An Irish resident of Medellin will take up the task of teaching children about architecture, trying to give something back to the city he’s lived in for one and a half year.
“Mi Ciudad: Arquitectura para Niños,” the name of an idea that has developed to a course aimed at raising understanding about architecture, the environment and world we live in and knowledge about how to influence urban planning directed towards the future generation of Colombian citizens.
Martin Dolan, the man behind this project, is an Irish architect who has lived in Colombia for three years, half of which in Medellin. Having worked in the field of education and taught English he came up with a way of combining it with his experience as an architect whilst creating something “that gives back to the community,” he told Colombia Reports.
The Irishman’s course is far from restricted to the field of architecture, he said.
“The idea is not to get them involved in architecture specifically but to give them more awareness of their roles in the design and planning,” said Dolan. “Even if they don’t become architects they become aware of what architects do and they learn the value of design and they learn that they can have an influence by speaking with architects and working with architects.”
Through practical and fun projects and activities for children of all social and economic levels the course is aimed at promoting participation and decision making skills, besides of being a source to awake interest, pride and awareness of culture, individuality and neighborhood.
According to Dolan, the long term goal and dream is to eventually get the program adopted to the standard curriculum in schools so that, “the course can be offered as a more permanent and steady course that can be given possibly for free.”
According to the architect, Medellin — as any other city — could benefit from higher awareness about the importance of “good design and community participation in architecture and urban planning.”