African Perspectives

While African Perspectives is close to a next important step in the series of conferences on the African continent, with the event in Pretoria planned for 24 – 28 September 2009 nearing fast, I am pleased to present the contents of African Perspectives Delft to you on line.

This web publication makes as much available as possible at present. Some material will remain unpublished here, in preparation of a following report on paper, but this publication will give you a very useful overview of the presented work in Delft between 6 and 8 December 2007.

African Perspectives was meant as a process of inventory for the Faculty of Architecture of the Delft University of Technology: what lessons can be learned from Architecture and Urbanism in Africa and what chances are there for education and research in Delft? This process was taken seriously: 5 parallel programmes were developed around different subjects, covering about all disciplines being addressed in the educational and research programme of the faculty. But also other disciplines were used to create a broad view on the subject: there was music, there were art exhibitions and there was a film programme.

The Faculty of Architecture and ArchiAfrika, as well as the group of institutes from all over Africa which formed the Steering Committee for the African Perspectives events to follow in the coming years, concluded that African Perspectives 2007 in Delft was an extraordinary event, where a large group of African professionals, being architects, artists, urban planners, researchers, scholars, students etcetera, met with their colleagues from Delft and elsewhere in the world and developed a dialogue, with a mutual exchange of ideas. This dialogue was based upon respect, quality and equality and it was felt, that this approach is the basis for a common driver in the field of architecture and urbanism in Africa, and brings the best for both worlds.

Several publications are still to follow. In collaboration with SUN Publishers and the Prince Claus Fund Library we are preparing a book based upon debates and discussions of the events in Delft and Pretoria and with contributions of a selection of speakers. The material collected in the various programmes will also form basis of publications, focussed upon the specific disciplines.

However African Perspectives does not only continue in words, but also in various collaborative projects between parties which came together in Delft. In Pretoria we will come together again and will be able to review what has happened since then. This web publication provides you with a broad and wide basis as a thorough preparation for the event in Pretoria.

I wish you enjoyment in reading this compilation!

Wytze Patijn,
Dean Faculty of Architecture
Delft University of Technology