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Sustainable Building in Haiti - Earth Bags

Gidget avatar
Beach Fanatic
861 views1
First off - I didn't know if this was a "current event" or if it should be located elsewhere on forum. So move if needed. Thx

Earthbag Building: Sun House

You must see this page. Building an earth house in Haiti. I wonder if it is still there after earthquake. Let's hope so as it seems very sturdy.

Also, click on "home" to see the other sustainable designs.

Here's a pic of the house -



Check out how it was done when you have a sec.

People doing great things together!! Chandra, you will LOVE it!! :wub:

G

Replies

12
Yarmap avatar
Beach Fanatic
#2
I suspect without diagonal bracing this house is on the ground in rubble if itwas near the heavy shock of the earthquake.:( But I hope not.
Beach Fanatic
#3
Gidget,

Glad you posted this. I've been fascinated with earth bag building for years. There is a variant of it that won an international competition for globally usable/appoproate/affodable emergency/transitional shelter, will look around for that and post here if I can remember the guy's name.
Gidget avatar
Beach FanaticAuthor
#4
I hope not too and thanks Yarmap for taking a sec to look.

G
Gidget avatar
Beach FanaticAuthor
#5
Gidget,

Glad you posted this. I've been fascinated with earth bag building for years. There is a variant of it that won an international competition for globally usable/appoproate/affodable emergency/transitional shelter, will look around for that and post here if I can remember the guy's name.


I thought of you and Chandra when I posted!! It just did my heart good this morning to see it. I've been so stressed with this and that decision about my house - TOO many choices out there. Simple is best. I told my dh just LOOK how proud and happy these people are with their accomplishments.

Did you see the other homes on the site? They were amazing!

Thanks Susan for coming to the thread and chiming in!

G
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#6
I would assume the house is still there because it is well built- from what I was reading, the reason so many structures failed was due to poor quality construction and design - specifically skimping on the amount of cement and reinforcing in the concrete.
John R avatar
needs to get out more
#7
Look who's been building earthbag homes for years, Kaki Hunter of Porky's. OK OK OK Productions
Gidget avatar
Beach FanaticAuthor
#8
Look who's been building earthbag homes for years, Kaki Hunter of Porky's. OK OK OK Productions

John R I don't know Porky's - Local restaurant I guess?

Thanks for the link. Super way cool!!

G
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#9
thanks Gidget. its great to be able see and read about such sustainable building materials and techniques used around the world. thanks to you and several others for taking the time to share.

I sure hope that home is intact!!!
Beach Fanatic
#10
This is very interesting. Any of these houses located near enough to Sowal for a road trip to see them?
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#11
The earthbags are a great alternative to haybale, which had been mentioned as a good earthquake proof design, but which I was concerned about from a water/pest issue.
LuciferSam avatar
Banned
#12
Looks like they'd be good in a flood and could provide cover from gunfire.
Beach Fanatic
#13
Cal-Earth - The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture

Nader Khalili is the architect I mentioned earlier. Lots of info on him and his work at this website. Have often wondered how this material would work here in the humidity -- probably would need some kind of vapor barrier as is used with other masonry construction. Anyone who ever spent a winter in one of the old Seagrove bungalows will know what I mean -- cold, damp, slick floors and nasty black fur growing on the walls because of moisture!

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