THE $300 HOUSE PROJECT

Daniel Aabak Lauren Cales Jesse Knapper David Laskowski Julie Luu

TABLE OF CONTENTS

introduction

the home final design

research community needs

summary

07

41 59

15 27

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Introduction

A natural disaster can have devastating effects on the people living there. The consequences and suffering is even more prolonged when it is an underdeveloped country with limited resources. This situation is very clear in looking at the earthquake that rocked the country of Haiti in 2010.

Thousands of Haitians are still in make shift shelters, and many are fully relying on handouts. Our goal with this project is to provide these people and others in similar situations, a means of getting back on their feet and providing for themselves. We are Victus, the Latin term for living/ way of life. We strive to build a $300 house with our knowledge of design.

What is the problem?

Source (Jermey Cowart)

When a disaster strikes, the housing being provided to displaced people ends up dissembled and re-used for unsafe shelters.

A disaster can happen anywhere and to anyone. There are families that have lost everything in a disaster and needs a semi-permanent housing to rebuild the community.

Our Mission

Funded by relief organizations, we will utilize new technologies and sustainable materials to design a $300 house for developing countries.

Research

In our research phase, we started with compiling all the aspects of different housing situations that are being implemented in developing countries. Along with searching for an appropriate design solution, we will utilize new technology and look into sustainable materials for our community and house. Throughout the research phase, we also wanted to connect ourselves with the individual stories and do our best to re-live their experiences. These people have been given many handouts that are inappropriate or irrelevant to their lives. We want to provide an appropriate solution that they will fully utilize.

16 The $300 House Project

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake struck Haiti.

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One and a half million people are living in camps. 100,000 are at critical risk from storms and flooding.

18 The $300 House Project

Haiti Earthquake

Haiti 01.10.10

2,000,000 homeless3,000,000 homes destroyed1,300,000 living in tent cities

1,000,000 homeless3,600 died from diseases70% living on less than $2 a day

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Source (United Nations Development Programme)

20 The $300 House Project

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On the morning of January 12, 2010; this family was torn apart by large barriers of

concrete as their house split in half and the buildings crumpled around them making a

near impossible escape for the family. Stuck below the rubble layed Benoit’s father and

younger sister. To save them, he jumped into the rubble, only to catch his foot and be sent

tumbling down the rubble with his foot left long behind him.

After doctor’s saved his life, and Benoit’s mother was reunited with him, the broken fam-

ily was given a tent, located at Petionville, to live in while things were to be figured out in

the city. After six months, the family decided to share their frustrations with Frontline for a

new documentary on the current reconstruction progress in Haiti.

The family has a hard time reconnecting and being able to mourn for their loss when they

are left without a home, and are struggling to get through their day to day lives.

22 The $300 House Project

The earthquake practically destroyed the whole city

of Port Au Prince including businesses, homes and

prisons. An estimated 5,000 prisoners escaped from

the broken prisons after the earthquake, fleeing to a

quick freedom.

Now, a daily effort is made to track down all escaped

prisoners and bring them to a new make-shift

prison, all on a wanted list created from memory.

In the meantime, gang members rule back out on

the streets creating havok and clamor for all living in

the tent cities.

5,000

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24 The $300 House Project

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non-government organizations arecurrently working to restore Haiti,but ultimately may be keep a wholecountry one step back.43

Community Needs

While a house was our primary concern in starting this project, we realized a community is just as important. These people and others in similar situations need more than a house to grow and establish themselves. By providing a school, garden, and other elements, these people have a much stronger foundation to build off and grow as a connected community.

28 The $300 House Project

To utilize natural resources and new technologies

we looked heavily to solar power as a means to run

our community. Solar power can be generated and

used in a variety of manners. We found it useful in

providing energy, lighting, and clean water. A solar

water pasteurizer would be an investment for a large

community. These are easy to install, operate, and

come with a wood burning back up option. After

installation, these disinfect water for less than $.00125

per liter. We found solar lamps as an affordable

replacement to kerosene lamps, and large solar lamps

would be effective in lighting the community to cut

down on crime.

Solar Energy

The Haitians use cell phones, lap tops, and other

devices that require constant charging. For this

problem, we found a solar powered locker room,

where devices could be locked up and charged. Solar

cookers can be made with supplies available, and wood

gasification stoves can be built and ran off rechargeable

batteries. Another means of generating power is

through harnessing the energy omitted from children’s

playground equipment.

