Hasta La Ideas

After what seems like endless years of seeing Prince Charles as a mean, architect-hating bad guy (and rightly so at times), there’s finally a positive story about the guy — and it even relates to architecture. The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment (which last year was being investigated for some of those aforementioned negative things and received a judge’s slap on the wrist this year as the troublesome Chelsea Barracks debate continued) will be taking over the role as lead planners for the rebuilding of Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, starting in December. According to the Guardian, while some are calling it a political move by Haitian politicians trying to win favors from the UK, the Foundation will be stepping in to not only create “a masterplan” for the city, “including homes, streets, public spaces and amenities,” but will also be training residents on how to best rebuild after an earthquake leveled nearly the whole country and killed hundreds of thousands of people earlier this year. They’ll be working in collaboration with the urban planning firm Duany Plater Zyberk on the project that will cover roughly 25 city blocks. So politically motivated or not, it’s apt to be a worthwhile endeavor. Just don’t any expect any new modernist buildings to get built. Here’s a bit from the Foundation’s statement:

“We are honoured to have been given the chance to help create a better future for Haiti after the suffering and devastation of the earthquake,” said Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the prince’s foundation. “We hope to play a small part in bringing hope and benefit to the city by maintaining its authentic character, reducing its environmental impact and helping train local people in construction skills that equip them for future employment.”

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