How Are Architects Responding to the Haiti Disaster?
Photo: Reuters/Eduardo Munoz, via Flickr
In the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating earthquake, countless relief organizations have stepped up to provide immediate aid to the Caribbean nation. Architects and designers are contributing as well, and with good reason: Since much of the damage could have been avoided with strictly enforced building codes or earthquake-proof structures, the architecture community will play a key role in ensuring that this disaster does not happen again.
Currently, Cameron Sinclair and Architecture for Humanity are leading the way in reconstruction planning, wisely eschewing a build-now, plan-later approach in favor of a long-term initiative. You can read AFH’s seven-point reconstruction plan here.
Long-term planning is essential, but so is short-term relief. Here is a look at some of the more immediate initiatives proposed by the architecture and design community. (If you know of any important programs we missed, please leave a comment below or send us an e-mail with the details.)
- Article 25 is a UK based charity organization that believes that all people deserve adequate housing and shelter. It designs and delivers architectural solutions worldwide to those in need. Article 25 vowed to monitor the international response effort to determine the coordination between key agencies to ensure success in the reconstruction of Haiti.
- The USGBC pledged its support to “rescue and rebuild” Haiti. In the past, the organization has worked in similar natural disaster zones in New Orleans and Greensburg and now promises similar long-term assistance. In the meantime for immediate aid, those interested are asked to donate through the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
- Habitat for Humanity is working to address the problem of immediate shelter in Haiti. The organization is removing the rubble of fallen buildings to begin the rebuilding process. Habitat is also working to provide transitional housing for families displaced by the disaster.
- Engineers without Borders is not providing direct relief. But it is rallying support for the cause by seeking out French and/or Creole speaking volunteer engineers to assist in the rebuilding process. Since EWB has several ongoing projects in Haiti, it is also possible to donate through its Web site.
- Partners in Health and the Solar Electric Light Fund are joining forces to bring solar-powered lighting to the temporary hospitals that serve the earthquake survivors.
- In terms of proposed shelter solutions, a research group from Clemson University – SEED – utilizes shipping containers for housing in the time of disaster. The containers can be cut to provide light and windows, and can withstand hurricanes and other natural disasters. SEED chose shipping containers because there are 30 million unused in the world today. The surplus containers can be utilized immediately. SEED is working to make their project a reality in Haiti.
- ShelterBox is a relief organization that immediately responds to disasters by shipping survival boxes to the disaster site. Each is equipped with a tent, tools and supplies to support a family of ten.
For most of the design community, however, the best thing that can be done to help is to raise money for the relief effort. Here is a short list of larger organizations in need of immediate donations: the American Red Cross; UNICEF; Doctors Without Borders; Partners in Health; the William J. Clinton Foundation; the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund; and the Yele Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
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I am a designer/ architect living in NW US in an area known for earthquakes. You can do a “build now” plan later aproach to an extent, however, having been in the design and construction field my entire life, the only way this is a good approach is if you make sure the structures are rebuilt correctly because you will find that if you just through up some structures “temporarliy”, there will never be an time or effort to come back later and fix them. People will get comfortable until the next disater. You can deisgn things that are correct the first time if you put just a little thought into and it won’t take any extra time at all. Don’t make the same mistake twice and try to “build now and plan later”
Comment by Chris Nunnallee — January 21, 2010, @ 6:44 pm
While researching Paolo Soleri and the dome house he built and also uses of styro-foam for building, I came across U-tube and found prefabricated homes made in Japan that are sustainable,energy efficient domes that withstand earthquakes, are inexpensive as they are mainly made up of polystyrene, and can be put up in one hour by only 2 people! What an amazing solutions to Haiti’s disaster!!!!
Comment by Eleni Georgakopoulos — February 2, 2010, @ 10:01 pm
How Schools of Architecture could support Re development in Haiti
The pressing need of the Country of Haiti to engage in the redevelopment of its housing stock is not only urgent but absolutely necessary for the health and welfare of the people of Port au Prince. The term Appropriate Development is used here to refer to development that is not only efficient but is also affordable. If the cost of the solution is too high we risk being unable to respond to the need in terms of the resources available. The collective resources of the government of Haiti, the donations of the world community, and all NGO’s that have stepped forward to respond to the crisis might simply be inadequate if we are attempting to provide solutions using conventional construction and development methods and means.
In a real sense tents that have been provided to the citizens of Haiti are appropriate and efficient. They have been provided by the thousands and provide a method to providing shelter from the elements to hundreds of thousand of individuals and families. It is also clear that tents are a temporary solution and is not an adequate response for the long term housing needs.
How then could we approach this issue with efficacy, efficiency, and in an economical way? Perhaps President Obama could call on the nations’ schools of Architecture to come forward with new approaches to Appropriate Development for this problem. I’m confident that if hundreds of thousands of the smartest minds in this country that are studying architectural and engineering look at this issue with an intent of coming up with a solution that we will have it. We have a clear example of how this has worked through the National program to develop models of Green development through the Solar Decathlon sponsored by the Department of Energy. In this program thousands of colleges entered a competition to design, engineer, conduct R&D, and to build models of homes using Green materials that are practical and energy efficient.
Now combine the housing solution with the development of a Greenfield PUD, and a solution for housing Haiti’s homeless population could be put in place before the rainy season hits the Caribbean.
Comment by Kenneth Kimbrough — February 4, 2010, @ 12:48 am
You missed out what the National Organization of Minority Architects have been doing:
http://www.noma.net/local/NOMA4Haiti.htm
Comment by Atim Annette Oton — February 11, 2010, @ 7:58 pm
Heres what happened at the Oxford Brookes over the past two days:
http://ilikefings.blogspot.com/2010/02/haiti-how-to-shelter.html
it was intended as an educational exercise for survivors in Haiti, and is being made into a PDF or a short film with photographs and footage, and hopefully being sent over the internet to the people that matter. As a first year architecture student it was an eye opener in two ways, it showed me how incredibly fast and simple it is to put up a basic structure that can act as a home, and it also demonstrated how it is possible to make a difference in situations like present without leaving the country, in a slightly different way.
will be posting more photos very shortly, and links to the finished ‘instruction manual’.
Comment by Joe Giddings — February 25, 2010, @ 10:37 pm
What is happening in Haiti reminds many natural disasters that happened in my country (Indonesia). Instructions for emergency response for countries that are in natural disaster-prone zones like Haiti and Indonesia is required. So as to minimize casualties.
Comment by atmomiran — October 22, 2010, @ 7:22 am