Material Innovations

20 minute talk – Creating Agency with Incremental Building

Monkeys

Humans have evolved designing our habitats.  In order to survive and increase comfort we move close the the systems that sustain us.  Where and when we choose to live are often dictated by climate and topography.    Although humans are highly adaptable, we often alter our surroundings in order to thrive.

Peechee

We find value in the freedom to customize our products and environments.

When left to our own devices we will create personal relationships with our surroundings.

When we do this we establish a greater connection to these things and places.  They become an extension our personalities.

Garage

Too often our products and the built environments we occupy are over-designed, leaving little room for modification or personalization.  When this happens we again become designers and alter our spaces to fit our needs.  Flexible environments can evolve with us to meet our needs

Porch

Built spaces that are too specific often secumb to modification.

A front porch is allows us relief from the hot summer interiors of our homes.

The breeze and open view is nice, but the bugs are not.

Screened Porch

Screening a porch exposes us to the cool evening breeze with out the bugs.

We spend more time in this more comfortable space and maybe move dining room furniture to accommodate meals.

With such open views outside this porch starts to rival the interior of the house.

Walled Porch

With the addition of walls and windows the porch has become all-season.

In the winter it can be heated but,with windows that can be opened on three sides, it still has the views and summer cooling effect.

This porch evolution is an example of the concept behind incremental housing.

Incremental Housing Project in Chile

This housing project was built around the idea of helping people improve their housing with out taking away their agency.  This project was intentionally half built so each family could add and expand to fit their specific needs.

Incremental Housing Project in Chile

Motivated by keeping costs down, leaving the finishing and details became an act of empowerment for the user.

As these spaces evolve with the users while they are living on site continually supporting family and community relationships

Haiti Map

January 12, 2010 a 7.0 earthquake hit the center of Port au Prince.  Already home to repeated hurricanes and floods, hunger and poverty was a constant.  Now with international aid pouring in the question is how can Haiti become sustainable.

Haiti Before Quake

Before the January earthquake Haiti was in serious need of housing and basic infrastructure.  With little natural resources Port au Prince was dependent on imported goods to sustain its population.  This lack of resources makes the rebuilding again, mainly dependent on outside help.

Haiti Quake Rubble

Most of Haiti’s housing was built from inconsistent concrete mixes with little reinforcing steel.  These structures were quickly turned to rubble during the earthquake and resulting aftershocks.  The death toll was very high due to falling debris.

Haiti Tent Village

Faced with the overwelming task of removing and sorting the concrete rubble, thousands are still living in tarp villages.  These structures will not survive heavy storms and create a haven for vermin and crime.  With out any materials or equipment how can the Haitians build more substantial housing?

Sandbag homes

In South Africa, sandbag construction has been very successful in housing the homeless.  It is low tech and using materials from the surrounding environment.

The people can build their own houses giving them an understanding for the process and maintainence.

Sandbag domes

Cobb can be added to the exterior of sandbag homes giving them a natural finish that will resist the elements.  A crutial part of this system is involving the homeowners in the construction process.  They retain their agency and have the skills and knowledge to maintain their homes.

Pallet Racks

Designers are constantly working on humanitarian structures to house the less fortunate.  Often looking to repurpose preexisting materials or systems.  These guys are creating living units from pallet storage racks, which are built to survive earthquakes.

Incremental housing drawing

Incremental housing projects seem to be one solution to creating structurally sound homes for the Haitian refugees.  Using sections of shipping containers the people can be given the beginning core of a home that provides their basic needs.  With a solid frame people can infill and add on to fit their specific needs.

Shipping containers

Already in huge supply shipping containers can be easily moved from place to place.  Port au Prince already has the infrastructure to handle these possible building componants.

Container Housing Complex

People have been pushing the potential of prefab housing made from these containers for years.  Because of their inherent structure and stackability great denisity can be achieved.  Over time the container has become a modular building icon.

Container Housing Complex

This model using the doors as porches has been replicated many times and put into production.  Although steel is not the most efficent building material, it has superior strength and durability.   Now that global shipping is becoming more expensive, maybe there will be a surplus of these containers.

Haiti Container Housing

This is a container being developed into a disaster relief shelter.  Although it’s supposed to be temporary it has potential for incremental growth.