Reconstruir (n)o Nepal, por entre as montanhas até à escola

Abstract

Rebuild (in) Nepal, through the mountains until the school is a reflection on the experience I had in a trip to South Asia, Nepal. Devastated by the earthquakes of April and May 2015, more than two years have passed during which, in terms of recovery, very little has actually been realized by the government due to the country's great political instability. Being economically weakened, humanitarian work in Nepal plays a key role in post-disaster rehabilitation, mainly at the social and architectural level. I had the opportunity to volunteer in a project that focuses on rebuilding Schools in one of the most affected areas by the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, Haibung - Sindhupalchok. It will be understood throughout the dissertation how the journey makes the architect grow. The fact of not being behind the paper and literally putting hands to work is an obvious aspect, but, among others, what will be most emphasized will be the mutual learning between architect, volunteer, mason and community. The idea of participatory project, through which there is an essential sharing of teachings, is also a mean of response to certain social and political problems that may be involved with the architecture of a place. This particular context allows a reflection on the role of the architect and a revision of the meaning that a "simple" program like the School surprisingly acquires. In this post-disaster scenario, the (re)construction of Schools assumes an importance that goes beyond the typical teaching function. It is important to realize how local knowledge can effectively contribute to the reconstruction of a country. The strategic and collaborative thinking in the project design helps ensure that a safe learning environment is built, while simultaneously has the ability to provide development and rebuild the community around it. By having the perception of the impact that architecture has on a society, I imagine that as an architect, desingning with social consciousness will be instinctively more natural.