[Cob] Haiti COB

[Rob Hayes]

Damon,
Since there are many folks with a mission to deliver medical supplies and perform some of the building and reconstruction efforts in Haiti lately, it's a good chance to use some of those shipping containers which will end up there.
I was thinking of how two of those containers could be the support for a larger Nez-style acrylic concrete roof.  
https://ceaemgmt.colorado.edu/mc-edc/pdf/Acrylic%20Concrete%20Roofs.pdf
http://ceae.colorado.edu/mc-edc/?ii=AST%20Research%20:%20Acrylic%20Roofs
Does anyone here have some IMAGES of such a structure or some PUBLIC DOMAIN working drawings?  Please send links.
One container full of supplies leaves here in PA for Miami soon and it's enroute to Gonaive, Haiti.  I think that some EWB folks are there already.  Parlez-vous creole?  
I hope that enough fiberglass screen is in that container for several more roofs.
Cob and urbanite infill walls can come later as things settle down.   Hopefully before the next mud season.  There's lots to do.
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I determined that my posture, within
the community and before life, should be that of, in a humble way,
taking sides. I decided this when I saw so many honorable misfortunes,
lone victories and splendid defeats. In the midst of the arena of the
Americas’ struggles, I saw that my human task was none other then to
join the extensive forces of the organized masses of the people, to
join with life and soul, with suffering and hope, because it is only
from this great popular stream that the necessary changes can arise.
Pablo Neruda
"Towards the Splendid City" - 1971 Nobel Lecture


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Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:08:18 -0500
From: Damon Howell <dhowell at pickensprogress.com>
Subject: Re: [Cob] COB:  (a bit off colour) Haiti COB and Mixing
To: coblist at deatech.com
Message-ID: <99E2545F-27FA-4FB4-A409-C838AAF9AF7D at pickensprogress.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Katherine,
    That is a very GOOD point you made about alternative builders  
trotting down there to show the survivors in Haiti how to build their  
homes back "cheap." I had the same thought when it came to Katrina  
disasterees. Building with mud may not be as convenient as moving a  
lot of trailers in, but it is definitely cost efficient. But, oh  
yeah, our government doesn't care how much money it takes to rebuild  
a city/country because it's American taxpayer money. It's Haiti!!!  
They are the poorest country in the world! Why would they need/want a  
$200,000 American home? Just as you said, our "expert" builders will  
not build an "outhouse" but instead ask our (American) government for  
more money to establish infrastructure to support indoor running  
water all over the island. They (the Haitians) don't even know what  
that is! Most islanders, I bet, use the rain catchment systems  
instead of a municipal water source. As a taxpayer, I don't want to  
rebuild Haiti because the crooks, thieves, and power mongers down  
there will just tear it down anyway. Geez! Many of us Americans build  
with cob because we're too poor to build and operate a conventional  
house. Are we gonna build them houses with climate control and power  
outlets? Yes. Why? They don't have electricity! I say show them how  
to build 24' circular mud huts like they do in Africa and be done  
with it.

Damon in GA, USA




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