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Adaptable Masterplan: Parametrization

Watch a video tutorial for my newest Blender Geometry Nodes tool BSG (Buldings & Streets Generator)

In the previous article I showed the preliminary analysis, which led me to a decision of creating this Blender Geometry Nodes parametric tool. In this article I will describe the logic behind the setup´s generative process and steps I undertook in order to develop Buildings & Streets Generator (BSG). At the end of the article you´ll find a user guide and documents for download.

Finding the right software

For people, who can´t write a single line of code but still need to create a script which outputs geometry, visual programming method is the best option. The most popular software that have implemented it are Rhino with its Grasshopper extension and Blender with its Geometry Nodes modifier. After considering pros and cons of both, the decision in favor of Blender was easy to make, even though I wasn´t experienced with this program yet. The fact that it´s a free open source software means that the script can be easily accessible for literally everyone interested in it. It reduces the barrier for potential users of starting to work with it. In addition, I discovered that Blender community is huge: open source enthusiasts from around the world together contribute to making this program better. They often share advice and tutorials, as well as different assets and pieces of their visual code on designated forums and online marketplaces, which makes it easier for beginners to get started with Blender.

Geometry nodes

With Blender Geometry Nodes, it is possible to “pre-record“ certain steps of modifying geometry and apply them to different contexts. It is a very powerful tool, the complexity of which is unlimited. It was designed for setting and controlling parameters of geometry without deleting its previous versions (parametric non-destructive design). The nodes are easy to replicate, share between the files and for a non-programmer they are way easier to understand than any programming language.

Dissecting urban space

In order to create a script that is capable of generating different plausible solutions for residential areas, one should be aware of how the single elements of built structure are related to each other. It´s like assembling a puzzle: to create a nice picture, you have to take a look at each element and consciously put every single piece in its place.

But in order to assemble a picture, i had to disassemble built structure into the most important elemets first and due to the time limitations, only focus on the most important ones. What are the most important features of the street or of the building? What is the relationship between them? What do I have as an input and which steps do I have to take to achieve a desired output? In which order do I have to take those steps? These are typical questions everyone askes themselves while working on a parametric model.

Much helpful theory has been written about the characteristics of good built structures. Authors such as Kevin Lynch, Christopher Alexander have devoted their work to the study of the relationship between them. Ernst Neufert, along with contemporary authors and professors Leonhard Schenk and Christa Reicher, have given much thought to the appropriate dimensions and spacing between these elements and have been a tremendous source of knowledge for me. This knowledge has been used as the basis for defining minimum and maximum values for the features that my script deals with, which are shown in Tables 1 and 2 for road elements and building elements respectively.

Defining inputs and outputs

Inputs

For the sake of simplicity in terms of usage, I tried to keep required inputs as simple as possible. Everything one needs to start working with BSG is:

1) simple lines for streets, joined by type. It is easy to download street networks for almost any existing place using QGIS software for querying OSM (Open Street Maps) data. It should already contain information about the road type. Join street geometry, so that every type is on a separate layer and use BlendGIS plugin for Blender to upload them in your project. This is exactly what I did for the site I am working on. If your project contains streets which are in planning, but not yet exist within OSM database, draw them in manually either in QGIS or directly in Blender. Important is only that they are all joined by type and that the lines all lay on the same plane (flat surface). The script will work best with tidy, continuous geometry, where there are no breaks between the line segments.

2) polygons for development areas, where buildings should be placed. The facades of generated buildings will align themselves along the perimeter of the polygon. Every polygon should be it´s own, separate geometry. Don´t join them.

3) don´t forget to write down an approximate expected average housing area per person into a corresponding input slot so that the model can calculate how many people the generated housing can provide accommodation for. If you don´t do this, a default value of 30m2 will be automatically chosen. You will still get the results, because this input is not mandatory, but it´s recommended to think about it.

And that´s it! Enjoy the process, as you experiment with different controls while your 3D model changes “on the fly“.

Outputs

What you should see after providing all the necessary inputs, is a responsive 3D model, adaptable in real time. In addition to geometry output, it calculates and outputs following values, which urbanists often use to compare and evaluate diferent housing solutions:

1) approximate number of people for each development area;
2) building coverage ratio (BCR) for each area;
3) floor area ratio (FAR) for each area.

Generative process

In this abstract I will explain the logic behind the algorithm of BSG that creates geometry throughout the whole journey from input to output.

Street generation

The street is the city’s most important element. (Pallson, 2020) Kevin Lynch also noted that paths were predominant elements in people´s image of space with other elements being arranged along them. (Reicher, 2016, pp 212-213)

The process of creating street geometry out of a line is very simple. The algorithm is set to extrude those lines symmetrically into both directions perpendicularly to the spline tangents on the XY plane (flat ground). Users can control the length of the extrusion vectors, which is equal to the road width. If you uploaded different road types as separate layers, you can control the width of each of them separately. Usually, roads of the higher hierarchy are also wider. After the extrusion, the overlapping geometry at the intersections is being deleted.

Same principle is being repeated for each additional street element (be it bike lanes or sidewalks). The width of every element is being added to the ones, that are closer to the initial line. Thus, the overall width of the street increases.

One can add more elements either by checking corresponding boxes in the node input or by setting the width of the element from 0 to a desired value. By checking boxes, the user is reseting boolean values and depending on this, different geometry is being parsed. Boolean geometry nodes always have two input sockets and one output socket. For example, by checking a box “Tree Alley”, instead of an empty geometry, a geometry is being called now, where the curve is resampled by length (equal to Tree Interval) and tree models are distributed on corresponding curve´s vertices.

Available street elements are listed in the table 1.0 (below). Separators are safety barriers between different road elements. In reality, they often come in a form of pillars, concrete bars, stripes of lawn or tree alleys.

Also in my model it is possible to put tree alleys at the separators. I differentiate between the middle separator (between car lanes) and the side separator (either between a car lane and a bike lane or between a bike lane and a sidewalk).

