Day 8: CASE Study

Today we again drove out to Minburi and met with architect Patama and her assistant Ploy. Patama gave us an incredible lecture about the work she does as a community architect. Her firm, Community Architects for Shelter and the Environment, creates appropriate housing and encourages the residents to have an active role in all steps of the development process. Patama and Ploy work directly with low-income communities (the "slums" of the neighborhoods) improve living conditions.

The design process is very different from other architecture firms. CASE first establishes social connections with a neighborhood (which can take years), and then hosts workshops where community members basically plan their own neighborhoods. Patama and Ploy use scale models that residents can arrange on large, scale floor maps. In doing so, they harness the creative abilities of people who live in these informal settlements. Residents are the ones who know the physical and social layout of their neighborhoods, and they're ingenious when it comes to creating their own solutions.

Obviously, the design process is very different. Patama insists that she's "not a social worker" and that she's "still an architect." Some people would argue otherwise. CASE alters the role of architects and planners in developing countries; they become articulators instead of just providers.

Sitting in a KFC after lunch, waiting to be taken to our respective communities. Tired.

After the lecture, we split into groups and surveyed households in five different communities. There was a list of things to ask families about: boundaries, neighbors, garbage disposal, transportation, workplace, access points, shopping, school, land rights, residency, and satisfaction. My group visited Bang-Chun Pattana, a Muslim community that is currently confronting overpopulation and a drug problem. We found and talked with Prasert, neighborhood chieftan. He's a nice, older fellow. For our discussion, we sat outside on our porch. Pim and Toon, the Thai students in my group, did the speaking and recording. I was the designated photographer; Anh was the general "observer." Prasert was a fantastic resource for information. Afterward, we walked around the neighborhood's canals and roads. School just let out, so the main U-shaped road was overcrowded with kids buying candy. While we were waiting for our ride, we also heard the call to prayer.

The chieftan.

A shot of the Bang-Chun canal.

Back at TEN house (our meeting place with CASE), the groups worked on posters for the ten answers and a development timeline. We presented our findings. One group went to two neighborhoods called Lam Hin and Suk ka tong, and we're hoping to organize an MIT group to return to Thailand and help Lam Hin build a bridge.

Making posters on the floor of TEN house.

Presentations.

After our time spent in Minburi, we headed over to Toon's parents' house for a nice home cooked meal. Yes, about 30 of us fit in their living room and dining room. They were incredible hosts, and we thank them for their hospitality.

At Toon's parents' house, listening to Ploy's announcement (Ploy was like... group Mom)