Alternative Housing & Urban Planning project

AHUP is about participatory, design based advocacy for vulnerable communities that are impacted by development. It is about bridging the communication gap between the Government planners and local communities. It is about helping these communities articulate their concerns and go that extra step in proposing viable alternatives.

The concept is based on examples such as the Urban Resource Centre’s (URC) work with communities in Karachi, Pakistan affected by the controversial Lyari expressway were based around alternatives. The alternatives did not prevent the project going ahead but did provide the basis for communities to negotiate with the authorities.
http://www.urckarachi.org/Lyari%20Expressway%20resettlement%20Study;%20URC%20Series.pdf

This is at the core of what AHUP is aiming to do. Initial attempts to try and create a pilot project around the situation at Boeung Kak in Phnom Penh did not seem to progress far but STT has seen the alternative plan not only adopted by the community but used in ongoing negotiations with the Municipality.http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011022446977/National-news/lake-residents-unveil-plan.html

STT wants to engage communities, designers, international experts and the wider general public of Phnom Penh in an urban dialogue – raising awareness about the value of Phnom Penh as a city, its spaces and the way it is developing.

Already we see a strong student body emerging from courses at Limkokwing, Pannasatra, Royal University of Fine Arts and other institutions. Many of these students come with no background information on the wider challenges facing the urban population.. there is a long way to go and each year STT supports an urban workshop for design students (see our YOUTH page).

In September STT will be presenting some of these ideas as part of Architecture month and promoting a growing and vigorous debate on urban development. For more more information please contact Eva Lloyd on evalloydunsw@gmail.com