Table 1.0: Street Parameters
Table 2: Building Parameters

Configuration of the street is an important task in urban design, as it is able to influence the atmosphere of open space along this street. Just try to play with controls and see for yourself!

Secondary Streets:
Roads which are on top of the hierarchy (like primary and secondary, sometimes tertiary, dependent on country´s classification), often have more than just two car lanes. There is a possibility to add two more lanes to secondary roads.

Tertiary Streets:
Here are shown some of, but not all possible configurations of tertiary streets.

Residential Streets:
Here are some examples of how residential streets
could look like.

Secondary Street Section: Example 1
Tertiary Street Section: Example 1
Residential Street Section: Example 1
Secondary Street Section: Example 2
Tertiary Street Section: Example 2
Residential Street Section: Example 2
Secondary Street Section: Example 3
Tertiary Street Section: Example 3
Residential Street Section: Example 3

Moreover, roads which are on top of the hierarchy (like primary and secondary, sometimes tertiary, dependent on country´s classification), often have more than just two car lanes. There is a possibility to add two more lanes to secondary roads.

Building generation

Orientation along the boundary

Development area
Buildings aligning along the edge of development area

After the boundary of future development areas (a polygon) has been provided, the first thing that happens is that the buildings start emerging along its perimeter. After a while of long consideration, trial and error and reading lots of literature, I came to a conclusion, that starting from the edge is the best choice, for the following reasons.

Alignment along the street is a typical feature of urban fabric in European cities, especially if we are speaking about block typology. Block has been popular for thousands of years and is still not losing its popularity. (Reicher, 2016, p.54) In most of the cities which we perceive as the most beautiful, the facades have a clear orientation towards the street. Open spaces and the streets are “hewn out” of the solid city mass.

Leonhard Schenk, 2023, writes that all the authors – with the exception of those belonging to the Modernist movement – were in agreement that open urban space must be delimited by buildings. And if we consider the streets to be open space, they too, should be clearly defined by the buildings.

It doesn´t matter which typology the user chooses, even if it is a detached house or a row house, the orientation of an entrance towards the street is a reasonable choice, as it is easier to find addresses this way, the entrances are more visible, which creates liveliness and conveys the feeling of security even after dark (Palsson, 2020).

Christopher Alexander differentiates between “positive“ and “negative“ space. Positive are the ones partly enclosed, to the extent that their areas seem bounded. Negative spaces, on the contrary, are poorly defined, so that it is hard to tell where their boundaries are. He argues, that people feel comfortable in spaces which are “positive” and relatively uncomfortable in spaces which are “negative”. (Alexander, 1977, pp. 518–520)

Shape variation

Shape variation
Cutting off sharp angles

Even though the starting point of my script is to align buildings along the edges, we know that in reality the buildings are not always strictly following the street – sometimes the construction is being “cut off“ to create open space.

The data type of this variable is an integer, which equals the number of vertices for the resampling of the original boundary edges. The smaller the number, the more the new curve deviates from the original one, meaning that more open space is being created at the corners of the development area. The minimum and maximum values for this variable are 5 and 15. If the original geometry is complex or concave, you might want to set this number higher. By default, this option is set to false. But there is an option for a user to turn it on, in case one doesn´t want the buildings to strictly follow the street.

In addition, there is a possibility to cut of sharp angles from base geometry without resampling the curve. This is being done for practical and economic reasons. In reality, we can see a building with sharp angles only rarely.

When you input a development area with a sharp angle (less than 70 degrees) into a script, the polygon is being triangulated. The parts of geometry adjacent to a sharp angle is being deleted. There is a possibility to control the amount of deleted geometry based on its distance from the angle.

Placement depth and spacing

Offset
Spacing

Placement depth is a uniform offset of input geometry inwards and equals the distance between the building and the edge of the development area. The user might want to increase this variable in order to create a buffer between the street and the building, a zone, which can be used, for example, as front gardens, restaurant terraces, etc.

Spacing is only available for detached houses, as the buildings of other typologies are contiguous. It is equal to the distance between the houses.

Typology

Detached houses
Row houses
Block

The choice of typology is relatively narrow (detached houses, row houses and perimeter blocks) due to time limitations. I decided to focus on these three, because they are typical and widely used in European countries. Typologies like mat block or mat fabric might be more common for Arab cultures. In addition, high-rise solitary buildings and slab typology have been dismissed for the same reason I decided to align my start geometry along the streets – for the sake of creating “positive” space. Highrises tend to dissolve urban spaces, creating unsatisfactory, unsafe outdoor areas with a poor microclimate. (Palsson, 20, pp. 160–161) Thus, I wanted to limit the risk of this happening.

All the changes that happened to our original geometry during form variation, applying placement depth and spacing were on a 2D (XY) plane. As we have now a contour for built structure, it is time to make use of the third dimension. Creation of different typologies follows slightly different logic, although in all three cases the script is working with “instance” data type. Instances aren´t real geometry, just a “ghost“, a reference of a mesh objects (3D models) from a corresponding collection(s). The house shape itself isn´t being created by script, instead, the assets of my file include collections with manually created 3D models for each typology. Even though it is not the most parametric decision, this approach has advantages which I will explain at the end. The purpose of instancing, according to Blender developers, is to allow for much complexer geometries without increasing RAM utilization.

Detached houses: Each house is an instanced object from asset collections, being distributed on the points domain after applying spacing variable (resampling the curve by length). Through changing other variables, like building width, number of floors and roof shape, the user sends information to a boolean math node set-up, which in turn automatically chooses from the collections that fit these requirements.

Row houses: The logic is similar to that of detached houses with one exception. Elements are being distributed along the input curve not based on resampling the input curve by length (distance), but according to the dimensions of instances´ bounding boxes. It is made in order to place the houses right next to each other, at the same time avoiding their intersection even after it has been transformed (scaled) by a user.

