The village was layered with diverse culture, beautiful people, contrasting landscapes and environments that frequently challenged our sense of familiarity.
However only upon my return did I begin to see how much the experience had provided a unique training ground for developing architects.

Much of how we currently design, whether within an architectural firm or university environment is computer dependant and whilst I am a big advocate of the computer I also notice that as we become more dependent upon its ability to conceptualise our ideas we become less attached to the actual materials with which we build with.
By returning to the making we were able to engage with the materials at the source and began to understand what inherent properties of them which has lead to their traditional uses.

Stripping bark from a local quilla tree, weaving sago leaves into morota roofing, slicing bamboo with machetes, sourcing sago palms for woven wall cladding and chiselling away sawn walnut wood are just some of the activities that I found myself inspired by.

The process of designing through making turned into designing through construction and although initially an unfamiliar method it proved to release flexibility into the design process and furthermore expanded the properties of the materials so that they became design tools themselves.

Secondly, the experience challenged us to find innovative solutions to age old problems with specific materials, tools and environmental conditions.
Not having a chainsaw but needing to cut 600mm diameter trees for new bucket stations lead to the solution of reconfiguring the design to accommodate for wooden tops made from pre sawn logs. These were sourced on garden land that was 20 min away by boat and needed to be axed on site. Although the design had shifted, the conditions forced us to think more sustainably and to use the materials that we had available.

Ultimately whether it is PNG or Australia, finding immediate solutions to problems within the boundaries of limitation affords an individual the challenge which they need to grow within their profession.

Thirdly, moving from paper to product within three weeks was invigorating. It is rare within either a university or practical environment that we design a structure and experience its completion three weeks later. The situation allowed the post occupancy evaluation to have a closer connection to the design process; so rather than designing, building and constructing in a step by step process the three seem to have an immediate feedback loop into each other.

Fourthly, the embracement of the responsibilities of project management at an early stage of training will have an influence on all future experiences. Being accountable for organising and directing large group of people to facilitate the build requires a significant view of the bigger picture. We were fortunate enough to have this opportunity. Many hands were eager to help and these had to be coordinated along with the material sourcing and construction scheduling for a variety of projects that were all happening at once.

Lastly we had a superbly forgiving audience, one that was free from heavy policy and bureaucracy and one that encouraged us to just do it. The process of ‘having a go’ reduced the gap of hesitancy between thought and action and enabled us to become actively engaged.

The design and build project in PNG rigorously challenged the architectural muscles that as students you desire to be challenged. It flexed our ability to manage, organise and facilitate, it allowed us the opportunity to partake of practical responsibilities and it gave us the platform to learn in a responsive environment.
Not only were we exposed to new crafts and materials we also learnt how to think sustainably in an environment that is dependent upon the land for survival. The overall process has been a very valuable experience.

Joanne Taylor

Source: http://www.scottcarver.com.au/cms-culture/png-a-time-to-remember.php

Mcdonald’s fries, fresh salad with cheese, water from a tap, soft couches, espresso coffee, refrigerated milk and electricity, they all feel so delightful and I have been relishing these comforts all day.

Our time in PNG has come to an end and with the team back in Australia and I hope that I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say that it has been truly a wonderful experience.

This morning there was no 6.00am bell and I woke at 8.00am to soft light entering a dark room. Having no immediate purpose but to get up and have a cup of coffee left me feeling slightly displaced. Last night I marveled at the silence surrounding me. In the past five weeks I had become so accustomed to the unusual sounds of nocturnal animals and rain on my tent that I now wish I had captured those sounds and brought them back with me.

Saying Goodbye…

Our closing days were emotional. On Wednesday night, the village of Kelkel organised a farewell dinner. We were experiencing our first monsoonal cloud pattern and the rain was coming down in bucket loads. I had though at the time that it would dampen the evening but as it turned out it dampened nothing but the ground and their spirits remained high. They welcomed us with a traditional greeting, delivered speeches, handed out gifts, danced in the rain and performed some short but humorous plays on the effects of poor sanitation on health! Our meal was eaten in a ‘Haus win’, an outdoor eating space built along the beach and we feasted on fish, cassava cake, taro, cooked banana, sweet potato and rice.

On Thursday evening the rain continued to pour as Laukanu put on their farewell dinner on. Each section of the village dancing from their homes to our eating space to deliver the food whist singing and beating drums; those who didn’t want to dance needed to hide because they swept up any onlookers into their parade. The variance to the meal was turtle meat, a great honor to receive but also something I haven’t yet quite been able to get my head around.

