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Bernard Lefebvre
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Posts: 20
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1927
Location: Miami, Florida
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 Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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$4 USD a square foot? I don't quite undersand how it cost only 4K Euros (approx. $3K USD). At 775 sq. ft. that's about 28' x 28' or 19'x19' per floor. That's about 4 rooms. Is that correct? It's interesting but I'm not certain I understand correctly the scope...it's unusual in every sense.
mx2.5
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*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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Bernard Lefebvre
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Mx-2
Yes, approximately 40 USD / m2. We have been addressing the delivery of affordable housing by setting up production units to supply projects with building materials for all of the basic components of a house. We have been involved many projects in Asia and the Pacific and more recently in Africa with other housing projects where construction costs were even lower while the houses build were solid and durable resisting fire, flood, earthquakes and high winds.
We promote three types of business packages (micro, small and medium scale) to establish building material producers to supply either affordable housing projects or the construction market in general.
All these packages are modeled on private sector enterprises, create
employment and provide income for the local population while generating profits making them sustainable, as they don’t pollute, degrade the environment or contribute to greenhouse effects.
We have been quite successful in disseminating our technology because our approach has been focusing on technologies that are labor intensive that reach the informal sector and self-help or mutual aid builders allowing
for the development of skills and employment in the construction sector
with a sustainable use of natural resources, economically and
environmentally.
We strongly believe that affordable housing projects should look to light industrialization processes in the production of building materials and in the construction process itself; be rooted in the community, present innovative solutions to real problems enabling others to imitate it; build partnership between the public and private sector and most important address lively-hood making it possible for those participating to earn a living.
You will find more information by visiting our web site at:
http://www.habitech-international.com
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lekizz
millennium club
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 1014
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Great work! They also look incredibly smart, no 'disaster zone' look! And the best result is providing the local community with the skills to provide for themselves.
I suppose the costs were so low because, like you suggest, the vast majority of the construction labour was free. And I assume the materials were locally sourced and therefore locally priced?
Out of interest, do you know the normal cost of building a house of this size in Thailand?
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Bernard Lefebvre
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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All of the construction costs were included into the house as they were built using mutual aid - families working together to buid a group of houses. Each group was paid 1,000 Euros for each house they built.
What was not included is the finishes (interior plastering, painting) as it assumed that the families can do that themselves after they take possession of their house.
Normally construction cost (materials + labor) for such a house in Thailand would be 6,600 Baht /m2 (31 Baht/USD) or 212 USD/m2.
The exact budget for the houses was 250,000 baht - out of which 50,000 baht for labour (or 20%). The exact cost of the houses not including finishes is approx. 8,065 USD or 112 USD/m2 or 11.20 USD/ft2.
We consider that it is in line with what we indicate could be the cost reduction rate (between 30-50%) when our building system is used.
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Antisthenes
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 551
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:12 am Post subject: |
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how much was the fee for the structural? i assume if they models are the same you have a need to have done that just once?
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The most necessary/useful piece of learning is that which unlearns what is untrue: 'evil'
may be acquired, Happiness through virtue which is based on knowledge!/? |
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Bernard Lefebvre
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 3:31 am Post subject: |
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There was no fee for structural calculations for the houses as our building system has been in use for quite a while. Initially the different components were tested in a structural laboratory (walls, floors, etc.). We provide either training sessions in construction or a construction guide to those using it.
The only calculations that were needed was for choosing piles once some ground bearing tests were done. We know the system weighs approx. one ton per m2. For the foundations, the design uses reinforced footings supported on concrete piles.
As this was a donation project to reconstruct houses-villages after the Dec.04 tsunami, tests performed were not charged to the communities but absorbed by the contributors to the project. Nevertheless the concrete piles are part of the budget for each house.
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