Block: After resampling the input curve by length to achieve the desired building width (plot size), newly created edges are being inset inwards by a vector length equal to the input variable “building depth“ to create polygons for single plots. Unlike set-ups for detached or row houses, which instance the whole houses on point domain, this part of the script takes polygons as an input and instances elements from corresponding collections at their designated spots on these polygons. It instances pillars at the corners and wall modules between those corners along the edges. Then, according to the variable “floor number“, it stacks more similar modules on top.

Even though the choice is limited to only three main typologies, it is still possible to achieve a great variety of atmospheres and impressions. A user can start with a simple perimeter block, but by experimenting with different variables, especially placement depth, setback and omission, one can generate something resembling cluster typology or even solitary buildings (if the amount of omission is very high).

Building width

For block typology, the data type of this variable is float and it equals the width of the single building within the block. For detached and row houses it is possible to choose between smaller and bigger houses, but not to set the width directly. This is because the collections, where the script is instancing the objects from, are limited. More variety in terms of building width for these typologies can be achieved through scaling (transformation).

“The more monolithic a building is, and the less differentiated, the more it presents itself as an inhuman, mechanical factory.” (Alexander, 1977, pp. 469–470) I always suggest choosing a small plot size.

Transformation

Scale, rotation

Transformation operations include scaling and rotation, but only for detached and row houses. The scaling factors are limited to min. 0.9 and max. 1.1 of the original geometry. It is possible to scale the buildings both in a uniform way or randomly, where random factors are also between 0.9 and 1.1.

The rotation factor for row houses is limited to 0.4 radians and can only be uniform (otherwise, the houses would intersect). Detached houses can be rotated in a uniform or random way without limit.

There are no scaling or rotation options for block typology. If the user wants to change the size of buildings within the block, one can use variables “plot size“ and “floor height“ instead of scaling.

Setback

In detached houses
Within blocks

Setbacks of individual building within the urban fabric is an important feature which can drastically influence our perception of public space.

In order to combat the effect of streets driving pedestrians out and turn them into attractive places, where people want to stay, a greater sense of enclosure is needed. This can be accomplished if we make residential pedestrian streets subtly convex in plan with sitting possibilities (Alexander, 1977, p. 590)

My script isn´t made for visualizing sitting possibilities or any kind of urban furniture, but can provide various setback options for increased feeling of enclosure. I differentiate between abrupt setback (the buildings “jump“ back and forth) and fluid setback (buildings are being arranged into a smooth line), as well as periodic (repetitive) and non-periodic (random within a certain scope) setback.

Number of floors

Palsson, 2020, suggested that the building heights should be limited to five or six stories in the interest of incorporating sunlight in courtyards and streets. Christopher Alexander, 1977, even advises limiting the maximum number of floors to 4, in order to encourage better relationship between indoor and outdoor space, enable communication between parents who work inside and their children playing outside.

In spite of many renowned authors advocating for low building heights, I can only partially agree with these claims. Certainly, sunlight is important, but as summer temperatures hit new records every year, shady spaces can feel like a blessing. Secondly, when writing a script primarily for the use case of Irpin, I certainly wouldn´t set the limit for the floor number as low as just six storeys. Even though previously I mentioned European culture as some homogenous entity, the differences between countries regarding the preferences and experiences of citizens still exist. Physical patterns may have predictable effects in a single culture, with its stable structure of institutions and values. But it is not possible to construct a cross-cultural theory. It is even dangerous, since it will inevitably be used to impose the value of one culture on another. (Lynch, 1987, pp. 100–101) We must always reflect on the statements of others critically, even if they are icons, like Christopher Alexander. Remember that he lived during different time and in a different culture. In Ukraine, with the exception of historical city cores, high-rise blocks are very common, popular and they are not considered as something ugly or of inhumane scale. Irpin itself is a relatively new city without a low medieval city centre. It has numerous residential buildings, the height of which exceeds 10 floors. “Irpinski Lypky“, a damaged residential complex located on Hostomel highway, which is also a part of my chosen site, has been one of the most favourite and luxurious housing complexes in the city with its 10 floors and is currently being rebuilt exactly as it was before russian airstrikes. People appreciate high blocks for their ability to accommodate large closed or semi-closed courtyards, where trees (people of Irpin are very proud of their pines) can reach respectable age and height. Moreover, in a city, where the citizens value green spaces above everything, it is worth remembering that the more we build into the height, the more precious land can be saved for environmental and recreational purposes. And finally, regarding parent-child communication, believe me, Ukrainian mothers are very much capable of shouting to their kids even from the 10th. floor.

Thus, I limited the height of the block typology to 15 floors, which are not too many, in my opinion, as that buildings that already exist on site, have 10 floors. One can always go several floors higher or lower than the context, or at least having a possibility to choose so is valuable. When developing a tool for public participation, it would be a pity not to offer a broad choice of options for the stakeholders to decide from.

Detached houses can have min. one floor and max. three floors, row houses either two or three floors. Within one block it is possible to have a mix of houses with different number of floors.

Omission

Periodic omission of detached houses
Non-periodic omission of block plots

Omission is a useful variable for creating space for tiny squares and pocket parks. The simplest method (but not the only one) for creating a square is to exclude one or more building lots within a design. This works regardless of the types of urban building blocks used on the site. (Schenk, 2023, p. 191)

Thanks to this feature we can also reflect temporal dimension, if we want.

I differentiate between periodic and non-periodic omission. The user can also control the amount.

Using available resources

A significant part of the script, as well as assets (collections) for creating block typology has been created by Pavel Oliva. His geometry nodes library, called “buildify“ can be downloaded for free on gumroad.

A 3D expert and a blogger with the nickname Erindale teaches Blender on youtube and provides free geometry node groups for making the lives of CG artists a little bit easier. He does an outstanding job writing meaningful algorithms. In particular, I have been using his node groups “Collections on curves“ and some others across my work.

