a home for ms betty sustainable housing in the bayous: the lift house initiative fighting the evil...

A home for Ms BettyFighting the evil twins Katrina and Rita

A collaboration

of SIGUS

What did we do?

We explored the context

We explored the issues

We learned building and local practice,

and met families

We designed a concept

We monitored and learned

from the process

We designed and built components

We make information available

to other Ms Bettys

And we go on – further research

for other Ms Bettys



We learned building and local practice,

and met families


We monitored and learned

from the process


We make information available

to other Ms Bettys

And we go on – further research

for other Ms Bettys

A Home for Ms Betty 2

And Ms Betty is pleasedAnd Ms Betty is pleased

– SIGUS



Field Surveys

Hurricane effects

Currenthousing

Traditionalhousing

Bayouculture

– SIGUS



A broad-based student teamtackled the challenge

A broad-based student teamtackled the challenge

Core team of Architecture students, all levels

Core team of Architecture students, all levels

Advanced students as technical ‘advisors’

- environment- structural engineering- lifting technology

Advanced students as technical ‘advisors’

- environment- structural engineering- lifting technology

Outside professionals in support- engineering- construction- environment

Outside professionals in support- engineering- construction- environment

– SIGUS

We learned building and local practice, and met families

A Home for Ms Betty 5– SIGUS

Volunteer Weeks

In Louisiana


Jacob’s house and Don’s house were repaired as we learned

– SIGUS



Ms Betty + Volunteers + Sustainability Wind Flood Environment Culture Flexibility

=

LouisianaLift House

Built on ground with volunteers then lifted

– SIGUS

We were very concerned about cultural sensitivity

A House for Ms Betty 8

“We don’t want it to be weird” “We want flexibility”

Ba

sic

Un

it M

od

ule

24

’--0

”

Ms Betty’s Home

12’-0

str

uctu

ral m

odul

e

– Bayou residents

– SIGUS


We studied and included environmental sustainability elements

DURABILITY-STORM WORTHINESS

ENERGY AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

FRAMING strapping, clipsnailing scheduleroof shaperoof materialframing treatmentadvanced framing

WALL ASSEMBLY exterior rain screenpanel sidinginsulating sheathing

INTERIOR flood tolerate gypsuminterior trimceramic tile floodingsubflooralternative flooring

MINIMIZE SOLAR house orientationSOLAR GAIN overhangs

material colorradiant barrierlow-E windowsshuttersplant shading

VENTILATION natural ventilationfans

INSULATION unfaced insulationAIR FILTRATION chalking

CONSTRUCTION WASTE REUSE

HVAC SYSTEMS – SIGUS


We monitored and learned from the process

– SIGUS


All construction phases were studied and documented.

– SIGUS



A Design-Build International Workshop in Louisiana

Sweat! Design! Build!

• Washing area for volunteer village• Trellis walkway for volunteer village• Replanning of site• Storm Shutter design for Gulf Coast housing

Four projects:

– SIGUS


Wash area with recycled materials

Plants for coolingwithout wind risk

We built

and ‘in action’

– SIGUS


Shade and site planning

Affordablestorm shutters for the Gulf Coast

Site rearra

nged

and walkway gardens

planted

Adopted by

local build

ers

– SIGUS

We make information available to other Ms Bettys and supporters


“BUILDING UP ON THE BAYOUS”A guide for building on the hurricane Gulf Coast for community groups and homeowners

Contents:Getting StartedChoosing the House DesignWorking with VolunteersManaging the ConstructionCelebration and ReflectionReaching the DIY buildersSelected Resources

– SIGUS


Format designed for dual poster and report use

– SIGUS

And Ms Betty is pleased!

From an idea –

and sweet beginnings:

Building the base

Up it goes! Starting framing – Covered

A permit –

And it begins! A site –

Almost there –


And Lift Off!

Her home is finished!

– SIGUS


Many Lift Houses planned - six completed! One is underway

We will assist in an outreach program in a ‘see-learn-do’ approach.

The evil twins Katrina and Rita have lost?

– SIGUS

And now the Lift House plans are available for all:- tested- proven- affordable

- SAFE!


and even Gustav couldn’t stop them…

And we go on – further research for other Ms Bettys

Increasing Code Compliance to Upgrade Housing Quality

The Program:

Preparation of ‘user friendly’ aids to clarify process: Posters, leaflets, multi-media guides

Review of process and brainstorm with officials to streamline approach and accessibility:Combine steps. Better user access: location, times, mobile office? Lower fees?


And we go onAnd we go on

Outreach to the Outreach to the ‘‘Little NicksLittle Nicks’’ The Informal DIYThe Informal DIY’’ersers

How can we future How can we future architects help the vast architects help the vast number of people who build number of people who build by themselves?by themselves?

Most lower income build informally. Most lower income build informally. Recent imposition of building codes, with Recent imposition of building codes, with increased requirements and costs will multiply increased requirements and costs will multiply informal building.informal building.

Most lower income build informally. Most lower income build informally. Recent imposition of building codes, with Recent imposition of building codes, with increased requirements and costs will multiply increased requirements and costs will multiply informal building.informal building.

1 - What five things do we tell informal builders 1 - What five things do we tell informal builders that must be done to improve survivability of that must be done to improve survivability of hurricanes?hurricanes?2 - How do we reach 2 - How do we reach ‘‘Little NicksLittle Nicks’’ - how do we - how do we communicate?communicate?

1 - What five things do we tell informal builders 1 - What five things do we tell informal builders that must be done to improve survivability of that must be done to improve survivability of hurricanes?hurricanes?2 - How do we reach 2 - How do we reach ‘‘Little NicksLittle Nicks’’ - how do we - how do we communicate?communicate?

The research questions:The research questions:

It is the It is the cajun waycajun way - build your own house! - build your own house!


– SIGUS

And now to think about a Community of Lift Houses…

“Villages on the First Floor”

“A rethinking of what it means - and what form it would take - when living in a world of Lift Houses”

“A rethinking of what it means - and what form it would take - when living in a world of Lift Houses”


SIGUS

Special Interest Group in Urban Settlementweb.mit.edu/sigus [email protected]

Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySchool of Architecture and Planning

September 2008

Sustainable Housing on the Bayous

A TRAC-Oxfam American-SIGUS/MIT collaboration. This project is a part of an initiative to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricanes

Rita and Katrina on the bayous of southern Louisiana, and to protect against future hurricane challenges. A broad range of

interventions are considered: rebuilding and repair, outreach and training, and regulatory processes, for the formal and informal

construction sectors.

www.oxfamamerica.org/gulfcoast

www.trac4la.com

Oxfam America

Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition

a home for ms betty sustainable housing in the bayous: the lift house initiative fighting the evil...

Documents

betty slide

ms bettys home

ms betty sustainable

process sigus slide

pleased sigus slide

collaboration of sigus

resources sigus slide

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