S-E-T SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK
The urgent need for sustainability today demands new systems of thinking and new approaches to problem solving — new spheres of logic. Societies are no longer considered independent of the natural environment and neither can both exist outside of the influence of technology. The Logic of the ANAM model is the unique conceptual basis and theoretical underpinning of our sustainability perspective, which lives in the confluence of three spheres: Sociologic, Ecologic and Technologic (SET). The three spheres together form a regime of sustainability in which all three interactively control viability, performance and outcome. These mutually reinforcing logics are used to assess each urban design strategy.
Sociologic: Communalism and interdependence are embedded in most African traditional cultures, yet often lost in modern society. Because a truly sustainable urbanism is facilitated and manifested through its social roots, it must be grounded in cultural heritage, both in practice and in form. Thus the system of collective progress, as defined by the society itself, is most resilient against socially destructive forces and reflective of the African tradition of development. Therefore, a sociological strategy is understood as one that is culturally relevant, collectively improves human quality of life and encourages responsible citizenship.
Ecologic: Africa is blessed with abundant and diverse natural resources. The local ecology has been a source of physical sustenance, creative inspiration and a struggle for survival. These three experiences are independently significant yet must be fairly and simultaneously addressed. Therefore, an ecological strategy is a balanced and respectful management of natural resources that meets human needs, enhances natural beauty and mitigates natural hazards.
Technologic: There is an urgent need in Africa for practical solutions to life-threatening problems stemming from natural and man-made causes. An ‘urgent practicality’ means solutions must be readily implementable, scalable and able to yield tangible results for the present generation. Furthermore, local innovation within traditional systems is an important counter to the vulnerabilities of aid dependency. Therefore, a technological strategy is a practical, problem-solving application that appropriates indigenous knowledge systems, advances innovation, supports resilience and optimizes processes (time, money, resources).
Economics, though traditionally understood as the third sphere of sustainability, is excluded from this SET not as a devaluation of the global phenomena, but to advance the assertion that a system of production of material wealth is not central to, but results from the collective endurance and progress of humankind as derived from this SET. The model posits the Logical SET of interrelationships as the basis for articulating a truly sustainable city, one that is both uniquely African and universally laudable.
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Tags: africa, anam city, development, ecological urbanism, SET Logic, sustainability, sustainable city, urban design, urban planning
We are proud to announce that the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) has extended an honorary membership to the Chife Foundation for 2012. Each year, CGI offers a limited number of complimentary membership invitations to nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations such as our own. Bridging knowledge and action, our work was recognized for its merit in the track of sustainability in the built environment.
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