Architecture for Humanity Updates and Events

Haiti School Assessments

karl johnson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:56:46 -0700

Yves, one of our architects on our Haiti team recently paid a visit to Cité Soleil–an extremely impoverished neighborhood of Port-au-Prince–to evaluate the conditions of schools affected by the quake. Of the three schools inspected, two have suffered some damage but can be restored, while a third was found to be extremely hazardous and must be demolished.

Let us remember that more than 4000 classrooms have been destroyed by this tragic earthquake. To allow the future leaders of Haiti the best opportunity to perform it is vital to build educational facilities safe, sustainable and efficient structures.

Haiti Quake Appeal: StudentsRebuild

kstohr — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:53:43 -0700

It's official. StudentsRebuild has launched. We're very excited to be partnering with the Bezos Family Foundation and Global Nomads Group to inspire students to support and follow the long-term recovery effort in Haiti. We'll be working with middle and high school students over the coming years. Know a smart kid?

Haiti Quake: Rebuilding teams on the ground.

kstohr — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:32:00 -0800

Our program management team is currently on the ground in Haiti. It includes two regional program managers. One with considerable post-disaster experience and the other a locally licensed architect. Rounding out the team is a Haitian-American architect and over time they will be joined by two to three design fellows.

The team is meeting up with our on the ground partners and setting up our long term offices. If you are interested in meeting with the team, please contact us at our headquarters in San Francisco and ask for Frederika Zipp.

Additionally we are working with Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group on increasing structural engineering assessments (and training) and mason training programs for reconstruction. In early March we should have french and creole versions of our Rebuilding 101 manual and earthquake resistant housing guides in the field.

Haiti Quake Appeal: Immediate Needs

kstohr — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:17:26 -0700

Currently our field team are looking to fill the following immediate needs urgently. If you can help, please email:

haitivolunteer(@)architectureforhumanity(dot)org

1) Diesel SUV (any brand, Toyota easist to repair and maintain in Haiti)
2) Creole/French Speaking Design Fellows. Please see the design fellow opportunity This is a great opportunity to give back and be a part of the long-term recovery effort.
2) Structural Engineers (on-going). Please sign up to volunteer if you are interested.
3) House Share: We're considering renting house if you are working in the area and want to share accomodation please contact us. We can let you know what the rates would be. Email: haitivolunteer(@)architectureforhumanity(dot)org

Want to get updates on the work in Haiti? Email: haitivolunteer(@)architectureforhumanity(dot)org

That's all for now.

Pioneer Design Awards IIDA 2010

Melody Mason — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:46:04 -0700

2010 HONOR AWARDS & PIONEERS IN DESIGN

Fox Theater, Oakland
This year's Pioneers in Design Award Winners: Architecture for Humanity

Ticket prices: IIDA Members: $50, Non-Members: $75, Students: $25.
Purchase your tickets at the door or online through March 23 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100757

Haiti: Recent Articles from the Ground

karl johnson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:46:32 -0700

As our Haiti team wraps their initial tasks in Port-au-Prince, other reports from the ground continue to detail a picture of current conditions. We've collected here a few recent articles on Haiti–links to the Seattle Times, Inter Press Service (a non-profit global newswire out of Rome), and Haiti en March (brief articles in French discussing resettlement and structural inspections).

2 months after Haiti quake, housing still elusive. Ben Fox & Jonathan M. Katz, AP. Seattle Times, 12 March 2010.

HAITI: Earthquake Epicentre Copes with Aftermath. Garry Pierre-Pierre. Port-au-Prince: Inter Press Service, 1 March 2010.

HAITI: Universities Feel Strain After Earthquake. Garry Pierre-Pierre. Port-au-Prince: Inter Press Service, 1 February 2010.

(Two more after break)

Homeless World Cup Legacy Architect Team Announced

michael jones — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:58:03 -0800

Architecture for Humanity, Homeless World Cup, Instituto Bola Pra Frente, and Nike are proud to announce the winners of the Request for Proposals for the Homeless World Cup Legacy Youth and Women's Leadership Center in Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Winner and Design Fellow will be working with community partners Bola Pra Frente and OCAS, and the Santa Cruz community to finalize the design for both Phase One and Phase Two for the Santa Cruz Center in the coming weeks.

Finalists will receive one of the recently unveiled 2010 Brazil National Team Jerseys – made from 13 million recycled plastic bottles. Honorable Mentions will receive one Nike Corinthians Jersey.

Congratulations to all the entrants for your inspiring work and contribution to the greater dialogue of the Homeless World Cup Legacy.

Night of 140 Tweets: A Benefit for Haiti

Mike McCaffrey — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:41:00 -0800

What can you say in 140 characters?

Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel welcomed 140 Twitter-ers from the world of comedy, music, sports, and entertainment to the Upright Citizens Brigade stage to each perform a signature tweets in front of a live audience.

140 performers, one night only, one cause - build schools in Haiti

Now you can pre-order the video or DVD on Amazon and very soon get it on itunes.

The Cost of Inflation in Haiti

karl johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:51:28 -0800

Our Haiti team has sent us some benchmarking pricing. Haiti has been suffering from inflation for the past several years but the Jan 12 earthquake has exacerbated the situation.

These figures not only reflect the economic seclusion from–despite its proximity to–the United States, but also show how food aid is influencing the cost of some products and not others. Bread costs $1.25, half what it would cost in the United States, while milk, popular cereals and construction materials fetch 2-3 times their price in the United States. Following are observed Haitian vs Californian prices for select goods:

Food and material prices, Haiti and United States (in $US)

Supplies–Haiti/United States

Gallon of water–$1.25/$0.88
Gallon of milk–$12.00/$3.75
Loaf of bread (20oz)–$1.25/$2.50
One dozen eggs–$4.00/$3.19

Haiti Quake: Children in Limbo in the wake of school destruction

kstohr — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:29:22 -0800

Haitian children are languishing in camps or working in menial jobs because thousands of schools in and around Port-au-Prince, the devastated capital, could remain closed for months or never reopen. Markeny Saint Valin, 10, with his grandmother, Luciene St. Louis, washing clothes in Port-au-Prince.

News Article: Among the Ruins, Education Is Also Lost

Photo: Lynsey Addaro for The New York Times