User Guide

There are two files you can download (at the end). One includes the model of the district around Hostomel highway and Bagirova street. With it, you can experiment within the context of the site. Another file is without any context. It only includes geometry node trees for streets and development areas with arbitrary input geometries, as well as folders with typologies´ assets. Download it in case you are not interested in Irpin, but want to use my setup for your own project. Simply append this file to your project file. Select desired node trees (“Development Area“ or “Streets GN“), then both the nodes and the collections will appear in your file. It is recommended to watch a video tutorial (at the top) before using.

Nodes for streets

Simple lines, which represent road paths can be used as inputs. The geometry must be tidy, continuous and lie in XY plane. The lines should be joined by road type, so that you can control the elements of each type separately. Joined lines of every type must be on a separate layer.

Create any other object and apply the geometry nodes modifier. Geometry nodes editor must be open. Select the node “Streets GN“. Delete the geometry input of a new object.

You will see slots with an eyedropper tool for the lines of each road type. Simply click on the eyedropper and then click on your corresponding layers. Now the street geometry should appear.

In addition, you will see sliders, which control different street elements.

Experiment and enjoy!

Nodes for buildings

Simple, one-faced, flat polygons, which lie on a XY plane can be used as inputs. They should represent your desired development area. On it, the buildings are going to be distributed. If you have multiple development areas within your project, they should all be on separate layers. If you want your areas to have the same construction style, apply geometry nodes modifier to all of them (don´t join them!) and select the node “Development Area“. If you want the buildings to look differently in each area, make multiple copies of this node to control your development areas separately.


On the first level of controls, you can select the desired typology for the corresponding development area, as well as specify the estimated average netto living area per person. This is needed to calculate an approximate number of potential residents, that can be accommodated in this area.

In geometry nodes editor, you will not miss a big orange box with the second level of controls. There are three further nodes, through which you can control variables of your desired typology (detached, row and block). Proceed to the node, which corresponds to the typology that you selected during the first step.

Adjusting the variables of the typology you haven´t selected won´t bring any effect. Experiment with the parameters and see how 3D geometry instantly changes.

Finally, the script calculates the following outputs: an approximate number of people, building coverage ratio (BCR) and floor area ratio (FAR). To view them, turn on the attribute viewer and plug in the output you wish to inspect into the viewer´s “Value“ socket. The number will appear in a “Viewer“ column in your spreadsheet editor. In the spreadsheet editor, the same domain should be selected, as is indicated on a viewer node. It is only possible to view one output attribute at a time.

Reflexion

Limitations

Typology

This geometry nodes can only generate building typologies, popular among European countries. For other contexts, it might not be suitable. It is neither capable of creating new innovative typologies, nor does it spawn sophisticated designs. Only the most simple building shapes, only the most basic typologies and their variations are possible. In the case of a country with degraded economy, it is good enough, as every deviation from the standard would inevitably lead to increased construction costs. However, if you expect a
tool, capable of creating something the world has never seen before, this script is a bad choice.

Land use

While the user can generate many plausible options for residential blocks, this model is not suitable for large-scale commercial or industrial areas. It doesn´t have any landscaping features either. It is not a smart AI, which could come up with a vision for the
whole neighbourhood and create a vibrant land-use mix. This geometry nodes set-up simply takes an input of a development area, that the user has to provide and locates
residential buildings within it, as well as spawns street geometry onto simple lines.

Variables

Built structure can be so versatile and diverse, that no tool can possibly generate all of the possible solutions. Mine is no exception. Its strength lies within the ability of creating various plausible options quickly, but by no means can it visualize all of them. The variables, that the user can control, are strictly limited to those, described above and listed in tables. Everything else is out of scope of this project. For example, shadow calculator would be another important variable, but it is not available in the current version.

Distinctiveness: reusability, adaptability, intelligibility, accessibility

Reusability

I showed you how I applied geometry nodes modifier to one district in Irpin. It would also work for other cities that face similar challenges. Needless to say, it is possible to use this script at any context, be it artificial or existing, as long as the user is aware of its limitations and provides required inputs.

Adaptability

House geometry for detached and row typology, as well as wall modules for block typology is not being created by the code, but is being referenced from asset collections. This way, it is easy to change the design, without having to rewrite the code. One can simply exchange existing 3D models for preferred ones or edit existing meshes via modelling tools.

Intelligibility

You don´t have to be a geometry nodes expert to be able to use the tool. All the input sockets are clearly labelled and all the control options for variables are collected at the starting panel. You don´t have to dig deep into the code and look for the corresponding node.

Accessibility

You can download the tool for free. All you need to run it is Blender software, at least version 4.0, which is also free and open source. Thanks to instancing feature, running the script doesn´t use a lot of computer RAM, thus, a powerful machine with fancy indicators is not required. Any average laptop would do the job.

I know, that the tool I developed is not perfect and a lot can be done to make it even better. But the good thing about open source community is that anyone who is interested can contribute to the further development of this script and expand its capabilities.

Downloads

Click here to download a Blender file with Geometry Nodes setup for BSG (without a specific context), as well as an adaptable masterplan for Irpin (with context – Hostomel highway district).

P.S. While using the script, you will probably encounter several bugs and things that don´t run smoothly. Please feel free to correct them if you know how and if you do, contact me please. I am eager to share my experience and knowledge, as well as learning from other open source enthusiasts!

Categories
Architecture and Urbanism Article

Sustainable Architecture

What is sustainability? There are so many definitions of it. Among others, in terms of architecture, it is an ability to face the challenges of the future, such as a rapidly growing population, globalization and digitalization, food and resources scarcity followed by poverty and refugee waves. Moreover, according to scientists, climate change will inevitably lead to more and more unpredictable nature catastrophes. We as planners should take it into account, always keeping in mind that neither of the three factors of sustainability (ecological, economic and social) can be neglected.


The architecture of tomorrow must offer or, if possible, even be the solution to some of the pressing problems. It should provide necessities, give possibilities, unite communities and, most important, – be able to change. After all, change is the only constant in our turbulent and insecure world.


