From my volunteer work with Engineering Ministries International (EMI)
Think and Do operates a wide variety of ministries from vocational training to micro-enterprise,
to training of Christian pastors and lay leaders. They are developing a conference and training center in the Middle East on a 10 acre site. The conflict or problem for them is: “how do we plan this?” This is a huge site.
Not uncommon to developing countries, they simply do not have adequate architects to planners, and other design professionals to help. As the founder of Think and Do, Tawfik George describes their motto as “think” (the need for planning) before they “do” (the actual implementation).
Figure 1: Photo of existing site with a few existing buildings.
This training center will be their main base for conferences and training. In 2007, Engineering Ministries International (EMI) helped them complete the master plan, design a sports village, and design the vocational training center. Why a vocational training center you may ask? One of Think and Do’s primary missions is to reach the poorest of the poor in the Middle East:
"Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name" - Psalm 74: 21
Without a trade or vocation to make a living, there is oftentimes not an opportunity to rise out of poverty. While at this Christian training center, Tawfik and his staff work on empowering the community, especially those who have fewer opportunities to live a life of dignity - economically, socially, health-wise, culturally and spiritually.
Figure 2: Photo of Tawfik George (far right) with stakeholders.
Some of the master-planning solutions included strategies for proper infrastructure for electricity and water, solutions for on-site sanitary but most importantly a comprehensive master-plan for the immediate and future needs of the training center.
Architecturally, it was also gaining an understanding of the local vernacular preferences. For instance, the uses of dome structures were far more significant than what you would se in North America.
Although some may consider this ancient technology to mitigate heat gain, it is essentially a free way to keep the lower living areas cooler while taking advantage of the upper portions of the buildings (domes) for convective cooling:
Figure 3: Chong, Dan. Diagram of proposed convective cooling from dome structures.
Ten years later, Think and Do's 10-acre site is now in constant use as a vibrant vocational training center. It also hosts a number of church conferences, day retreats and other activities, including staff prayer conferences:
Figure 4: Built version of residential dormitory structures from conceptual master-plan designs.
Figure 5: EMI Project Team on site; brings new meaning to the word Charrette (Art Cart)
Figure 6: My “away from home” architectural office on site.
Think and Do operates a wide variety of ministries from vocational training to micro-enterprise,
to training of Christian pastors and lay leaders. They are developing a conference and training center in the Middle East on a 10 acre site. The conflict or problem for them is: “how do we plan this?” This is a huge site.
Not uncommon to developing countries, they simply do not have adequate architects to planners, and other design professionals to help. As the founder of Think and Do, Tawfik George describes their motto as “think” (the need for planning) before they “do” (the actual implementation).
This training center will be their main base for conferences and training. In 2007, Engineering Ministries International (EMI) helped them complete the master plan, design a sports village, and design the vocational training center. Why a vocational training center you may ask? One of Think and Do’s primary missions is to reach the poorest of the poor in the Middle East:
"Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name" - Psalm 74: 21
Without a trade or vocation to make a living, there is oftentimes not an opportunity to rise out of poverty. While at this Christian training center, Tawfik and his staff work on empowering the community, especially those who have fewer opportunities to live a life of dignity - economically, socially, health-wise, culturally and spiritually.
Some of the master-planning solutions included strategies for proper infrastructure for electricity and water, solutions for on-site sanitary but most importantly a comprehensive master-plan for the immediate and future needs of the training center.
Architecturally, it was also gaining an understanding of the local vernacular preferences. For instance, the uses of dome structures were far more significant than what you would se in North America.
Although some may consider this ancient technology to mitigate heat gain, it is essentially a free way to keep the lower living areas cooler while taking advantage of the upper portions of the buildings (domes) for convective cooling:
Ten years later, Think and Do's 10-acre site is now in constant use as a vibrant vocational training center. It also hosts a number of church conferences, day retreats and other activities, including staff prayer conferences:
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