandigarh Maristella Casciato - Canadian Centre of Architecture, Montreal Tom Avermaete - TU Delft Themes and Perspectives ‘The Architecture of Urgency’, Stanislaus von Moos – University of Zurich ‘Chandigarh and its Landscapes’, Frits Palmboom – TU Delft ‘Modern Architecture in Africa’, Antoni Folkers – African Architecture Matters (AAM) Questions and Answers PRACTICAL INFORMATION Date: 29 November 2014 Time: 14:30 to 16:30. After the debate drinks will be offered Location: Het Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25, Rotterdam Language: Dutch and English Entry: Free #Casablanca #Chandigarh

Below you might have read about the presentation of the book ’L'Batwar, Story of a Conversion’ in March this year. You can now order the book on-line via this link. #Book #Casablanca

Last week the UIA2014 congress took place in Durban -South Africa, titled ’Otherwhere’. It brought architects and educators together from all over the world. It was the first time it took place on the African continent and for many participants it was indeed the first time, hence perhaps the title. Due to its location, it was well visited by African representatives and in the programme the continent was reflected appropriately. There was attention for the specific conditions and context, for which the presentation of Francis Kéré was spot on. Perhaps the high speed presentation of Rahul Mehrotra was most inspiring, with a waterfall of examples that show how important a critical position of the architect is in projects that are pushing boundaries and create broad ownership. And most important: not to be afraid to revisit projects, analyse successes and be honest about failures. The presentation of Toyo Ito came as a shock and from out-of-space, after days of discussing how to operate as architect in a world in which resources are scarce, communication with and involvement of users and communities are the basis of a project. It was obvious that the feeling that architects have something to offer to a better future is back, but this was not clear from the projects that Ito showed. I am sure that the visitors from other parts of the world will look at the African built environment differently after the event, although as city Durban is still worlds apart from many other urban realities in Africa. And most of them will look back with pleasure, because the organising team was fantastic. It was sometimes difficult to navigate through the highly complex event with a huge amount of side programmes, exhibitions, workshops, tours and social events, but the organisation was in control and made you feel welcome, comfortable, at home. Recovering from the hectic conference days after the event, I was flicking through the online Volkskrant, the third largest newspaper in the Netherlands. And was completely surprised by the headline on page 22 and even 23: ‘ArchiAfrika is giving Ghana’s housing own face’. The article was based upon interviews with the architects Immanuel Sirron-Kakpor and Joe Addo, and sketched the impact of and opportunities for returning professionals in Ghana, as well as their challenges. It is of course an honour that Archiafrika is mentioned as a stimulus, but personally I think it is too much honour to make it such a headline and perhaps it is beside the point. Nevertheless it is good to see that there is attention for Joe and Immanuel and it is great that the platform that we realised is having an impact. This also became clear to me in Durban, where Joe brought together a group of high profile professionals like Francis Kéré, Mokena Mokeka, Mpho Matsipa and others, discussing the state of the built environment in Africa in a crowded hall with next generation architects well represented. In another room, I was involved in talks on how alliances between architecture schools in Africa can be set up or improved, what it can contribute to the next generation architects and planners and why it is important. In this, I work in close collaboration with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and of course ArchiAfrika. The article in the Volkskrant showed impact that goes beyond talking on stage and in the corridors of a convention centre, and reaches the professionals out there and in the end: clients, inhabitants, communities. It was a welcome surprise at the closure of my stay in Durban.

In Casablanca is door de Fransen uitgebreid geëxperimenteerd met stedenbouw. In de reeks Stadslicht colleges, georganiseerd in Pakhuis De Zwijger, vertelt Berend van der Lans op 4 juni (18-19hr.) over Marokko’s grootste stad. Voor lokatie en registratie zie de website van Pakhuis De Zwijger. Casablanca kent in de stadplanning vele scenario’s. Al roerig en enkele keren verwoest onder de vroegere naam Anfa, was het 100 jaar geleden nog een stad van bescheiden omvang. In die honderd jaar heeft de schaalvergroting genadeloos toegeslagen en is de bevolking gegroeid van rond de tienduizend naar vijf en een half miljoen zielen. In de eerste helft van die honderd jaar voerden de Fransen de regie en was de stad toneel van stedenbouwkundige en architectonische experimenten, die later op grote schaal navolging vonden in Europa. Na de onafhankelijkheid kreeg de stedelijke ontwikkeling een eigen en interessante dynamiek, zeker niet altijd gestuurd door de overheid. De ongebreidelde groei die deze jaren kenmerkte, tracht men nu weer te beteugelen. Daar speelt de Tramway, de lokale, zeer populaire ‘Noord Zuid lijn’, een rol in, maar ook het leegstaande Abattoir, dat getransformeerd is tot Fabrique Culturelle. Over het ‘Batwar’ is recent een boek verschenen uit een samenwerking tussen Casablanca en Amsterdam. Berend van der Lans, daarbij betrokken, zal Casablanca’s geschiedenis uit de doeken doen en inzoomen op verrassende ontwikkelingen en het Batwar. College Stadslicht #8: City trip - Casablanca // Pakhuis De Zwijger // expo zaal // 4 juni 2014 // 18-19hr. // aanmelden via website PDZ #Casablanca