Therefore, sustainable architecture is all about flexibility, modularity, inclusion and eco-friendliness, while sustainable urbanism means short distances, decentralization, safety, diversity and self-sufficiency. Only when we learn to be thoughtful about our planet and its finite resources, we can achieve a sustainable way of living. For example, before spreading further and further into the wild, destroying the natural habitat of animal species, we should focus on the renovation of the existing neighbourhoods and redevelopment of fallow and abandoned territories. Secondly, following the rules of the circular economy instead of perpetuating the wheel of consumerism and waste is crucial. Organic, recycled and recyclable, deconstructible and reusable building materials are the future. I am sure, someday, we will have to build our houses from waste we created over the centuries. In addition, every good urbanist has to make sure that natural cycles (such as the water cycle, sand cycle etc.) are not being seriously interrupted.


All in all, technological innovations in recent years have been very promising. Equipment for CO2-free energy generation, automated household utilities, modular vertical gardens, permeable paving stones, and even structures made out of fungus which can partially be a replacement for concrete already exist. Furthermore, architects would be happy to start testing and implementing such innovations en masse as soon as possible.
So why is the shift towards sustainability so slow?

This is a complex question with no simple answer. The disadvantage of innovations is that brand-new technologies have high investment costs. It means, they will become profitable, but only after many years of exploitation. This way it is rarely possible to make a lot of money very fast, it’s rather a long-term investment. At the same time, capitalistic system has treated nature as if its resources were infinite. It made it easy for companies to destroy habitats in the name of growth. The cheapest option is most often an unsustainable one, be it an energy source, a mode of transport or a building material. That’s why sometimes we, as consumers or experts, don’t have the power to choose the most sustainable option. In our world, who has money – has the power.

As you see, it does not only take urbanists to make a diverse society work in a way that is the least harmful to the environment and to future generations. It requires societal change, although political willingness is not there. It is important, that the decisions at every level of governance are made collectively and not only by those, who put profit higher than the common well-being. Subsequently, it is important to normalize the processes of participation and let the local community decide the fate of their neighborhoods themselves. Let people be the co-designers of neighbourhoods, which they know from the inside.

Needless to say, such a shift requires radical changes in a whole social system, beginning with politics and ending with our own perception. But who said it would be easy? The realities we are facing today are harsh and we can only go through them together, while leaving the stiffness of our own minds behind, opening up to new possibilities and forms of living, embracing change and caring for each other as well as for our planet.

Categories
Article

Engineers Without Borders in Haiti

Around four years ago, I joined the university group “Engineers Without Borders – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology e.V.“. It is a non-profit organisation that carries out development cooperation in a wide range of areas worldwide. I became interested in the Beaumont – Haiti project because I wanted to help people suffering from natural disasters and political instability in one of the poorest countries in the world. We are relocating a school and an orphanage in a small mountain village called Beaumont. Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew and at the same time the construction of a new national road, directly in front of the old site, a new home for the pupils and orphans had to be built. With this decision, our Haitian-German partner organisation Pwojè Men Kontre turned to us about seven years ago. And so one thing led to another.

We create the basis for the reliable operation of the orphanage and the school by constructing safe buildings. We design, plan and realise the entire new site, using the skills we have acquired in our studies in a practical and sustainable way. With the resulting earthquake- and storm-proof buildings as well as the planned infrastructure, we are creating a home for orphans and a place for school children to learn.

We want to give children in Haiti perspectives that we all take for granted. But in Haiti, this does not only mean providing access to sufficient drinking water, the light at night and education as a foundation. Above all, it also means designing every building to be earthquake and hurricane-resistant. A principle for us to make sustainability possible in this country in the first place. This gives the next generation chances to receive a proper education. In the end, they will not only shape their own future but will also be able to actively develop the entire country.

From Germany, we plan, calculate and discuss multiple possibilities for designing buildings that are later realised by us in cooperation with the Haitians on site. Since the project came into being in 2014, a lot has been achieved – several classrooms, an orphanage, a canteen, a multifunctional assembly hall with a solar system, as well as a self-sufficient sewage system have been built.

I joined Engineers Without Borders in 2017 and have since designed buildings, water and sewage systems and drawn them in CAD while other association members have implemented them in Haiti. Recently, I also had the opportunity to participate in Construction Phase 9 and finally go to Haiti myself for six weeks. Our team, together with the Haitian workers, built a new classroom and started another one. I would like to share this progress with all of you because it means a lot to me!

Construction phase 9 was the first construction phase since 2019. At first, due to Covid-19, all travel plans worldwide were cancelled and we had to stop construction on site. But other political accidents and a 7.3 magnitude earthquake also shook Haiti recently, which kept delaying the ninth construction phase. Neither the team nor the board of the association could know for sure when and if it could take place at all. But all the circumstances were taken note of and the team studied the situation in the country in detail. Appropriate additional security measures were taken and finally, the travel team could set off!

Photo: EWB, David Clement

After our arrival, it was with a heavy heart that we noticed the traces of the earthquake that had hit the country in August: many houses are badly damaged or completely destroyed, broken infrastructure, such as buried roads, complicate land routes, building materials are missing or difficult to supply. Fortunately, all buildings constructed by EWB have remained intact except for minimal, statically irrelevant damage. The site visit of the orphanage and the school gave us goosebumps, as we realised more than before that our work to construct high-quality earthquake-resistant buildings is not in vain.

In the 9th construction phase, we set out to build two more classrooms. This was an ambitious goal, especially considering that most of us had never been to Haiti before and had hardly any construction site experience. But we were confident, motivated and excited to finally continue this important work.

In the first two weeks, we quickly learned how to use a wide variety of tools properly: Saws, drills, demolition hammers and vibratory plates were used daily on the construction site. We learned and mastered important techniques of timber construction. In the same way, our processes, such as the tying of the reinforcement cages, became faster and more precise. But as on any construction site, we were constantly confronted with challenges. Due to the lack of fuel, our first concreting session was briefly on the brink of failure – without fuel for the vibratory plate and concrete mixer, the trenches for the foundation could neither be levelled nor the foundation concreted. But help came just in time from Hugo, our partner and building material supplier, who got us 3 gallons of petrol.

