MCTspaceLab

The world in a plastic bag. Photo source by: Jcomp on Freepick Guest Author : Laura Maria Diaz Laura Maria, a Colombian graphic designer who holds a double master degree in “Integrated Urbanism Sustainable Design” from the University of Stuttgart (Germany) and Ain Sham University (Egypt) brings to us more insights on the topic from her experience with her master thesis topic: the behavior of single-use plastic consumption in Cairo and factors that might encourage pro-environmental behavior change. As Oman takes steps towards reducing the consumption of Single-Use Plastic (SUP), MCTspaceLab brings you an insightful article, by a guest author focusing on pressing questions such as: What are SUP? What are the problems created by the usage of SUP? What are the long-term impacts of SUP? And most importantly - What are the alternatives of SUP? Introduction  Plastic isn’t the problem. It’s what we do with it.” - Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment. Have you ever thought about where the p...

Guest authors: Isabela L. Tavares, Jonas Bailey-Athias Blog post background: Complementing MCTspaceLab’s Tree per House Initiative (TpHI) Link to full toolkit: (pages 1-12 arabic, 14-25 english) , we bring forth a case study research with theoretical insights on the thematic topics of tactical urbanism and the relationship with urban ecology via showcasing an article developed by two students of Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design at the University of Stuttgart, in Germany. The TpHI strives to encourage the users of Muscat, to take ownership of their outdoor spaces. Following the discourse of tactical urbanism, the short-term goal of TpHI combines the methods of foraging and pop-up urbanism in order to encourage the residents to plant a tree per house between their parking space and the street. The presented article below, well elaborates these two concepts with thought out examples. Furthermore, supporting the long-term vision of TpHI of developing a pedestrian street in the ...

  Author: Rowa Elzain During the summer break of 2018, MCTspaceLab along with Khoud 6 (Hayi Al Maarifa) community collaborated on a series of construction workshops aiming to share participial basic knowledge on wood construction, natural shading elements, and planting within the youth members of the community. The workshops was also a testing ground for the Tree per House Initiative . Introduction The project of developing public spaces in Hayi Al-Maarifah district in al Khoud 6, seeks to do so with the engagement of the youth of the community, for the community. Hence the construction workshop for the youth 2018 was aimed at enhancing the public outdoor qualities in public spaces in addition to building on the skills and knowledge of the participants.  The topics that were discussed within the workshop were: sustainable and local materials, construction methods, personal initiatives, and finally high quality public spaces. The objectives of the workshop were:  strengthe...

MCTspaceLab's Vision with Tree per House toolkit Authors: Shaharin Annisa and Rowa Elzain  Tree per House Toolkit authors: MCTspaceLab team Along the lines of MCTspaceLab’s long term vision ‘to provide high quality public spaces that promote socio-economic interaction along with the empowerment of the community’, and the aim ‘to enhance and develop existing neighbourhood through vibrant and sustainable public spaces’, MCTspaceLab brings to you the  Tree per House Initiative (TpHI)  as a first step towards initiating a long term change. After careful participatory research, the TpHI aims to address: The need for shaded walkways and the need for vibrant public spaces within a neighborhood . Link to full toolkit:  (pages 1-12 arabic, 14-25 english)   يقدم لك  MCTspaceLab   مبادرة شجرة لكل بيت ( TpHI ) كخطوة أولى نحو الشروع في إحداث تغيير طويل المدى. وبعد بحث دقيق مع المجتمع  ، يهدف  TpHI   إلى معالجة الآتي: الحاجة إلى ممرات مظللة والحاجة إل...