[GSBN] Bales for Haiti

Fri Feb 19 18:41:28 UTC 2010

 First I want to say that it is great to see both the interest in doing something and the level of reflection and inclusion of a wide range of points of view. The last few messages, Derek's, RT's, Max's, Andre's and Kelly's in particular, resonate deeply for me. 

A long time piece of basic advice of mine is that when you go somewhere unknown and unfamiliar to you, in what I call "helping mode," begin with the assumption that you are probably dangerous. You have likely made assumptions that are unfounded and, literally, ungrounded, so be really careful about what you are or think you are bringing. 

Your real task is to discover whether anything that you know, any of the solutions you think you are bringing, will actually be of service or use or are needed or wanted. If they aren't based in reality on the ground where you're going, they're not solutions. Take questions, not answers. Kelly's list of questions is a great one. The Steen's approach to working in Mexico was a partnership over time - learning from the locals, letting them lead the way in terms of resources, tools, traditional approaches, cultural norms, etc.to find good solutions that really work.

As for roofs, I want to point toward some work by George Nez and, I think, Engineers Without Borders International on Acrylic Modified Concrete roof systems - very strong, very lightweight, durable and inexpensive. There is info here:

http://ceae.colorado.edu/mc-edc/?ii=AST%20Research:Acrylic%20Roofs

What I particularly like about these is that they are very safe and strong, use a simple set of materials and methods that can be quickly learned, and can be insulated in a variety of ways. 

And EWBI has some very good links as well here:
http://www.ewb-international.org/resources.htm
http://www.ewb-international.org/emergencies.htm

David Eisenberg

-----Original Message-----
From: Kelly Lerner <klerner at one-world-design.com>
To: GSBN at greenbuilder.com
Sent: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 10:19 am
Subject: Re: [GSBN] Bales for Haiti

Hi all,
Just my two-cents worth from working in China. For developing asustainable, appropriate building approach in any new country, I thinkyou need to employ an investigative approach - lots of questions:
What's the climate? 
Other environmental factors (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc)?
What materials are available? (resource mapping)
What skills do people already have? (resource mapping)
What are/were people living in now? traditionally? What worked and didn'twork about those housing types?
What's the family structure?
What are the economic factors?
What do people want? 
etc, etc, etc

Strawbale construction may make sense or there may be some othertechniques that are better suited to Haiti (reinforced waddle and daub orreinforced adobe?). Rural and urban locations will have differentsolutions. Establishing relationships that empower people to look aroundthem for solutions is always a good place to begin.

I do worry about the longevity of strawbale walls in a climate with solittle drying potential and so much wetting potential (rains andhurricanes and poverty which often equals lack of ability to maintainroofs). 

All my best to you all.

Kelly

Kelly Lerner, Architect
Certified Sustainable Building Advisor
One World DesignArchitecture   509-838-8812
www.one-world-design.com
www.naturalremodeling.com

Have you read Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-GreenHouse? Available in bookstores throughout the universe.

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