Roland Batten Lecture 2010
October 20, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Room 301, Williams Hall, University of Vermont
The 2010 Roland Batten Lecture on Architecture will be given by Rolf Kielman, an architect with TruexCullins of Burlington, Vermont. Projects will be presented from Latin America, Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
Most of these projects address essential housing, educational and community needs. Those involved in the implementation of these projects include architects, builders, planners and an extensive network of volunteers and non-government agencies. These necessary works are often of a design-build nature and utilize local resources, labor and building materials. Indigenous methods of construction shape the basic approach but new and sustainable methods of detailing and building are used to ensure improved durability.
The projects presented are situated in Guatemala, Uganda, Mozambique, Guinea and Bangladesh. They range from modest cooking facilities and dormitories, to schools and community centers. The work highlights the increasing involvement of young designers, engaged individuals and volunteer organizations who working to improve the quality of life in areas fraught with poverty and the impact of natural disasters and environmental degradation.
Rolf will also describe several ways in which you can become involved in this kind of work and local organizations and firms that you might wish to contact.
About Rolf Kielman
Rolf Kielman is an architect and principal with TruexCullins, Architecture and Interior Design of Burlington, Vermont. He has worked as an architect in Vermont since 1978 with prior work experiences in Delft, The Netherlands; Copenhagen, Denmark; Toronto, Canada; and Salt Lake City and Philadelphia in the United States.
Rolf was a studio art major at Dartmouth College and received a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He studied furniture design at the Skolen for Brugskunst in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“Making essential objects of utility and beauty” best summarizes his approach to architecture. He is deeply interested in the craft of architecture and the symbiotic relationship between builder and architect. His work is regional and is firmly connected to the history and culture of people and the physical characteristics of land and climate. His architectural projects focus on the craft of careful fabrication and the enduring sustainability of buildings.
Rolf has travelled to many places in the world and usually these travels evolve into architectural reconnaissance trips. Observing the architectural traditions of different regions of the world has been a highly educational endeavor.