IN THE US? TEXT TO BUILD: AFHBUILD to 85944
It has been devastating to watch the waters rise and sweep away whole villages in Pakistan. With over 20 Million people affected the question is not should we respond but how? While we have been heavily involved in the rebuilding in Haiti, thanks to our local Karachi chapter, we have the capacity to respond to the post-flood regions of Pakistan. They will be our lead team for the reconstruction work ahead.
It is our mission to make sure that we are building back better but also in a sustainable manner, not just environmentally but economically too. Below is our three point plan that will evolve as funding becomes available.
Our Plan For Sustainable Reconstruction
1) Support and empower local rebuilding efforts
By working with our Karachi Chapter we can ensure that local design professionals are supported on the rebuilding effort. This month the team has been collaborating with Karachi Relief Trust on housing prototypes for areas affected in the North and South of the country. Currently they are developing a long term plan for self help reconstruction and rehabilitation in three villages.
Already they put up 150 tents, distributed 5000 meals a day and helped assist on the cleaning and fumigation of homes for more than 1000 families. On Tuesday August 31st, during the Live4Pakistan event, they will be erecting 20 water stations that will provide 10,000 liters of clean drinking water.
This weekend the team travels North to continue clean-up program and get people back into there homes where possible.
Architecture for Humanity Housing Prototype for Karachi Relief Trust
2) Support Historic Preservation
Architecture for Humanity and Heritage Foundation founder Yasmeen Lari have had a long standing relationship. We first connected after the Kashmir earthquake and continue to collaborate on projects, most recently school building.
They are working in the swat valley to support housing for 500 families using a simple and traditional building methodology to build incremental housing. A basic home is constructed and through technology transfer the family can implement additional rooms as needs. These shelters are 190 square feet, made from bamboo with dhijji cross bracing and cost approx $400 (the cost of a UN tent). The engineers on the building are Amin Tariq Associates.
Same price. UN Tent or sustainable incremental housing?
3) Update and distribute our disaster resistant housing manual
After the Kashmir earthquake we helped to develop a post disaster housing manual, with a focus on natural building materials. This was distributed on the ground and used for self help building.
The manual was adapted for the 2010 Haiti earthquake and we are looking to re-adapt it for the regions affected by the floods. We will work with a number of natural building experts to make sure basic housing incorporates the latest appropriate construction technologies and materials.
