Architects lament over deteriorating building practices
Feb 16, 2007
CONSTRUCTING an environmentally responsible and sustainable building depends on the skills of the designer. Designers acquire such skills during their training, where they are made to appreciate the need to analyse environmental issues vis a viz structural development.
By Paul Tentena
CONSTRUCTING an environmentally responsible and sustainable building depends on the skills of the designer. Designers acquire such skills during their training, where they are made to appreciate the need to analyse environmental issues vis a viz structural development.
Steven Kwesiga, a designer with Exterior designing agency, says such information is supposed to be supplemented by publications addressing environment and sustainable building design, which are non-existent in Uganda.
“Such information cannot be directed only to architects, because a substantial number of buildings are drawn up by non-architects, who may not be aware of the pertinent issues related to environment and their consequences,†he laments.
Jude Musoke, an architect says the drive for more housing at all costs has failed to take into account the long term economic and environment consequences and only concentrates on short-term accommodation needs.
“Basic environment design issues such as site planning, design and building performance have been neglected,†he explains.
“The natural environment is no longer viewed as being an integral part of the design and construction process, but rather an impediment to development,†observes Mark Olwenyi, a lecturer of Architecture at Makerere University. He insists that a number of buildings are designed and built with little regard to the sites’ environment conditions.
The effect is seen throughout the country particularly in Kampala where most floods if not all are a sheer disregard of the environment.
CONSTRUCTING an environmentally responsible and sustainable building depends on the skills of the designer. Designers acquire such skills during their training, where they are made to appreciate the need to analyse environmental issues vis a viz structural development.
Steven Kwesiga, a designer with Exterior designing agency, says such information is supposed to be supplemented by publications addressing environment and sustainable building design, which are non-existent in Uganda.
“Such information cannot be directed only to architects, because a substantial number of buildings are drawn up by non-architects, who may not be aware of the pertinent issues related to environment and their consequences,†he laments.
Jude Musoke, an architect says the drive for more housing at all costs has failed to take into account the long term economic and environment consequences and only concentrates on short-term accommodation needs.
“Basic environment design issues such as site planning, design and building performance have been neglected,†he explains.
“The natural environment is no longer viewed as being an integral part of the design and construction process, but rather an impediment to development,†observes Mark Olwenyi, a lecturer of Architecture at Makerere University. He insists that a number of buildings are designed and built with little regard to the sites’ environment conditions.
The effect is seen throughout the country particularly in Kampala where most floods if not all are a sheer disregard of the environment.