An architect in Mongolia

Australian architect Greg Cowan went to the Mongolian Capital, Ulaanbaatar in August, to work as the architecture teacher trainer at the independent Construction Technology College, (www.ctc.edu.mn).

Mongolia is a developing country, with 40 per cent of its total population of 2.7 million people currently living below the poverty line. 34 per cent of the population depend directly on livestock for their livelihoods, and a further 26 percent is indirectly dependent upon livestock. With 33 million domestic animals, Mongolia is known as a 'land of livestock'; most of the population are traditional nomadic herders. Huge sections of the population continue to live in Gers, the traditional felt circular dwelling of choice in Mongolia for more than 1,000 years.

The AJ is publishing extracts from Cowan’s reports on his experiences in the country, as he comes to terms with a new country and its educational needs. To see more, go to http://nomadologist-nomadology.blogspot.com

Art

Art

Blue Sun contemporary art group featured in two new exhibitions last week. Hearing of their plans to establish an artists colony an hour from the capital, and knowing of their interest in showing the work of Ana Rewakowicz, I went to Xanadu Gallery on Thursday evening to meet Dalkhaa (Yondonjunain Dalkh-Ochir).
A Friday - 5 January 2008

A Friday - 5 January 2008

Yesterday seemed a relatively effective workday, two out of four planned meetings eventuated.
New Year - Shin Jil

New Year - Shin Jil

I finally understood what all the palaver had been about, with teachers reportedly rehearsing routines until 11pm at night etc., when I attended the college New Years party, which featured speeches, several performances, four or five costume changes and elaborate evening dress.

Merry Christmas - 24 December 2007

For the last few years in London, I have been volunteering at my local section of Crisis Open Christmas, that great institution which shelters and entertains thousands of homeless people every year. I was wondering what to do now that I am a full time volunteer in Mongolia, and with so many homeless people in Ulaanbaatar.

Participation and access - 12 December 2007

An ongoing aim of the work here is to fight disadvantage and to increase accessibility of existing resources. I believe making buildings more physically accessible is therefore instrumental.

Ger district architecture - 10 December 2007

Ulaanbaatar is increasingly comprised of and surrounded by ger districts (Mongolian tent dwelling districts), the informal architecture of encampments claimed by Mongolians under their traditional right to nomadically and temporarily settle on their land, in this case close to the capital.