Exchange Programme HSB Burgdorf CH with UNEC Enugu / Nigeria
Project „New Haven“ Phase 3

UNEC: University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu/Nigeria (Dr. C.B. Chukwuali, chukwualicb@rbow.net)
HSB : Hochschule Bau, Pestalozzistr. 20, CH- 3400 Burgdorf ( Heinz Kurth, kurth@team-k.ch)

The year 2002 saw the beginning of phases 1+2 of an exchange programme between the University of Applied Sciences Bern (Berner Fachhochschule), HSB Department of Architecture in Burgdorf, and the University of Enugu Campus (UNEC), Department of Architecture, in Enugu/ Nigeria. Phase 3 is continuing this cooperation with the „New Haven“ project and is divided into the following segments:
2004 Setting up of EDV communication infrastructure at UNEC (Phase 3a, completed)
2005 Workshop in Burgdorf CH with HSB- and UNEC members (present Phase 3b)
2006- Carrying out of project work „New Haven“ (coming Phase 3c)

Organization of Phase 3b
Two staff members of UNEC stayed at HSB from August 4, 05 to October 26, 05. They were
. Arc. Louis Chinwuba Chineme, Prof. of Architecture
. Arc. Ikechukwu Chibuzuo Ifeanacho, Assistant in EDV/ CAD
The activities during that phase covered the following fields:
. Cultural Exchange ( professional visits and contacts in practice, seminars etc.)
. CAD Manual for UNEC ( teaching aid with methodical and didactic advice for the teaching staff and students)
. Business- Plan „New Haven“ Phase 3c

Theme City Layout „New Haven“
„New Haven“ is a project of research and development and is financed by the two schools and various foundations. The theme „New Haven“ was proposed by UNEC early in 2004 along with three other themes and approved by HSB.
All in all 8 slumlike settlements have arisen within the town of Enugu. One of them, east of the city center, is New Haven. As „New Haven“ is the name of the whole residential district, the area of the slums that is the object of our studies is called „City Layout“. In contrast to the typical growth of slums, which results from land occupation by people coming in from the countryside, Enugu's slums have quite a different history. The farmland was expropriated by the government in the course of the extension of the town, then part of the land was restituted to the original owners as compensation. These plots were partly built upon by the owners for their own use, the rest was let or leased for casual development. This is how straggling, unorganized slums arose.

Project Aims
In their paper „Collaborative research proposals“ 2004 the Department of Architecture of UNEC describes the main objectives of the project as follows:
. To analyse the cultural and social characteristics of slum areas, specially „New Haven“
. To examine ways of integrating slum communities into the formal city landscape
. To develop a regeneration plan for the case study and prototype pilot low cost residental units
HSB und UNEC see the „New Haven“ Project as an experimental case study, by means of which the tools for the handling of similar tasks in Nigeria or other African countries can be developed.

Working Methods in Phase 3b of „New Haven“
Weekly team meetings were held for exchange of experiences, so about similar projects that had been carried out before. „Worksheets“ were created as an initial aid; they were used to jot sown thought and ideas spontaneously and provisionally in texts or graphs. Of great importance have been the resulting questions, which will enable the team to find a suitable procedure for our finally work in Phase 3c.
The following fields were defined as a help in the organization of our worksheets:
. Social Field
. Economic Field
. Decisions Field
. Physical Field
The Physical Field is about the establishment of planning principles, which must then be adapted and worded simply and clearly.
The following detail problems might be of special interest:
. Supply ( water, energy)
. Sewage and refuse disposal (drainage, garbage)
. Climate
. Type houses
. Prefabrication
. Sanitation units
. Traditional material (clay stones)
. Self-help building
. Landscaping

Results and Experiences in our Work
Our work is documented by the „Final Report“.This „Final Report“ contents a buisness plan Phase 3c with indication of activities, time table and costs. We estimate the costs phase 3c about sFr. 115'000.00; for moment, this sum isn't covered completely. We think, we have achieved the aims of Phase 3b. It is up the two schools to decide whether and how they are able an willing to support the next Phase by staff needs and funding.

Thanks
We thank the KFPE and Swisscontact for the financial support they have given to the idea and project „New Haven“ and hope, they can do it also for the finally Phase.
November 2005 Heinz Kurth

Meeting „New- Haven“- team at HSB Burgdorf