[GSBN] Bales for Haiti

[Paul Olivier]

See comment.

On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 1:41 AM, <strawnet at aol.com> wrote:

>  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
>

This is what Garrett Connelly had suggested to me a few weeks ago. This make
a lot of sense! The use of acrylic in cement has many applications.


>
> 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 a
> sustainable, appropriate building approach in any new country, I think you
> 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't
> work 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 other techniques
> that are better suited to Haiti (reinforced waddle and daub or reinforced
> adobe?). Rural and urban locations will have different solutions.
> Establishing relationships that empower people to look around them for
> solutions is always a good place to begin.
>
> I do worry about the longevity of strawbale walls in a climate with so
> little drying potential and so much wetting potential (rains and hurricanes
> and poverty which often equals lack of ability to maintain roofs).
>
> All my best to you all.
>
> Kelly
>
>  Kelly Lerner, Architect
> Certified Sustainable Building Advisor
> One World Design Architecture   509-838-8812
>  www.one-world-design.com
>  www.naturalremodeling.com
>
> Have you read *Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House*? Available
> in bookstores throughout the universe.
>
>
>
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-- 
Paul A. Olivier PhD
Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)
Mobile: 063 399 7256 (in Vietnam)
Skype address: Xpolivier
http://www.esrla.com/
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