Left: Vibratory plate in action
Right: Reinforcement cages are ready

We started the first big concreting session with a lot of joy and of course a healthy portion of excitement before the exhausting day. In the blazing sun, we first started with three concrete mixers at the same time: 4 buckets of gravel, 2 buckets of sand, 1 bag of cement, water in – concrete out, continuously without interruption. But as it had to happen, not everything went according to plan: one hour after the start of the concreting, the first concrete mixer stops working due to a broken joint. Half an hour later, the V-belt of the second concrete mixer breaks and at about the same time the workers start to strike. But after negotiations with the workers and a few phone calls to get a V-belt at short notice, the concreting could still be completed well thanks to combined efforts.

The further concreting of the plinth, the floor slab and the second foundation went smoothly with our practised team and good preparation.

Photo: EWB, David Clement

On our days off, we enjoyed the beautiful landscape and the warm hospitality of the Haitians and were able to recover from the strenuous work. Of course, the programme also included visiting the destinations of the surrounding area: be it the dark caves in the valley or the mountains to enjoy the breathtaking views. With luck and good weather, you can even see the Caribbean Sea in the distance from there. Haiti’s nature is extraordinary and fascinating to the European eye. Palm trees and lianas, flowers of different sizes and shapes, as well as large colourful butterflies, giant spiders, tropical frogs, snakes, hummingbirds and multi-coloured lizards will remain in our memories for a long time.

Photo: EWB, David Clement
Photo: EWB, Tanja Zuppé

Over time, the language barrier and different cultural backgrounds were no longer an obstacle to having a beer with Valleur (director of the orphanage) in the evening or playing board games and learning new dance moves with the girls at Nan Ginen orphanage. We also built a good relationship with the workers who accompanied us on our trips. From time to time they brought us boxes, full of passion fruit, guavas, coconuts and oranges, which was just what we needed after the exhausting days on the construction site.

The last week on the construction site was very productive, but not easy. Unlike previous construction phases, some of which were months long and involved several teams taking turns and continuing each other’s work, this construction phase consisted of only one team that had to build the classroom from start to finish. We were aware that there is still a lot to do to finish the building before we had to leave. The classrooms are very much needed here right now. The number of pupils is increasing, so at the moment classes are even being held in the dining area of the canteen. Also, two classes are always studying in the auditorium at the same time, which is not an optimal solution because of the noise pendulum. That’s why we started the final week full of energy.

After the classroom walls were braced together, they had to be covered with wooden slats. From the outside, the load-bearing components are not visible, but from the inside, the truss is open and will soon be used as shelves by the teachers and schoolchildren. The roof trusses were almost entirely completed by our Haitian helpers Stanley and Jean Vanex and erected on the roof. These had to be braced, which is essential for the load-bearing capacity of the roof truss. Meanwhile, Stanley and Vanex are good at working with wood, which is rare for Haitian workers. We have done some training with them on how to use different saws and other tools used in woodworking and have gone through all the roof truss plans together in detail. Our Haitian friends did the new tasks with a lot of interest and motivation – slowly and unsteadily at first, but with time more and more quickly and accurately until all the roof trusses were in place and fastened.

Here in sunny Haiti, German traditions have not been forgotten either: after the completion of the wooden construction, we celebrated a small topping-out ceremony with some good Haitian rum. It was breathtaking to watch the first sunset from the freshly built roof because the view from up there is just insane!

Now the battens and the sheet metal had to be attached to the roof. But again, things did not go according to plan: there were heavy thunderstorms and showers for two days.

Working on the slippery sheet metal in this weather was dangerous. Longingly, the team waited for the sun – and then it came. Again, there were days of nailing and screwing on the construction site, the house took its final shape. After the shutters and the door are mounted and the screed is poured, the building can be used.

Even during the rain, we had no time to be lazy. Some repairs in the showers of the girls’ dormitory were done, the tool container was tidied up and the available material for the next teams was carefully counted. Additional training on the maintenance of the PAUL water filter, as well as on the maintenance of the batteries of the photovoltaic system were conducted with the caretakers of the school to ensure the longevity of the electricity and freshwater supply.

The bricks for the second classroom were prepared. The construction management of the building of this classroom will be taken over by our local friends, Stanley and Jean Vanex, after our departure.

Shortly before our departure, we were invited by Valleur to church and then to dinner, where we could experience Haitian Catholic traditions. While in Europe during Catholic masses it is being melancholically preached about our sins, here the atmosphere is much more cheerful, with singing that can easily be mistaken for relaxing beach music if you don’t understand the lyrics. After mass, we had the opportunity to meet Bishop Joseph Gontran Decoste. He told us a lot about his trips to Germany, about how the beauty of the Cologne Cathedral impressed him and about the cooperation with German Catholic associations that have been supporting Haiti for 60 years. He was very interested in our work and even invited us to visit Les Cayes. The exchange with this nice and grounded man was very interesting and inspiring – we are envious of the next travel teams that will be able to take up his offer.

It was with heavy hearts and not without tears that we said goodbye to the orphans. During the time we lived in the Nan Ginen orphanage, we got very used to them. Even though we could only communicate with gestures, it was so much fun to play and dance together in the evenings, to listen to them sing. Dancing and smiling are international languages, yet we regretted several times that we didn’t learn Creole better before the trip so that we could have deeper conversations.

Suddenly the day of departure arrived – six weeks have flown by. Our suitcases are full of Bernardette’s (our cook) homemade jam and our hearts are filled with pride for what we have achieved and with the most beautiful sunny memories that will warm us all winter in cold rainy Germany.