On 26th April 2014, Kiran Mukerji handed over his research library to African Architecture Matters. It is with great gratitude that we have received the donation, which will be entered into the AAMatters catalogue under the name of ‘Kiran Mukerji Fund’. Kiran Mukerji is an eminent researcher and architect, now semi-retired, who has spent most of his career as expert on tropical planning and building issues, with a focus on primary health-care and sustainable design and building techniques. He was involved in the field as researcher, planner and building in many (developing) countries, in particular in India and Albania. Kiran Mukerji with Belinda van Buiten and Antoni Folkers on 26th April 2014 There are numerous publications from his hand on the above subjects, and it can be stated without exaggeration that he is one of the pioneers in the field of sustainable building techniques – ranging from pre-fabricated systems to adobe techniques and from water reuse and conservation to solar power installations – well before these became popular in the western world. Mukerji was employed as architect by Dr G Lippsmeier (L+P) and main researcher of the Institute for Tropical Building (IFT) in Starnberg from 1973 to 1985*. In this position, he was responsible for the building up of the IFT-Mediatheque and a range of publications produced by the IFT. In 1983, Kiran Mukerji and Antoni Folkers shared the same room within the Starnberg L+P/IFT office and thus became befriended. Since 1985, Mukerji operates under his own name and has carried out numerous missions and research commissions. Amongst these the repair and reconstruction of more than 2,000(!) Health and Family Welfare building structures that were damaged during the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat. Kiran Mukerji’s library, consisting of approximately 450 entries, is a crucial contribution to the African Architecture Matters mediatheque, as it fills certain gaps in the focus areas within the field of tropical planning and building of, for instance health, sustainable building technology and general planning theory. * The IFT-mediatheque was handed over to ArchiAfrika by Dr Lippsmeier’s son, the architect Ulrich Lippsmeier in 2009. Since 2011, the unique collection of books, reports, drawings and photographs is given over to the care of African Architecture Matters and i currently located in Utrecht.

Ter gelegenheid van de uitgave van het boek The Low Countries at the Crossroads, Netherlandish Architecture as an Export Product in Early Modern Europe, samengesteld door Koen Ottenheym en Krista de Jonge, wordt er in Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam een studiedag gehouden over de Europese uitstraling van de architectuur uit de Nederlanden in de zestiende en zeventiende eeuw op 9 mei aanstaande. In onze tijd geniet Nederlandse architectuur internationaal veel aanzien. Rem Koolhaas, Ben van Berkel en anderen hebben een sterrenstatus bereikt. Dat bleek niet anders in de 16de en 17de eeuw. Ook Antoni Folkers doet in onze tijd een duit in het zakje en zal tijdens de studiedag verhalen over de projecten die hij sinds het midden van de jaren 80 uitvoert in Oost Afrika. Lees meer over de door de KNOB georganiseerde studiedag en hoe aan te melden via deze link.

On 26 March, the Cities of Casablanca and Amsterdam, together with Casamemoire, presented ‘L'Batwar - Story of a Transformation’ in the former abattoirs in Morocco’s largest city. The book portraits the history of the architecturally fascinating municipal slaughterhouses, situated between the city centre and the neighbourhood Hay Mohammadi. Many factory workers and their families were living in this neighbourhood with a strong social cohesion, where political resistance lead to several large protests in the past. After the factory closed its doors in the beginning of the century, the strategic position in the city and its exceptional architectural beauty gave rise to thoughts of converting the complex into a driver for development of the area. Since 2009, a group of around 15 socio-cultural organisations make use of the spaces and developed a programme as 'Fabrique Culturelle’, involving also many inhabitants and their children. It is time to diverge towards a more definite mode of use, allowing the architectural beauty of the abattoirs to shine again. The book gives a colourful insight of the past of the buildings, its formal use and its more informal socio-cultural function in the recent years through texts, images and drawings. Possible ways forward are reflected via examples of successful conversions from similar complexes elsewhere in the world. The book, a common effort of the cities of Casablanca and Amsterdam as a vector of their International Collaborative programme, is coordinated by Abderrahim Kassou, with Maria Daif as publication director. The graphic design is from Rudy Guedj, who graduated at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam with this project. AAmatters was involved in the production of 'L'Batwar’ through Berend van der Lans, who was part of the Editorial Board and contributed to the book with a few texts. Read the interview on the book with Maria Daif in French here. #Casablanca