DArlen Projects: TWO URBAN PROJECTS. AMAZING.

EAST PORT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND ST. AUGUSTINE EDUCATION CITY PROJECT.
The East Port of Spain Development Company and the St Augustine Education City Committee have both embarked on two ground breaking projects that will present the idea of design and life in a perspective that maybe we haven't really understood. Their dialog have been going on for sometime. The East Port of Spain are preparing to present their design to the population, they are under the Ministry of Planning, I will like to think to begin the mammoth task of implementing the proposal. This will have to go to parliament.

The St. Augustine Education City Committee is under the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, 2011. Last Tuesday the 14th was their first consultation, held at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standard, Trinicity Industrial Estate, Macoya.

BELOW IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE EAST PORT OF SPAIN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

DESIGN CONSULTATION PRESENTATION. From here what was learnt will be sent back to the planners to be reviewed.

there are about 5 phases spanning from the George Street to Lady Young Road to Sea Lots to Beetham Gardens.

EACH OF THE BLUE REPRESENT SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT CAN BE DONE IN EACH AREA. THAT WILL IMPROVE THE SPACE AND LIFE OF THE PEOPLE.
It is here that it becomes intteresting, concerning the
the politics of the design,
the imperatives of design,
the design order.
What will the community centre feel like, how will it look and operate.
The art centres,
The recreation spaces,
The football fields,
The cricket field,
Residential areas,
Shopping Areas,
Parks,
ETC.

Remember all these things are there in some way operating within the communities how will design improve these already existing systems.

There was a good turn out for all the consultation that I went to from the
community. The NGOs, concern and notable citizens were all present.
This was a very people centered projects with the community being involved in design charrets, consultation and on site visits into the communities.

HOW DOES THE DARK SHADOW IN THE CROWD OF CENSORING, EDITING IDEAS, STILL REMAINS HUMAN IN THE EQUATION OF DESIGN.

The world has really changed the idea of how design operates, like designing spaces for gender, culture, spirituality.

ONE DESIGN QUESTION IS THIS:

HOW WOULD THEY DESIGN THE BLOCK,

WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE,

FEEL LIKE,

OPERATE.

This begs the question for research and a little thought.

IT IS AN INTERESTING DESIGN QUESTION.

ST. AUGUSTINE EDUCATION CITY.

Below you will find several documents that was handed out in the St. Augustine Education City package.

As you will see through the questionnaire, they are looking at :

Section 1 - Demographic Data.

Section 2 - Strategic Priorities

Section 3 - Critical Infrastructure and Public Utilities.

Section 4 - Transportation and Pedestrianisation.

Section 5 - Safety and Security.

Section 6 - Academic Excellence and Scientific Development.

Section 7 - Agri-Development and Bio Diversity.

Section 8 - Economic Development and Social Transformation.

Section 9 - Historical Preservation and Natural Beautification.

THE QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 6 - THERE IS NO INCLUSION OF ART + DESIGN IN THE DIVERSITY MODEL.

ALTHOUGH NOTED THAT ST. AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN NOTED AS A PAN CLUSTER AREA.

THERE IS A MASTERS PROGRAMME AT UWI ON CREATIVE, DESIGN, ENTREPRENRASHIP.

SO MY SUGGESTION TO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE TO LOOK SERIOUSLY AT THAT OVERSIGHT.

DREAD-

ART&DESIGN IS A BILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY.

SO THE FUTURE FOR ST. AUGUSTINE, TUNAPUNA, CUREPE, MACOYA, EL DORADO.

HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, FEEL AND OPERATE IS THE QUESTION.

ONE PAST CHAIRWOMAN OF THE TUNAPUNA REGIONAL CORPORATION MENTIONED THAT 80% OF THE BUILDING IN THE CORPORATION HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY BUILT.

TOWN & COUNTRY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

PLANNERS HAVE SAT ASIDE VERY SILENTLY AND ALLOWED FOR OUR SPACES TO BE SHALLOW AND ALMOST USELESS TO US.

WHO WILL UP-KEEP THE STANDARDS.

WITH THE HOPE THAT BOTH THESE PROJECTS
WILL SET HIGH STANDARDS
IN
URBAN PLANNING,
ARCHITECTURE,
ART,
&
DESIGN.