Photogallery

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Travel

The Khmer Heritage

Night. Heat. Overwhelmed with pleasant excitement, I pull my suitcase through the crowded streets of Bangkok towards the bus agency, because I know – the next dawn I will meet in a new for me, interesting and mysterious Cambodia. While I’m waiting for the bus, I notice a group of young people who seem to have just finished school. From their accents it was clear that they came here from around the world. It didn’t take much effort for me to approach them and get acquainted – traveling alone, you involuntarily start to sail along incredible currents, meeting interesting and so different people on the way. We talked for a long time and played various games until our bus arrived. And how cool it was! The seats are wide, comfortable, with folding backs, where you could sleep – such transport is very common in Asia. A few hours passed unnoticed, it began to dawn, and here we are on the border of two countries. We were taken off the bus because we had to cross the border on foot. After a series of different procedures and paperwork, I finally set foot on Cambodian soil.

What I saw surprised me a lot. The border area itself was like a crowded bazaar – traders shouted prices from behind the counters under the buildings of hotels and casinos, while travelers were trying to find their vehicles. Poverty, hunger and hopelessness immediately caught my eye. Homeless people sat on the roadsides, begging for alms, and exhausted, dirty women with babies in their arms wandered among the crowd. And there were so many of them that I felt helpless and insignificant, because even after feeding one poor man, I realized that I could not help hundreds of others.

When I found my bus and perched comfortably again, I just thought about how lucky I was to be born in a prosperous country, to have a roof over my head, food every day, not to mention hygiene products.

We moved on and soon arrived in Siam Reap, where I spent three busy days. The reason for this trip was my dream to see Angkor – the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire, the ruins of which are located near this city. But I will tell you about it later.

So, saying goodbye to my new acquaintances, I went to meet my host, whom I found on the Couchsurfing site. I arrived at my destination – a primary school, located quite far from the city center. No tourists could be seen here, so I, a blonde with a European appearance and a blue suitcase, was very different from the locals. I waited for my host for more than an hour, so I had time to watch people, and I noticed one very strange thing: all the women who saw me were happy and smiling, the children waved merrily at me, while the men frowned, looking furiously. I still do not understand what caused such a reaction. (If anyone has any guesses or explanations – please share them in the comments!)

At the school behind me, a bell rang announcing the end of lessons, and a noisy crowd of children, about 8-10 years old, poured into the yard. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but most of them got on their scooters and drove home confidently. I was shocked! Little kids. On scooters.

After two hours, I got tired of waiting for a host who didn’t even respond to my messages, so I quickly found a hostel on the Internet in the heart of the city with a pool and round-the-clock parties for only $3 a night. But, what a pity! I was so far from the center, and public transport was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, I came across a tuk-tuk on the way, so I didn’t have to walk three kilometers on the hot asphalt under the tropical sun. The driver drove me to the doorstep of the hostel, where I heard loud music and laughter. Fortunately, there was a free bed for me in a room with 19 people. After a grueling road, I just dreamed of a pool! So before going to the city, I had a good rest, swam, getting acquainted with many cheerful young people from all over the world, who also stayed here. As you can see, traveling alone does not mean being lonely.

I was anxious to see the city, so without delay, I went for a walk. Despite the fact that Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, it was a great pleasure to walk its streets. Yes, the roads and sidewalks were bumpy, the houses were not in the best condition, the knots of power lines on the many poles looked unsightly, but there was so much different greenery that it gave the city a special charm. I have never seen such colorful flowers of different shapes and sizes, so I felt like in a paradise garden. Additionally, Buddhist and Hindu temples with their golden domes and ornaments only intensified this feeling. Even now, as I write this article, I am overwhelmed with emotions that I unfortunately cannot describe. I remember the monks in their orange robes resting in the courtyard of the temple in the shade of flowering trees. Stray dogs and cats perched peacefully beside them, and kittens jumped on the trees. It was very touching – the doors of the temple are open to all living creatures. Personally, I brought from there as much peace of mind and tranquility as even the sea has never given me. By the way, how many kittens can you see in this photo?

In the evening, the streets of Siam come to life. Bars and cafes are filled with people – locals and tourists. If you come to this city and want to have fun – I advise you to visit the famous Pub Street. Don’t be surprised if taxi drivers offer you to buy drugs from them – they try to make money on tourists in various ways, but keep in mind – Cambodian laws strictly prohibit the sale and use of drugs.

Having walked a lot, I returned to the hostel. After a little chat and a swim in the pool, I went to bed early, because the next day I had a long and busy program. Although I really enjoyed living in a hostel with young people and non-stop parties, staying up until the morning was not my priority, because I came to see the cultural heritage.

Dear readers, if there are girls among you who also love or intend to travel alone, then I want to warn you to be careful. There will always be many men in a hostel, cafe or at the party who will try to get you drunk and ready for sex, maybe even offer you to marry them. Never forget that you, your physical and mental health, your desires or unwillingness are the highest priority. Do not succumb to such provocations just because “they want something, and you are uncomfortable to refuse.” Be able to say no, walk away from the unwanted companion and stand up for yourself.

So, finally the morning came. The long-awaited trip. It was three o’clock in the morning, but thousands of tourists had already gathered under the walls of Angkor. I was not surprised, after all this is the former capital of the Khmer Empire, the largest city of its time. Two thousand years ago, these areas were already densely populated and technically developed. The whole complex covers an area of ​​about 200 km2 and is marked by the geometric structure of the plan and the harmony of the composition. In total, there are about 100 multi-storey palaces and temples, built without cement or other binding materials. The stone blocks are connected by the principle of a lock. Numerous towers, decorated with inscriptions and masterful carvings will not leave visitors, accustomed to European architecture and art, indifferent.