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$300 house

food

commercematerials

This triad shows how the elements of our community

plan would interact and allow for the people to

go from a centralized infrastructure to a localized

infrastructure. By providing a house and community

plan, the people could then grow their own food, get

jobs, and bring money back into their community.

THE COMMUNITYCommunity plan for the $300 house project

water center

lampsshower

house

schoolgarden

emergency

central house

playground

cooking

bathroom energy center

KEY

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The community structure implemented for many

of Haiti’s displaced insufficiently provides for their

safety, and their chances to recover. The long rows

of makeshift houses remind us of internment camps

and prisons. By organizing the houses into smaller

communities, these families will inevitably grow closer,

and will be constantly looking out for each other.

The Community

The smaller communities will all each have their

own shower, rest room, and garden. These smaller

communities will encircle a schoolhouse, energy center,

water station, hospital, and community house. By

providing education, gardens, and energy, the people

will have a better chance of not needing to rely on

outside governmental support.

34 The $300 House Project

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water center

lampsshower

house

schoolgarden

emergency

central house

playground

cooking

bathroom energy center

KEY

36 The $300 House Project

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After finding a deep understanding of the needs and

wants of Haitian Citizens, it became clear the need was

for an efficient community instead of solely an efficient

use of space. The Diagram to the right shows the space

being taken up for the housing verses a better way to

set up the homes within the community.

Building Community vs. Pure Efficiency

38 The $300 House Project

Current Layout in Haiti

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Concept Layout

The Home

In designing our house there were a number of goals we had in mind. We wanted the house to be durable enough to last for at least three years. Durability is a problem with much of the relief shelters currently provided. With an average family size of seven in Haiti, we wanted the house to be large enough to comfortably sleep a family of six. We lastly wanted it to be raised to protect from flooding, and have adequate lighting for day and night.

NEED: a strong, reliable,community-evoking structure

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SOLUTION: the hexayurt

44 The $300 House Project

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The family size in Haiti is typically larger than

the normal family size found in the United States of

America. Since the earthquake created many broken

families, creating a house with a designated number

of people to fill it, did not seem like a tailored solution.

Through paper proto-typing, it’s clear that two

grouping homes can easily become one through

the implementation of connecting walls. When homes

group together in a circular fashion, a community

center forms in the middle, creating a space for

many people to reconnect, cook and reform their

shooken lives.

Paper Prototyping

46 The $300 House Project

Walls can collapse, transforming

2 homes into 1

Community center gives

a safe sanctuary and

a place to reconnect.

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48 The $300 House Project

Cholera and other water born diseases

is a large fear in the lives of every

Haitian. Through implementation of a

water collection system, gray water can

be used to daily activities, saving the

amount of clean drinking water.

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A framework adds stability, ease

of construction and a way to lift

the structure from the ground in

the rainy season.

50 The $300 House Project

Small initial conceptsshowing the groupingoptions for each home.

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Exploration of a watercapture system for eachhome to spare drinkingwater from daily duties.

Refined prototype with

correct proportions and

supporting framework.

Half Scale Construction

4.5’4’

3’

8’

2.5’

Half scale house

roof

Floor framework

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total cost

$150

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Full Scale Concept

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9’8’

5’

16’

5’

Full Scale

roof and floor same frame and peices frame work

Full Scale Construction

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total cost

$300

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Final Design Concept

The final design of the house will have a tarp to keep the structure waterproof. For security reasons, it will also have a window that can only be opened from the inside. If insulation is necessary, the people can utilize local materials such as rice hull. This house will fit up to 6 people, each will have a hammock as bedding that can be put up and stored during the

day for more space.

We plan that the house will have solar light source,

hammocks as bedding, along with secured doors and

windows. The house will be elevated to help prevent

flooding, and increase it’s lifespan. These houses will

be laid out as shown in the community plan. This

design strategy should allow for the Haitians to make a

successful recovery.

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rice hull insulation

elevation

hammock

bamboo frame

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64 The $300 House Project

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Summary

This project opened our eyes to the grave scenario families across the globe face when a disaster occurs. These people need help to get back on their feet, and monetary donations and standard relief aid, are typically only temporary solutions. After conducting research, we knew our outcome should provide a family with not only a house, but also a community for them to build on. Our house design is durable, affordable, and very effective for a community plan.