Our final farewell on Friday before the boats left was a surreal experience. I don’t think any of us were really fully aware of what was to take place. After a series of speeches, many thanks and a song dedicated to Sago Network, we stood in a semicircle as every village members came to shake our hand and say goodbye. Their overwhelming sadness was apparent. I had been pre warned that many of them were worried about us leaving and that there would be broken hearts and lots of crying but their display of raw emotion took me off guard.

From young children to the elderly they all lined up to say goodbye. They shook our hands, hugged us fully, endower us with gifts and wish us well with our onward journey. Their tears were genuine and it dawned on me in that moment how special and meaningful our visit was for them.

Together with the community of Laukanu and Kelkel, Sago Studio has built 6 new pit toilets, two new shower blocks, two new laundry facilities, 4 new hand washing facilities, revitalized two wells, redefine the water supply area and improved the landscaping to both the main shower/water supply and to the three toilet areas. This has been a tremendous effort and in reflection an incredible achievement for everyone involved within the short time period of 5 weeks.

Over the next few weeks we will keep you updated with the details of the exhibition and upload some more photos.

Thank you all for following.

Joanne Taylor

A big hello to my family!  Missing you all very much!  I wish could share this experience with you.  Everyday is adventure, physically, mentally and emotionally.

We just had our Christmas & New Year celebrations, which were fantastic. There was a huge fire set up in the water around which we all danced at 12.  That night the locals kept saying how much they’ll miss us.  The Sago Network are also saying it to each other.  Us Sydnesiders have been teamed up with the most amazing students.  It not their skills but great personalities.  It really feels like family.

Just trying to find phone reception is an adventure whether we walk around the beach along the rocks with phones up or paddle out in canoe toward Dot Island not realising were heading towards the waves.  Take a look at Sandra’s post…..

Well once again I miss you all at home! I will see you soon!

Much love,

Domsy/Rakatany/Chuck Norris (My PNG Names)

The wildlife here has also lived up to my expectations, with many previously unseen (by me anyway) species spotted everyday.  Today, I saw another beautiful bird, similar to our Black Cockatoo, with a loud shrieking call, and every morning I see Hornbills flying overhead.  With my love for reptiles, I’m always on the lookout for unfamiliar species too, and while I have seen many skinks, geckos, dragons, I was disappointed to miss a large python which Jak, Penua and Nixon spotted while bathing in the forest.

Being now into the final stretch, my body is holding up ok with just a few small wounds my legs. Some of the team are starting to have some minor complaints such as swollen ankles and exhaustion, however the story of Joanne’s tapeworm at mealtime was still the most unsettling.

I’m really my little baby and Katherine.  With each day closer to seeing them both, can’t wait! The food is also starting to wear me down as well, with so many things I’m missing, and while curried veggies are great, I still have a major craving for a good Japanese restaurant, or Harry’s Cafe de Wheels.

MW

I was feeling restless at night, and I needed to call home.  My lovely teammates decided we should borrow an outrigger and paddle out to sea in search of reception.  Easy as that we thought….! We’ve got a skipper, Domenic ‘Domsy’, champion rower ‘Lekei’, passengers Vesna ‘Vesy’,  Joanne ‘jo-jo’, Stephanie ‘Stex’ and me: no experience required, only the willingness to help out.

As it turned out and according to local reports, we were rowing around in circles like six lunatics, flashing our torches around much to our amusement, but to the confusion and concern of the locals.  Amusement turned into nervousness where we realised that we were rowing aimlessly, trying to dodge little waves, the sea toilets or capsizing in 1m deep water!

Poor skipper was squeezed at the back while champion rower was paddling her heart out. As for the scared and almost hysterical passengers……well, we were all trying to ‘guide’ Domsy and Leks by shouting ‘left, right, straight’………still no reception.

Then we see lights flashing from the shore so we flash back. More flashing and we flash back thinking that they were playing around.  Then Lek’s points out that they must have seen us paddling around and they are flashing the lights to guide us back home.  So the journey back to shore is filled with more laughter, ‘guidance’ and nervousness of capsizing in 1m deep water, also in keeping in mind not to head straight into the men’s sea toilet and bump out one of the posts!!!  Story to tell, a memorable moment for all of us and proof that friendship can and will achieve anything.  In the end we found out that Anticus, one of local friends, had a phone that could call out! That night I slept well knowing that all was fine at home, and to that, I love my friends dearly.

xx Sandy

PS – A big shout out to my family and friends back home! Only a few days to go but I wish we could still have another week or two

These light weight trusses have been strategically employed in the design to give air and light to the bathing area they enclose which will be walled for complete privacy beneath the floating roof canopy.

With floor, walls and roof all being fabricated in parallel the building is set to come together quickly once the concrete slabs are cured and ready to load!

Now all we have to do is build it!