This is not the end of my acquaintance with the culture of Cambodia. Following my tradition, I found a theater here, which was a grand performance about the history of this region. The variety of colorful costumes, masks and decorations, as well as the number and skill of the actors were breathtaking. But the events they brought to life on stage were sad. Many upheavals, wars and crises were experienced by the Cambodian people: the strong and unique Khmer kingdom became a vassal of the Siamese Empire due to endless class strife and invasion. This was followed by French colonization, Khmer Rouge terror, genocide, armed conflict, poverty, and devastation. The consequences of these events still continue to negatively affect the country’s economy and social order.

And again, I realized that we actually have so much and don’t appreciate it. We quarrel, trying to find flaws in everything. But in fact, daily food and the availability of an apartment, clean tap water, the opportunity to study – these are the reasons for the great joy. I know this is hard to believe, but without exaggeration, billions of people in our world do not have such privileges. And those who even have a peaceful sky over their heads and a stable situation in the country – won the jackpot in the lottery called life.

Categories
Travel

Bangkok, Thailand

What type of travel is right for you? Are you one of those people who like to bask on the beach or one of those who wander the crowded streets all day with a camera in hand? Do you catch your breath from the architectural heritage, or rather from the thickness of the wild jungle, where almost no human has set foot? Are you interested in a family vacation, or are you looking for thrills behind the doors of strip bars and massage parlors? In fact, it doesn’t matter what category you belong to. Because here everyone will find something for themselves and, believe me, you will return home full of unforgettable impressions!
I started this rather spontaneous journey from the city of millions – Bangkok. I know most tourists prefer sunny Patagonia or the islands in the south, but if you have already travelled so far, do not neglect the opportunity to visit the capital.


Shortly before my arrival, I found accommodation on Couchsurfing (This website will allow you to meet the locals and have a great time together). So, somehow with adventures I got to the metro station, where I was to be met by my host. It turned out to be a smiling friendly young man Tan, who put me on his motorcycle (with a suitcase on my lap!) and drove me home. To say that new impressions began to overwhelm me from the first minute in Bangkok is to say nothing. Let’s at least take the fact that I rode a motorcycle for the first time (although, actually, the second time, because the first time it was a “motorcycle-taxi driver”? who drove me from the bus stop to the subway station). At first, I was afraid to get on a motorcycle, after all I’ve never did this before! Then people started laughing at me, because a motorcycle in Thailand is like a bicycle in the Netherlands: without it – no way. So I kinda gave in and let them put me on the vehicle.

Here we are – Tan’s home. There lived a wonderful family who, despite the language barrier, were very friendly to me. In his spare time, Tan showed me the city, celebrated Christmas with me, and helped in this unfamiliar country. We talked a lot and learned about each other’s cultures. And I realized how cool it is to know languages ​​and to be able to communicate with people from another part of the globe. Eventually, I stopped being afraid of the motorcycle and started to enjoy it, while Tan picked up speed on the track among the skyscrapers, jumping between cars from lane to lane.
My first day in Bangkok. I do not cease to be surprised. You will no longer find such architectural structures as here in any city. My undisputed favorites were the temple complexes of Wat Po and Wat Arun, as well as the Grand Palace. Walking around the city, you will find many other buildings that impress with their wealth, giant golden Buddhas, mosaics of colored mirrors, ornate dragons, giants and other mythical creatures. My advice to you: when going to Thailand, bring light clothes that cover the shoulders and knees. Only then will you be able to visit temples.


Religion and spirituality occupy an important place in the life of Thai citizens. In contrast to European countries, where more and more young people are turning to atheism, here religion is thriving and keeping up with the times. There are many monks on the streets, who are easily recognizable by their orange robes. And it’s not just elderly men, which surprised me a lot and, I must admit, made me happy. Among the monks are many children, adolescents and young men. Every Thai must be trained not only in the army, but also to complete training in the temple. People say that only such a person can become a real man. People who dedicate their lives to God have many advantages and benefits: they do not pay for transportation, receive food for free, and most importantly – they are highly respected and valued.
In addition to Buddhists, there are many Christians in Thailand, including the family that sheltered me, so, keeping the traditions, I spent Christmas Eve at church, and again, a pleasant surprise awaited me. Spending winter evenings in shorts and T-shirts just itself is an unusual phenomenon, but what I saw in the churchyard struck me! Near the church, which stands on the bank of the river, there was a huge Christmas tree, and hundreds of people danced energetic swing around it! Well, Tan and I were no exception! Loud music was played, street food was sold outside the church, competitions were held in tents, and children tried to win prizes. That’s how, coming to church, you can accidentally come across the biggest open-air party in the style of the forties.

The food is dominated by sweet and spicy flavors. Coconut milk and lemongrass are indispensable ingredients in many national dishes. And the variety of fruits just drives you crazy! Fruits of various shapes, colors and sizes stunned tourists with attractive prices. But do not rush to buy, because first you have to bargain well – you benefit, and sellers don’t lose their skills 😊 During the first days I spent in Bangkok, I managed to try coconut soup with mushrooms, rice with banana, baked in a leaf, jelly of grass in milk, chrysanthemum juice and many other strange things, the names of which I have never heard and probably will not remember. The only things I didn’t taste were scorpions, caterpillars and other insects. When the sun sets and street fairs with food and souvenirs begin to come to life, some traders (especially in tourist places) begin to flaunt their “delicacies”. I’ve even seen a crocodile on a spit a few times, and it’s a sad sight. As my new local acquaintance explained to me, Thais don’t really eat scorpions or crocodiles. This is all done for tourists. That’s where various stereotypes about Asian “eating everything that lives” come from. But, as it turns out, this isn’t always true.
If you have the opportunity, go to the theater. When I’m in another country, I always try to visit an opera or a play, because it can tell us a lot about the spirit of the people. And in Thailand, this tradition of mine did not disappoint me. I went to a play about events from Thai legends. A monkey helped God build a bridge across a river by outwitting a mermaid. I have never seen such a variety of colored and ornate masks in my life. And the melodies of the songs pleased the ear with unusual motives.
After spending a few days here, I decided to move on to Cambodia, where my adventures continued. But about this, as well as about other cities in Thailand, you can read in the new posts.