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For several years, the architecture students of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, have had the opportunity to partake in fieldwork abroad through an 11-week immersion program called the College of Architecture and Planning in South Asia (CapAsia). This year’s program has proved to be unusually poignant, as the students came to the aid of those whose lives have been all but destroyed by the tsunami of December 2004. Led by CapAsia’s founder and director, Dr. Nihal Perera, codirector Wes Janz, and fellow professor of architecture Tim Gray, the tour of 21 students made its way to Kalametiya, a village in Sri Lanka. This community of 31 families, including 35 children, lost their homes and livelihoods.
The group first spent time getting to know the villagers, who are currently living in a temporary settlement. They also helped restore a nearby lagoon and bird sanctuary and assisted in rebuilding fishing boats. Then, with Sri Lankan architect Madhura Prematilleke, the students began to lay the foundations for the village’s permanent housing. “We were not there to lead this process,” Janz points out. “Instead, we constantly deferred to their knowledge and learned that just because we’ve been trained in the West does not mean that we have the best answers or approaches.” During their work, the students gained more than just a hands-on building experience—they also became involved in local construction customs. Members of the group were asked to partake in a ritual where the “Foundation Stone” is buried before the foundation of a house is set. Monks preside over this event, which is believed to bring good karma to the building’s construction and its future residents, and takes place at the site of each residence. In an e-mail from the field, Janz noted, “As we place ourselves among local masons and workers, we’re learning the rhythms of the local culture of building and learning from them huge lessons about decency, hope, and friendship.” In their week at Kalametiya, the group accomplished a considerable amount, especially considering the lack of electricity at the site—they staked out all 30 houses, completed half of the foundation trenches, and poured eight concrete slabs in place. [For more visit www.capasia.net/iv/]
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