[Strawbale] [BWBNewsletter] Haiti Update:

[Builders Without Borders newsletter]

Haiti Update:

Recently several Builders Without Borders members and colleagues 
returned from reconnaissance visits to Haiti.
They found the people there to be both traumatized and resilient.  And 
there is need for many new homes.

But what should be built?  Designs should be seismically resistant, 
sustainable, affordable and aesthetically pleasing to the people living 
there.
Many systems could meet these criteria.   There is certainly a lot of 
broken concrete available, and Andy Mueller found a large amount of 
rice growing near Port Au Prince.

Builders Without Borders is developing a pilot project to try out a few 
different building methodologies in Haiti, which will probably include 
rice straw-bales and rice hulls, bamboo, clay and urbanite, and other 
locally available resources.   Architect Martin Hammer, a BWB 
representative, is currently in Haiti meeting with potential partners, 
and looking at potential building locations.  BWB is currently 
accepting donations to fund this project.
Donations should be earmarked: Haiti Housing Solutions

BWB partner PAKSBAB (Pakistan Straw Bale and Appropriate Building) is 
also considering a pilot project in Haiti.  They envision bringing 
their building team from Pakistan, to share their super 
seismically-resistant housing design with Haiti.  Paksbab is currently 
completing their 17th straw-bale building in Pakistan, and need an 
additional $1000 per month to keep their local building crew employed. 
BWB is also accepting donations on their behalf, which should be 
earmarked: PAKSBAB

Thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely,
Catherine Wanek & Derek Roff
Co-directors
Builders Without Borders
<mail at builderswithoutborders...>
www.builderswithoutborders.org
575-895-5400

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