Local architects have their work cut out

Editor, Reference is made to the letter, “Our construction industry has issues to address urgently” (The New Times, March 16). At long last, this year we saw the graduation of the first ever cohort of Rwandan architects who were trained here. I hope that during their four years training, they were taught how to put up well planned structures on difficult landscape like hills, instead of only learning how to design buildings on flat topography. Perhaps Japanese traditional architecture would be the best model, not to imitate, but to draw inspiration from. But most crucially, we lack no scientific/technical research undertaken locally and in the region, specialising in building and dwelling at the equator and in tropical mountainous highlands. What then to expect from merely copying and clumsily pasting foreign housing/building codes, structures, and products to our different and unique situations? Francois-Xavier Nziyonsenga ********************* Another major shortcoming of our construction industry is the failure to incorporate designs and building materials that are at least moisture-resistant. Just look at the external walls of many of our buildings and you will quickly see how much damage almost all of them have undergone in a very short period since their construction. In addition, there is failure in design and construction to provide for rainfall-fed water tanks to capture the rainwater from our roofs. This would have the additional benefit of providing homes with potable water and reduce their utility bills. Mwene Kalinda

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Local architects have their work cut out