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'To be or not to be
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traditionalist or modernist,nationalist or internationalist
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that is the question'for architects in Tanzania
Anthony
B.
Almeida
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R.I.B.A., Chartered Architect, Dares Salaam, Tanzania
TRADITIONALIST
Let me define the meaning of he word 'tradition'. Tra-dition is the way of ife or doing things in the mannerthat is handed down from generation to generation.In the field of architecture a traditionalist is one whodesigns (and builds) in the manner of he forefathers.Such an approach can only be relevant and ustifiable
if
nothing has changed between the period of the pastand the period of he present. This implies that peoplehave to be living in isolation in a statio life style.Admittedly such a state did exist during the past peri-ods of colonial rules when Africa's aspirations and pro-gress were totally frozen. Such is not the case today.Having said this, here in Tanzania progress appears tobe bypassing a majority of people who live in the moreremote rural areas. Their dwellings of mud, wattle andthatch are missing out on the benefits of present dayknow-hours and inputs, which would have ensuredstructures of higher quality and longer life.We thus have a case where mother architecture is guiltyof only caring for he children who live in the urbanareas and neglecting to care for the greater number ofher children who live in the rural areas.Now he question -to be or not o be. Should we archi-tects in Tanzania be traditionalists as ofthe ype I havedescribed or have I wrongly described traditionalists?Would you agree with Charles Correa, the renown thirdworld architect who has this to say
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'when we architectsimitate the vernacular, we are making paper flowers'.
MODERNIST
The dictionary defines the word modern as meaning
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of he present or recent times. A modernist architectis therefore an architect tackles today's requirementsand problems with today's solutions.A modernist architect is the one who is guided by thefollowing statement from 'Studio Buddha' (Chinese), afollower of which was the great, late architect
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FrankLloyd Wright.'Except to an ignoramus or intellectualist, nothingimitative can equal that which is imitated. Instead ofimitating effects, search for the principles that madethem original and own your won effects.'This to me, has been my eleventh commandment. Anot too common misconception amongst some it thatmodern architecture is western architecture as ifto saythat the western world has the sole monopoly overmodernity. Since Africa's progress remained frozenand static during he part periods of he colonial rules,freed Africa is only a late starter in the race towardsadvancement and progress, and a follower but not acopier.The late Mahatma Candhi of ndia had his to say to hispeople:'Open the windows and doors of your houses and letthe winds pass through, but n so doing be careful notto be swept off your feet'.
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