Changemaking through education, environment, arts, infrastructure, and more.

This research questions the widely praised role of human genius in the shaping of architecture as a complete object, resulting from the active imposition of ideal form upon the raw materials of a passive Nature. The research does so by relying, mainly, on the understanding of indigenous practices of building the environment —particularly those deployed by the Dene people of the Canadian Northwest Territories.

The contrasts arising between these different understandings of the human role in the processes of materialization, may help us both, to reorientate the building of the environment far beyond dominant understandings of architecture and, thus, to move with all their social and ecological implications from current practices of planning (and control) to those of resilience (and trust).

Read the full research here.

Cities are the largest complex adaptive system in human culture and have always been changing in time according to largely unplanned patterns of development. Though urban morphology has typically addressed studies of form in cities, with emphasis on historical cases, diachronic comparative studies are still relatively rare, especially those based on quantitative analysis. As a result, we are still far from laying the ground for a comprehensive understanding of the model of change of the urban form. However, developing such understanding is extremely relevant as the cross-scale interlink between the spatial and socio-economic dynamics in cities is increasingly recognized to play a major role in the complex functioning of urban systems and quality of life.

The research examines the urban form of San Pedro de Ate, an informal settlement in Lima, Peru, throughout its entire cycle of development over the last seventy years. The study, conducted through four-month on-site field research, is based on the idea that informal settlements would change according to patterns similar to those of pre-modern cities, though at a much faster pace of growth. To do so, we first digitise aerial photographs of four different time periods (from 1944 to 2005), to then conduct a typo-morphological analysis at four scales: a) building, b) plot, c) block, and d) settlement (comprehensive of open space and street network). We identify and classify patterns of change in the settlement’s urban structure using recognised literature on pre-modern cities, thus supporting our original hypothesis.

Read the full research here.

There are many reasons we —humans— have chosen to work with earth over the millennia. In the past, it was largely due to necessity, availability, and adequacy. Nowadays, in addition, many people chose to build with earth (using techniques such as rammed earth) for a range of reasons. Its use is fostered because it is a natural material, it has a low-carbon footprint, or it is energy-efficient. But it is also used because it is beautiful and enables processes of participation.

Stabilised Rammed Earth using cement offers savings in embodied carbon of up to 70% compared to conventional fired bricks and up to 50% compared to concrete. While this is a great alternative to these conventional materials, it is by no means perfect. Cement production accounts for a significant portion of global greenhouse emissions and can be hazardous to humans under certain conditions.

Part of our aim at AKOMA_foundation is to further develop the technique, into ways of building with less cement, while maintaining the strength that will allow us to build up to three stories of Stabilised Rammed Earth without any reinforcements. Therefore, our research focus within this area is on alternative stabilisers.

If you or your organisation is interested in learning more about our work in this field and would like to contribute to our research, please let us know.