LIVING IN A BOX

SEED uses the existing surplus of shipping containers to over solutions to emergent housing systems.


website : http://www.cusa-dds.net/seed/?page_id=2

SEED’s plan for emergency housing involves utilizing shipping containers, which are strong enough to withstand both hurricanes and seismic activity. Upon arrival, strategic holes would be cut into the sides for light and air. The exteriors would receive a coating of insulating ceramic paint and other modifications to make the boxes liveable, like using wooden shipping pallets that act as “pods” for bathing and cooking. Each container would also receive a starter garden consisting of a 55 gallon drum filled with dirt and planted for “emergency food restoration.” Reused tires would be included to create instant raised beds. Without plumbing and electricity, SEED’s plan is really just to provide safe and non-toxic emergency housing for the short-term, but the containers could likely be modified to be more long term.

The plan is certainly doable, but carrying out the mission is the real challenge now. Martha Skinner, assistant professor and team member of SEED, says “This situation [in Haiti] which is so sad is forcing all of us to be quicker to implement something of great need while people are ready to help. Logistically, getting containers to Haiti is one of the biggest hurdles now, with the port being a complete wreck. SEED is currently working with shipping container companies to donate used containers and governments who are sending supplies in containers as well as others who may be able to supply the equipment needed for modification. We will probably put a team together but we need help,” says Skinner. “It is a huge, but could also be a simple task, if all entities get coordinated.”

SHIPPING CONTAINER SURPLUS IN THE CARRIBEAN

SHAPING relief

Reaction Housing Emergency Shelters. These shelters, designed by Michael Daniel, are designed to be quickly deployed and (because they are flat packed) many can be shipped to the disaster area at one time. Easily assembled in minutes without any tools or machinery, the Reaction Housing unit can house up to 4 people and is wired for utilities

The Bubble House. This shelter is made out of a lightweight plastic skin that is put on over an aluminum frame. Clothing, fabrics, grass or other materials can be inserted into the skin to create insulation, and it also includes hookups for water and utilities. Minimalist in design, this prototype has a lot of potential to be easily manufactured and deployed.

Green Horizon Prefab Shelter. Beefier than the first two shelters, the Green Horizon Prefab is also environmentally friendly, made from recycled materials, outfitted with solar panels, greywater recycling, wired for utilities and made of prefabricated parts. The prefab can be easily shipped by attaching wheels to the bottom and carting via truck, or it can be placed in a shipping container. Manufacturing for the Green Horizon has already begun, but no word if they are far enough along to be utilized.

Folding Bamboo House. A simple yet elegant design, the Folding Bamboo House, designed by Ming Tang, is constructed from bamboo and recycled paper and can be cheaply manufactured. Tang designed the geometric folding structure after a7.9 earthquake hit central China. The structures can be folded into many different shapes, allowing a range of structures to be created.

Re-Cover Accordian Shelter. This first response emergency shelter is super easy to transport and set up requires only one person. Made out of polypropylene, the shelter can form many shapes and provide relief for up to 4 people, while rainwater can be collected from the folds. While it doesn’t include a utility hookup, beds or renewable energy generation, it does provide a quick roof over disaster victims heads.

The Off-Grid Clean Hub.Conceived by Shelter Architecture in collaboration with Architecture for Humanity, this completely off-grid prefab unit, can provide water, sanitation and renewable generated power. It’s designed to support victims after a disaster as a mid-term shelter, rather than as a first response. Built within a standard shipping container, the unit is self-contained and can be shipped within days.While we don’t know yet what kind of emergency shelters are being deployed to aid the people of Haiti, we hope that relief organizations are much better prepared than in previous situations and can offer Haiti the help they need.

Source: www.inhabit.com

MakeShift Camps

Between 500,000 and 700,000 people are believed to have been left homeless as a result of the earthquake, according to the UN's latest estimates.More than 500 makeshift camps have been identified by the Haitian government, which has requested large tents to set up reception centres for the homeless.Agencies have assessed 350 sites, which currently accommodate around 472,000 people. However, only six of these sites have access to water sources.The Haitian government has identified six sites for camps outside of the city, such as land near Croix des Bouquets, and has suggested that these camps should be for 20,000 people each.

