Cityscape awards architecture 2011

Over the last few years the Cityscape Awards have developed into the world’s premier Architectural Awards for the emerging markets.
This year, being  part of the judging committee,i got the chance to view  more than 120 entries in 15 categories spanning from residential to community planning - islamic architecture to enviromental design.

The entries displayed creativity, innovation, efficiency and enviromental sensitivities .It was a difficult process especially that the entries all had eye on innovation, creativity but also functionality. Most of the entries showed high interest in customising their concepts to the context they are working with especially when it comes to street level. Urban design has become a major driver in shaping the architectural elements of the building . The other main trend that i have noticed in the entries is the use of energy efficiency systems to improve the functionality of the building- Sustainability is no longer a trend - there is an increasing demand on it as an essential criteria of design evaluation by clients.

i was highly impressed by two categories:
1- the young architects category- the entries showed an edgy approach that brings optimism in the pool of futureregional  talent we have-  it also showed an increasing blurring of boundaries between architecture, urban design and planning which means that our educational systems need to be redesigned to tackle it more.
2- islamic architecture- although i have heard many debates on the qualifiers of islamic architecture, i have to say that the entries showed a transformation of the way islamic architecture is viewed- Some of the entries transcended the past meanings and presented it under a new light.

Design Awards have always been an effective tools to spread awarness over the importance of quality in designing of our built enviroment and more than ever, it represents an incentive to gain recognition.
It recognises Architects and community planners and their projects that have shown outstanding designs, performance, vision and achievement in key areas of architecture.thething about design is that when it is done with a holistic approach , it benefits on many dimensions the context and that is where the categories in the awards provide a direction on which one can perceive the value of the project For example a good residential project might be as beneficial to the community and a well designed mixed use conplex might contribute to the local tourism.

the shortlist is out and you can check it on below link 

just click to view  the Cityscape Awards shortlist 2011

I am looking forward for a heated deliberation .

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Review of World Bank PRACTICES IN LAND TITLING AND REGISTRATION (adapted) PART 2 and 3

SOME TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Systematic title registration

A systematic adjudication and registration covers all of the parcels in a jurisdiction block by block, village by village, plot by plot basis.
The target is built upon issuing titles to all eligible land holders processing them through a public land registration office- the task duration is built around the completion of the assigned area being mostly the most important target.


Most of the efforts in systematic adjudication and registration revolves around identifying the existing rights of occupied parcels using officially issued deeds or through private conveyance
Thailand issued over 5 million title deeds in about half of the provinces in the country impacting 33 percent of its population.

Systematic registration demand extensive field based search and a simultaneous running of a wide publicity guaranteeing maximum community participation. The timing of the project depends largely on the proactivness of the government in encouraging land holders as some of them may not be ready especially if issues such inheritance or mortgage is involved.

Most of the costs involved accrue to government because of the large capital costs logistically and in staff. Countries have mostly chosen not to avoid charging the full cost of systematic registration on the land holders in order not to lose their participation. However, they have chosen to recover some of the cost at the time of the next transaction. Systematic methods may bring the costs to $40 per parcel that may be recovered over a period of over 10 years and mostly used for rural area.

BEST PRACTISES_ LAND TITLING AND REGISTRATION

Review of World Bank BEST PRACTICES IN LAND TITLING AND REGISTRATION projects

adapted from

PART 1

Introduction

Based on a review of 13 World Bank implemented land titling and registration projects with a total loan value of about US$550 million, the paper has examined the different major objectives and scope for these projects, the institutional considerations, the legal and technical issues faced, training and education that needed to be provided, the information technology dimension that was tackled and analyzed in particular the traditional and community land rights; and transparency and ethics in land registration operations.
Scope and objectives


In terms of general objectives, most of the countries have
solicited support for existing titled issues accuracy and regularization relating to either providing and building accurate spatial database through mapping, surveying and recording cadastral information as well as building the necessary information technology infrastructure for that.
Regularizing the title status is an important driver which involved also building local capacity and the support of international advisory skills. for the land holder, the most important aspect of the project is to get official accurate documentary evidence of ownership especially that recording successionary ownership is Omni-absent in some countries.