Habitat for Humanity Core houses for Haiti

[liberal N proud]

Earthquake-resistant design
Core houses are designed with earthquake-resistant features that work as a whole system to resist damage in the event of another earthquake. These structural features include:


•Walls with embedded steel bars.
All cells surrounding doors and windows will contain embedded steel bars. Additionally, each wall will have a horizontal steel bar for every two layers of blocks. The steel bars will absorb the shear stress of an earthquake.
A portion of the walls will be constructed with concrete blocks. Other materials used may include pre-fabricated micro concrete panels, interlocking blocks and compressed earth block.
•Reinforced concrete footings, columns and a bond (ring) beam which tie the concrete block walls together.
The bond beam absorbs and resists the horizontal forces of an earthquake―transmitting these forces to the columns, footings and eventually to the ground. Additionally, the columns are designed to resist and absorb bending movements.
•Properly supported, light roof structure.
Our core house design uses a light roof structure and roof cover, in addition to a proper structural system.

Video here: illegal codepoptastic('http://www.habitat.org/videogallery/FlaVideo/VidPlayer640x480.aspx?video=Haiti_CoreHouse.f4v');


Small, but well-constructed and durable, permanent structures that provide adequate living space and sanitation facilities for the average Haitian family of five.

http://www.habitat.org/disaster/active_programs/Core_houses.aspx?tr=y&auid=5989303

[BrklynLiberal]

1. A good start....I am curious about the out house instead of indoor plumbing.

[liberal N proud]

3. I was wondering the same

Are they traditional out houses or will they be connected to sewers? What is the local culture?

Maybe they are more concerned about getting shelter than sewers.

[aquart]

2. What's the procedure for adding a room?

I knew these guys were the ones to donate to.

[liberal N proud]

4. Watching the video it looked like they just doubled the house

Enlarged house looks like a typical gable roof but in reality is two sloped roofs joined.

[malaise]

5. Nice

Thanks Jimmy Carter

[madmax]

6. I can't seem to find the

demensions of this home. Hard to judge from the picture, just seems a little small for a family of 5.

It's a start and it's safer than a tent.

[slipslidingaway]

7. knr thanks nt

[slampoet]

8. This is only good if it is hurricane proof too. Haiti has storms but very few earthquakes.

Those trying to sell this as an earthquake proof home are probably trying to sell it on the latest disaster which is understandable but the fact is that Haiti has had Dozens of hurricanes in the last 200 years but only two large earthquakes during that same time period.

[cutlassmama]

13. They have massive storms, perhaps these are storm proof too?

[Bluebear]

9. A cute lil cottage, but indoor facilities would be nice!

[zalinda]

12. I would guess that they don't have

a water and sewer system, and it would be too expensive to do it at this time. The thrust of the project is to get these people shelter.

zalinda

[proteus_lives]

10. I've written several articles on Habitat for Humanity.

Great people.

[Bluebear]

11. $4000 per unit . . . DU?