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Bernard Lefebvre Joined: 02 Jun 2004 Posts: 20	Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:47 pm    Post subject: Low Cost Affordable Housing - architect's role The role of some architects It should be obvious just looking at recent news on Myanmar-Burma and China that populations living in precarious areas of developing countries because of their size and density when affected by natural disasters will need to be involved more and more into the processes of reconstruction. I believe that local populations should be involved in the production of building materials and in the construction process itself. After all it is their houses that will be rebuilt. Reconstruction projects can be successful if they are rooted in the community, present innovative solutions and address livelihood by making it possible for some people to earn a living and generate income from these projects. Of course the role of some architects may be to provide technical assistance in partnership with government agencies, international organizations, the private sector, NGOs and local communities but need to address the problem of delivering affordable housing with building materials and construction techniques that can be used by unskilled labour which while lowering the cost of housing procure good, solid and durable houses and social infrastructure buildings that can resist earthquakes, floods and typhoons. Food for thought. Included an example of a two-storey 54m2 2-bedroom - earthquake resistant core house constructed by the community under mutual aid (also producing the building materials) at a total cost of 1,200USD or 22USD/m2 Soil-cement interlocking bricks (no mortar)    Filesize:  123.6 KB  Filename:  54m2 Kao Kho housing pj.jpg  Viewed:  139 Time(s)
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dave72 Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 6	Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:05 pm    Post subject: Bernard, someone in the green building forum is investigating housing made from old metal shipping containers. Based on your suggestion perhaps these containers can be reworked into housing for the disaster victims in China thereby returning the shipping containers to the country of origin for a different purpose. Those containers will need A LOT of architectural help if used for housing...
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Bernard Lefebvre Joined: 02 Jun 2004 Posts: 20	Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 6:02 pm    Post subject: I don't know if you ever bought a used container but we had to in order to ship small scale building material production units to Afghanistan for reconstruction (one has to as they don't come back and are carried by road through Pakistan). The bottom line is that a 'used' 20 ft container cost more than the basic core house shown here. Our approach is to create employment and generate income for local population while addressing the delivery of affordable housing. You can see more at: http://www.habitech-international.com Later extenssions to basic core house    Filesize:  152.74 KB  Filename:  KhaoKho2.jpg  Viewed:  122 Time(s)
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