Rapid Planning Creative Lab “Interactive infrastructures – Linking People, Nature and the Urban”
The Creative Lab is a format used to bring together students from different disciplines (Environmental Resource Management, Urban design, Architecture, Landscape architecture), local actors (City of Kigali, District Office, Community representatives Nyarugenge District) and the Rapid Planning Team. Three universities have organized the Creative Lab (Technical University Berlin, Brandenburg University of Technology- Cottbus-Senftenberg &National University of Rwanda). The lab is currently taking place at the College of Science and Technology (CST). Our study area is Agatare in the Nyarugenge District in the south western part of Kigali.
Some impressions of the 1st day of the lab: The opening of the Creative Lab, Welcome by the three organizing Universities, morning lectures and discussions on the Rapid Planning Project, Urbanization Models (UN Hab.), the Master Plan of Kigali (University of Rwanda) and Housing (IFEU) & Afternoon field trip into a cell to perceive the typical and different configuration of space in Kigali (Rwezamenyo and Mumena).
Day 3. of our Rapid Planning Creative Lab in Kigali “Interactive infrastructures – Linking People, Nature and the Urban”
Morning lectures with invited guests from sectoral departments of the City of Kigali.
Presentation of the Nyarugenge upgrading study (GisTech Consultants), Environmental risk assessment and planning (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and Rwanda Environment Management Authority REMA), Water Management in Kigali and Nyarugenge (WASAC), Waste Management (COPED), Renewable Energy (IER), Connecting spheres (TU Berlin).
Field trip to the Creative Lab site in Nyarugenge; the site includes different sectoral infrastructures that show the identified challenges in the upgrading area (water drainage, accessibility, water supply, sanitation) and also present a lens for understanding and developing public space, food production and food access and integrating different functions in one spatial site.
Day 4. of our Rapid Planning Creative Lab in Kigali “Interactive infrastructures – Linking People, Nature and the Urban”
Developing and spatializing concepts for food, water, energy and waste at the site in Agatare, short feedback rounds and in depth analyses of the site in group field trips, interviews with the inhabitants.
On-site exchange for a hands-on project at the water kiosk to start process of collaboration with the community.
Day 5 included a site visit to and interview of the Agatare wetland farmers’ cooperative; A Key input lecture from our friends at RECOR (Rwanda Environmental Conservation Organization), the further development of the system concepts for food, water, energy and waste at our site in Agatare and start of the hands-on project work at the water kiosk with community collaboration.
Day 6 of the Creative Lab!!! Presentation of the developed spatial concepts and results to the City of Kigali administration, local NGO´s and staff from the University of Rwanda.
Leave a comment