Design Indaba XIV: It’s all about location, location, location

Design Indaba XIV is a fountain of knowledge, not just for designers but for all creatives. The lineup consists of the highest calibre of speakers and for us to be able to share in the knowledge they provide is certainly a privilege. I'm no designer, but I left inspired at the end of day one with an urge to draw upon my inner child and create something that could change society for the better - I left on a high. View twitterfall

This was probably a result of the combination of Francis Kéré's captivating presentation on his work in his home country of Burkina Faso and Karin Fong's screening of Ken Kesey's LSD trip.

While unable to catch most the speakers, I did manage to see Dror Benshetrit, the British Design Council's David Kester, Deborah Szebeko and Luke Pearson, Francis Kéré and Karin Fong.

No Pants principle

The day before I had listed speakers I really wanted to see; Charlie Todd, creator of Improv Everywhere, was one of them but unfortunately time wasn't on my side. His company is responsible for the infamous No Pants Subway Ride that inspired the No Pants Gautrain Ride that ended up with participants handcuffed and taken to a police station and fined R700 by the train operator. I'm considering joining them next year - purely out of principle of course...

The "carpet" concept takes off

Benshetrit was not on my list of designers to see; I thought architecture and interior design might be dull. How wrong I was! His presentation was anything but dull.

The possibilities are amazingly endless when you lift the constrictions from your mind of what is and is not possible. Imagine being presented with an island and being told by the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi to put together a plan for a luxury island resort. Benshetrit came up with the most incredible ideas where shoreline estates are hidden under a "carpet" of grass and villas stand out in the nearby ocean.

He didn't think his "carpet" concept would be approved but the sheikh gave him the go-ahead and the real estate on Nurai was sold out in 72 hours!

Benshetrit also revealed his latest project: QuaDror, possibly one of the greatest breakthroughs in design in structural support systems - go to www.quadror.com to learn more.

I'm glad I made it to Benshetrit's presentation; architecture means a little bit more to me now.

Innovate rather than legislate

Presentations by the representatives of the British Design Council hit a little closer to home, though, as they addressed the possibilities of bringing about social change while also boosting the economy through design.

One project of the council that stood out for me mentioned by Kester, chief executive of the council, was the Design Out Crime project regarding alcohol-related violence. Cape Town currently has a pending liquor bylaw that could prevent bars and clubs from selling liquor after 2am in order to reduce the high incidence of alcohol and drug abuse in the city.

According to Kester, though, legislation isn't the only means to bring about social change; innovation is also an option. In the UK, 4% of deaths are said to be alcohol-related - many caused by shattered glass. The council had the idea of using a spray-on formula during the manufacture process of glass to prevent sharp shards from emanating from the glass, should it break. Kester says that large manufacturers are now introducing the idea into their processes.

Perhaps the DA should consider ideas along these lines before implementing its bylaw in Cape Town and imposing restrictions on pub and club owners that could affect their businesses.

Manufactured under a mango tree

Szebeko asked the question, "If you could design anything to improve the way we live - what would it be?" This question really hit home when the charismatic Kéré took to the stage.

Born and raised in Burkina Faso, he studied architecture in Germany. In his second year of studies already he felt inspired and ambitious enough to return to his home village of Gando to improve the lives of his people. He designed a primary school and raised the funds to build it out of local materials, with the local people participating in the construction process.

The project was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2002-2004.

Kéré's aim was to not copy the western model of architecture as the people of Burkina Faso had different needs and different realities. He needed to provide a solution - to withstand the rainy season - in the context of the reality of his people without destroying the richness of their culture. His aim was to provide no more and no less than what they needed by keeping it simple.

He described the communal process of building the school as making music without being able to see it - that's how harmonious and in-sync the community was in helping realise this project. The manufacture process was done under the shade of a mango tree and not in a factory.

Francis Kéré received a well-deserved standing ovation. not just for his project but for his insight into what African people truly need. I was captivated from start to finish and left wanting more.

That was the end of my first day at Design Indaba XIV. Today, Thursday, 24 February 2011, I plan on catching the second half of proceedings to listen to the likes of Renny Ramakers, David Butler, Alberto Alessi and Maarten Baas.