Photo courtesy of current.com
Today I want to talk about the different ideas architects and developers have for rebuilding Haiti, but first a change to Chicago Elevated: I’m going to post on the blog on Mondays and Thursdays from here on out. A Million Times will still happen, but just once a month on the last Thursday of the month. Oh yes, it’s very confusing but honestly, I need and want to spend more time on my actual business. Writing this blog is a joy for me but I’m finding that I need to give more mind space to the actual tours right now, especially with spring coming up and new tours….anyway, so Mondays and Thursdays you will see posts from me, I hope you’ll come and check them out! Yes! Okay, so:
I’m finding that I’m quite interested in people’s ideas for rebuilding in Haiti. I think it’s partly because of how Chicago was rebuilt after the Fire, partly possible by balloon frame housing. And I like all the different thoughts and hearing about people’s crazy ideas for getting these people some shelter. Hurricane Season starts for them on June 1st. So it is imperative that Haiti moves quickly to get it’s citizens in some kind of housing.
Andre Duany, who helped design the Katrina Cottage, has an idea. He wants to build a Haitian House. It’s a small bunker that could sleep 8 and is water-proof, fire-proof and mold-proof. Seems Duany needs to think more on bathrooms and the slope of the ground – his own words.
The Clemson School of Architecture is getting some press with their SEED Shipping Containers. It’s pretty crazy. And still, this is no help with bathrooms and sewers and all that noise.
This Live Architecture Network is having a whole workshop weekend on creating sustainable structure for Haiti. That looks neat. If I were a different person, I would totally go to that.
This modular house can withstand strong winds and at least goes a step further than a storage unit, but says nothing about bathrooms, etc.
Seems like no one I can find has a real answer, especially to the bathroom question. They should make it a huge design competition and get the worlds greatest architects on this, time is running out.
O'Hare Arpt., IL