Sourcs: BBCnews.com

With the reported number of homeless people varying from 200,000 to 1.5 million, tents are in huge demand.UK-based ShelterBox is among those distributing non-food packs. The boxes, which cost £490, contain equipment to shelter 10 people and provide other basic living equipment.

1. Plastic container box 2. Collapsible water carrier 3. Ten-person dome tent 4. Multi-fuel stove 5. Ten sleeping bags/blankets 6. Tools for rebuilding 7. Cooking utensils

8. Children's school supplies 9. Small tools and rope 10. Groundsheets 11. Waterproof ponchos 12. Collapsible water container 13. Water purification tablets 14. Two mosquito nets

INVENTORY OF WHAT IS BEING SENT TODAY
For Shelter, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

• 48 water distribution points established in PaP
• General hospital in Port-au-Prince has been provided with 120,000 liters of bottled water
• 1,000 latrines have been built in PaP by ICRC
• 1,920 hygiene kits
• 258,600 aquatabs
• 3,900 jerrycans
• 300 hygiene kits
• 300 kitchen kits
• 600 mosquito nets
• 300 plastic sheets
• 600 sleeping mats 
• 300 tarpaulins
• 240,600 aquatabs 
• 3300 jerry cans

Source: Open Architecture Network

Recycling Rubble
re-use of rubble as new concrete aggregates is clearly an important strategy for reconstruct. 
Have a look at the AMU project which utilizes waste concrete and glass resources



The Alternative Masonry Unit (AMU) project  provides low cost, high performance, and environmentally sustainable building materials for construction. The initial stages of the project involves enhancements to the existing status of the AMU block material and product development, certified laboratory compression-testing of the block, and construction of a local building project (Domestic Beta). Based on documentation of the Domestic Beta, an instruction and training manual will be developed and post-construction analysis will be performed to allow for further refinements of the system in future.


http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/amu

A Plan for RECONSTRUCTION.  by  Architecture for Humanity/ Open Architecture 

People are trying to find their loved ones not think about what their lives will look like in 5, 10 or 15 years.In reality, here is what it really looks like;

• Pre-Planning Assessments and Damage Analysis (underway, will run for a year)
• Establish Community Resource Center and Reconstruction Studio (Week 6 to Month 3)
• Sorting Out Land Tenure and Building Ownership (Month 6 to Year 5)
• Transitional Shelters, Health Clinics and Community Structures (Month 6 to Year 2)
• Schools, Hospitals and Civic Structures (Month 9 to Year 3)
• Permanent Housing (Year 1 to Year 5)

Toilets that make Compost

SOIL in action:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb9AiHkhg5o&feature=player_embedded#

Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG) + SOIL believe that in order to develop affordable services for underserved communities, local enterprises need to be fostered and supported. Small renewable energy, sanitation, water, and other innovative firms need financing and training to build the power systems, schools, toilets, water systems, biomass, agricultural processing, communications and other forms of infrastructure that can change the basic standard of living for people currently living in poverty.

The following is a facility recently completed in Hiaiti.

Facts at a glance:
Double room community dry composting latrine
Number of Benificiaries: 300
Community: Petite Anse, Haiti

The rains that accompanied Hurricane Noel in November made for unpleasant walking for Petite-Anse’s residents. Mud on unpaved streets churned and mixed with litter and raw sewage in this neighborhood of Cap Haitien in Northern Haiti.As the waters subsided, however, a local community group AFAPA (Asosyasyon Fanm Aktif Petit Anse) banded together with AIDG and its local partner SOIL/SOL to construct a community dry composting latrine. In an area prone to flooding, this type of latrine can significantly reduce contamination of drinking water. The public toilets are located in the rear of the public market in Petite-Anse where hundreds of women work each day selling produce and other goods. There, it serves 300 people. Prior to this project, the only available toilet in the area was a rundown latrine that was nearly full, difficult to access and surrounded by garbage. AFAPA chose to charge people from the market a small fee to use the toilet (5 Gourdes = ~12 cents US). The money is used to pay someone to manage the latrines and to buy toilet paper and cleaning supplies. The toilet was opened to the public on December 17 and remains in excellent shape.

Sources: http://www.aidg.org/