Architecture for Humanity Updates and Events

Safe Trestles: Finalists submit designs for public comment

michael jones — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:01:39 -0700

Participate in Safe Trestles People's Choice Awards for Phase 2

Phase 2 of Safe Trestles – an ideas competition that explores ways to create safe, low-impact access to Trestles – is complete. 5 teams were selected from Phase 1 to develop their designs over the summer while working with stakeholders - Architecture for Humanity, Surfrider, and San Onofre Foundation - local agencies, and the community towards low-impact solutions that serve both surfers and visitors to the beach, restore wetlands that have been damaged by the path, preserve and augment vistas, and offer education about the history of the site and the coastal environment.

Lunch and Learn: Haiti Update with Design Fellow Karl Johnson

Sarah Bush — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:16:47 -0700

Design Fellow Karl Johnson recently returned from a three-week site visit in Haiti. While there, he worked with the rebuilding team to assess schools and check out potential sites. At today's Lunch and Learn Karl told us about his trip and showed us images from the ground.

The 'Maison du Architecture,' where the staff and volunteers stay, is situated outside of Port au Prince. It's cozy but missing certain creature comforts, i.e. all clothes washing is done by hand. There’s a goat and plans for an edible garden. Karl then showed us an image of people in Port au Prince selling charcoal. He says there's a deforestation problem in Haiti - one of many problems for which the country is looking for a solution. Hand-painted signs proliferate in Port au Prince. Karl says there's acute attention to detail in the signs, just as there is in the many hand-crafted items around town.

Imogen Heap, Sir Richard Branson and friends go Live for Pakistan

Cameron — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:52:35 -0700

Tomorrow at 8am PST, 11am EST and 4pm GMT join Imogen Heap, Sir Richard Branson and friends online, in a very spontaneous 'get together' with live music and open discussion, as they raise funds to benefit those affected by the recent devastating floods in Pakistan. Architecture for Humanity and our current Pakistan reconstruction efforts has been designated as one of the beneficiary organizations. To date our Karachi chapter has set up 150 tents, distributed 5000 meals and cleaned over 1000 homes.

Hosted by Ze Frank. Intimate musical performances by Imogen Heap, Ben Folds, Amanda Palmer, Josh Groban, Zoe Keating and others. Conversations will include Sir Richard Branson, former Irish Prime Minister Mary Robinson, Mark Pearson and our very own Cameron Sinclair (poss. conference calling in Architecture for Humanity Karachi from a refugee camp in the field)

Haiti Schools Initiative

sandhya — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:36:19 -0700

Nan asosyasyon avèk StudentsRebuild.org (www.studentsrebuild.org) ak lòt patnè finansman lekol la, Achitekti pou imanite ap ofri 1) sèvis konsepsyon ak 2) sipò finansman konstriksyon pou lekòl Ayiti yo ki ap chèche rebati aprè tranbleman tè 12 Janvye, 2010.

En partenariat avec StudentsRebuild.org (www.studentsrebuild.org) et d'autres partenaires de financement des écoles, Architecture pour l’Humanité offre 1) Services de conception et 2) le soutien financier de la construction pour les écoles chercheant à reconstruire après le tremblement de terre du 12 janvier 2010.

In partnership with StudentsRebuild.org (www.studentsrebuild.org) and other school funding partners, Architecture for Humanity is offering design services and construction funding support for Haiti schools seeking to rebuild after the January 12, 2010 earthquake.

Comparing Notes on Drawing Sets in Haiti

karl johnson — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:00:00 -0700

Typically you can describe a simple, two-room school house in maybe two dozen "sheets." These sheets would include drawings and specifications of: site, floor and ceiling plans; interior and exterior elevations; electrical, plumbing and material specs; window and door schedules; SECTIONS; and a suite of details cataloging every material connection in the–achem–joint, and every possible measurement is labeled. These sheets become the explicit instructions so someone can build the whole school.

Give it up for Haitian contractors then for saving trees by fitting all these instructions ON TWO PAGES. That's right, the image above shows the entire drawing set for a two-room school extension–and this is standard practice amongst Haitian contractors.

Chile: Six Months On

Cameron — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:49:23 -0700

Today marks the six month anniversary since the 8.8 earthquake which struck Chile. We are humbled by the ability to be a small part of the recovery effort. Thanks to our partnership with Nike we are funding the building of an community sports, education and technology center in Talca. This project was selected through an open RFP process via our Build Back Better site

In the short-term the center can be used as a shelter for some of the 31,000 displaced residents and transform into community anchor focused on sports, cultural and economical aspects as well as provide a source of income for its financing in time.

Rainwater Court tops out in Mahiga

michael jones — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:22:30 -0700

The team celebrated the topping out of the Mahiga Rainwater Court with a ceremony last week. The project, funded by Nike GameChangers, is one element of the community campus built in Mahiga over the last year by the Nobelity Project. Design Fellow Greg Elsner and the entire construction team signed the top chord of the final truss and secured a Kenyan Flag before lifting the truss into place by way of the 9 meter wooden hoist.

In the final weeks of project, the team works to complete the roof structure, coordinate the construction of the two water storage tanks, installation of UV-filter system, and completion of the landscaping before the opening on October 1.

Rumor has it the Kenyan National Women's Basketball team may be on hand to sink the first hoop - that is if they can make it past Greg's defense. Let's just say - he knows the court well.

Pouring slab in Nakaseeta

satujackson — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:02:13 -0700

Backfilling, hardcore, aggregate, and sand blinding are in place at the Nakaseeta Academy in Uganda. The slab pour is slated for later this week. Design Fellow, Darren Gill and crew have taken a lot of initiative in moving the project forward ... including digging trenches themselves, even breaking a few pick-axes in the process when they hit bedrock unexpectedly. The local community has rallied in support of the project, producing the ISSB bricks among other things.

Seattle Sustainable Industries Economic Forum

Sarah Bush — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:31:33 -0700

Join us for a lively breakfast forum featuring Keynote Speaker Cameron Sinclair, co-founder and 'eternal optimist' at Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crisis and brings professional design services to communities in need. Cameron will join a host of local business leaders presenting industry and economic trends, and Moderator Brian Back, Publisher of Sustainable Industries.

Portland Sustainable Industries Economic Forum

Sarah Bush — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:28:15 -0700

Join us for a lively breakfast forum featuring keynote Speaker Cameron Sinclair, co-founder and 'eternal optimist' at Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crisis and brings professional design services to communities in need. Sinclair will be joined by a host of local business leaders presenting industry and economic trends, and moderator Brian Back, Publisher of Sustainable Industries.