anyone know any interesting, cheap, and durable homes that could be built in HAITI?

2/9/2010 7:27:17 PM

[Edited on February 9, 2010 at 8:47 PM. Reason : .]

2/9/2010 8:46:30 PM

2/9/2010 9:18:16 PM

all of these would be upgrades from what they had there in the first place

2/9/2010 9:25:55 PM

2/9/2010 10:03:02 PM

used FEMA trailers?

2/9/2010 10:04:43 PM

even cheaper

2/9/2010 10:10:31 PM

Everything has to be concrete/masonry more or less due to hurricanes. The important part will be the detailing. My professor just got back from there and said the initial building quality was so terrible, which was expected.

[Edited on February 9, 2010 at 10:21 PM. Reason : Purely speculative]

2/9/2010 10:10:41 PM

the best house there will be at the mercy of the first house that get knocked down and floats into it repeatedly in the churning sea

[Edited on February 9, 2010 at 10:27 PM. Reason : sd]

2/9/2010 10:27:10 PM

Quote :

"Everything has to be concrete/masonry more or less due to hurricanes."

hence the devastation from the recent earthquake.

2/9/2010 11:11:12 PM

^Exactly

I assume the new buildings will be up to a US code but who knows.

2/10/2010 12:05:31 AM

Hempcrete, son!

2/10/2010 12:05:36 AM

Video on "Open-Source Architecture" by Cameron Sinclair
http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_sinclair_on_open_source_architecture.html (great video)

He is the founder of Architecture For Humanity, and they are doing work in Haiti. You can also donate to them.
http://architectureforhumanity.org/

2/10/2010 1:23:02 PM

No one will be living there anyways. They will all be "temporarily" brought to the US and will stay here as long as they like.

2/10/2010 1:28:42 PM

It should equal what they had prior to the disaster....that is what FEMA does in the states...

[Edited on February 10, 2010 at 2:39 PM. Reason : w]

2/10/2010 2:39:04 PM

2/10/2010 2:44:10 PM

2/10/2010 3:01:03 PM

Quote :

"I assume the new buildings will be up to a US code but who knows."

The US doesn't have a code. Each state has a building code and most adopt all, or parts, of the International Building Code. The IBC has a chapter/section on Seismic Site Classification.

The buildings didn't collapse because they were concrete/masonry alone. They collapsed because the concrete/masonry was designed for the induced forces caused by an earthquake. Loose, clean sands in seismic areas are also subject to liquefaction during an earthquake, and that could result in settlement and/or bearing capacity failures.

2/10/2010 3:43:01 PM

2/10/2010 7:00:05 PM

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/08/prefab-friday-container-city/

2/10/2010 7:02:17 PM

I would be kind of mad if my neighbor did this.
http://www.runkleconsulting.com/Container%20House/Shipping%20Container%20House.htm

2/10/2010 7:04:53 PM

Quote :

"Everything has to be concrete/masonry more or less due to hurricanes."

wood is very expensive in haiti, there are no trees. in addition, because of the climate and insects if you want wood construction to last it all has to be treated lumber. i met a few people doing wood construction in haiti, but it was only because they were in a really remote area and it was easier to bring in lumber on a helicopter than concrete.

there is no building code in haiti, and if there was there isn't really anyone to enforce it. people that can afford it hire engineers to review things, but for most people its a luxury that cant be afforded.

also, people build with concrete because they can do it in installments. they pay for a shipment of gravel here, some sand there, eventually block and cement and they build what they can. later when they can afford more they build more. you will always see homes in haiti with rebar sticking out where they plan to build later.

2/10/2010 9:14:08 PM

^Good analysis.

2/11/2010 12:27:28 AM

2/11/2010 2:59:39 AM

Can busted up concrete be recycled? Like ground up and reused?

2/11/2010 12:05:50 PM

I know this sounds harsh, but I honestly don't give a shit as long as the money doesn't come out of my wallet.

Quote :

"No one will be living there anyways. They will all be "temporarily" brought to the US and will stay here as long as they like."

2/11/2010 12:12:49 PM

In certain situations, yes.


I've got a job in Moore Co where they want to use it as a granular fill under a new slab on grade.

2/11/2010 12:13:07 PM