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page133from Nordic Architects Writes
work of the institute will be done in the
field, in different countries under conditions differing as widely as possible
in order that a variety of result may be obtained for comparison. The complete
research building groups will still be kept under observation by the institute
for a certain time after the termination of the building period.
These
research groups will be parts of housing areas, or building projects aimed
first at satisfying humanitarian needs and only secondarily at commercial
objectives, should they exist.
To
make the plan financially feasible the institute will be authorized to enter
into agreements with foundations and with local authorities.
The
institute will also serve as a teaching tool in arranging practical research
work in the field for graduate scholars and in the undergraduate preparation of
students for this activity.
Introduction to the programme
To illustrate the manner in which this plan
might be put in to practice, we will take Finland today as a typical research
field. We take Finland merely for the sake of a concrete example and also
because it happens to be the terrain with which the writer is personally most
familiar. From a practical point of view, Finland offers special opportunities
for research work of this character: rich topographical variations; a building
industry developed in keeping with other productive activities of the country;
extremely low costs for all kinds of building in relation to existent
conditions in other countries and a comparatively high standard of living. However,
it must be understood that such an approach is not intended to limit the field
of such work to any particular country.
On
this basis we may assume that the initial research field is to be established
in Finland in a district designate by that country’s government. It should be
located north of the capital, Helsinki. It should be conveniently accessible to
the capital itself, to the industrial areas close to the capital, as well as to
certain smaller industrial towns. At the same time it must have ready
communication with one of the larger agricultural areas. The location is very
important because the houses to be constructed in this research field are
afterwards to be used for ordinary dwellings. Therefore good connections with
several industrial centres and agricultural areas are vitally necessary.
The
research field, during the work and all activity in connection with it, is to
be under the joint supervision of an American university or technical institute
and a local committee, including representatives of the supervising research
Institute and the State of Finland. All technical advisers in the local
committee are to be approved by the supervising American university or technical
institute.
The
area for the research field is to be provided by the Finnish State for this
purpose without any expense to the collaborating American university or
technical institute. Highways and principal streets and electrical power will
be arranged by the local authorities. The area for research construction will
cover at least 200 acres, excluding highways.
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