EVENTS, PAST AND FUTURE
We heard about two recent events, PechaKucha for Haiti, and a karaoke fundraiser for Haiti.
At PechaKucha for Haiti, we heard several interesting presentations, including one from a group at MIT that is helping people in squatter villages map their own communities using cameras attached to balloons. This helps the residents claim the space they are living in, and we are thinking about using this in the Kenya project (read on for more on that!).
Karaoke for Haiti was a big success! We had a great turnout, raised $1000 through a fun and whacky raffle, and got some incriminating video to boot.
Our next event, May 1, is the annual 5k fundraiser. The BSA and Sasaki are going to be our main sponsors, and we still welcome additional sponsors.
We still need a t-shirt design! Please bring your brilliant ideas to the next meeting (April 8), or else we will be seeing the star design from the first two races again.
We also need help getting food donations so we can feed the runners and volunteers.
Entertainment at the event will be provided by the Woodrow Wilsons, a local band.
COMPETITIONS
USGBC – Natural Talent: We have a group signed up as a student team.
PROJECTS
Upward Bound Project: Erica Pernell of Upward Bound at UMass Boston is looking for interns to work with Upward Bound and the United Neighbors of Lower Roxbury. Interns need to be 18-25 years old and interested in youth leadership and gardening. There is a small stipend and a $1000 educational grant at the end of the internship. Erica can be reached at erica.pernell AT umb DOT edu.
We also need a space to do the geodesic dome construction. The dome will be 12 feet in diameter, so the space needs to allow that. Outdoor is fine, but we also need a secure indoor space to store materials for a few days while the build is happening. A few possible options were discussed, but if you have a suggestion, please email it to: info AT afhb DOT org.
We're looking at the dome (built from bamboo and wire ties) as a design that may work for Haiti. Bamboo is grown there to help with erosion problems, but we've also heard that it can be invasive. At any rate, it will be a fun and interesting project, whether we use bamboo or another cheap raw material for the struts.
Kenya – Kipsongo Housing: We are working with the Ambassadors for Sustained Health to develop a sustainable housing model for the Kipsongo slums near Kitale, Kenya. The model should address local building methods and available resources so that the residents can replicate it with little or no cost. The ideal model would have no cost, considering that the Kipsongo residents are extremely poor. They are looking for a good map at a cheap price of the area, but in the meantime, developing our own base on the information we have gathered, and we are going to connect with the MIT aerial mapping group. We are also looking into Kitale's waste building materials and low-cost alternative building methods. We hope to do a site visit in August.
The project team is currently in the site research phase and scheduled to meet on March 24th at Wentworth Institute of Technology. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Sia Herr at: sia.her24 AT gmail DOT com.
90 Windsor Street Community Center: We have very exciting news on this project! The team is putting the final touches on the book, which will be used for fundraising. The project is also going to be submitted to the NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) competition, and at the end of this month, members of the team are going to the Structures for Inclusion conference at Howard University.
Another possible construction method for Haiti: We heard from a local builder about a method using large foam sheets and sprayed-on concrete. Some houses using the method have already been built in Haiti (also Arizona, Hawaii, and Mexico), but none – yet! – in the Boston area. There are lots of pictures at the company website.
The foam is EPS, styrofoam like you see in coffee cups, and the concrete is regular concrete plus a special polymer which keeps moisture out. This type of foam is also used in shipping containers, as filler so things don't rattle around during transit (so there may be unwanted foam just lying around in port areas?). The concrete is sprayed on 1/4-1/2 inch thick on walls, and 1/2 inch on the roof. Roof spans can go up to 100 feet! It is a quick method – the foam is glued together, and held to the foundation with rebar – and inexpensive. A 400s.f. house in Mexico was built for $2500. The interior of the structure can be finished with plaster. It is also sturdy – the construction has survived 400mph winds in wind tunnels, and has passed all ICC ratings.
This might also be useful for the Guatemala project, the roof in particular, as that part of the structure has not been easy to work out with the materials they are using.
AIAS – Accessibility Project: We may be working with the AIAS on a project with the Carter School. They want an accessible pool; when the weather get a little nicer, we are planning on doing a tour.
Other projects: We didn't have any news to report on Long Way Home or Nyaya, and little on Tanzania. One of our members has done some research on Tanzania, but we need to know more about the precise site, which hasn't been chosen yet, before we can proceed further.
OTHER THINGS
Build Boston workshop: Build Boston is coming up! In November. But we need a proposal for our workshop really soon! By March 19. Perhaps we will demonstrate how to build a geodesic dome? Send other ideas to mike AT afhb DOT org.
Not a meeting note, but a request from the person responsible for the website: Please send me pictures! And correction/additions, more information on projects, etc. Email me at: cat AT aq DOT org. Thanks!
