Good news for the Haitians who were left without a roof over their heads after the devastating tremor shook Haiti. Andrés Duany, a renowned Miami architect and planner is here with a solution for dealing with the post-quake housing crisis. He has devised a stripped-down, bunkhouse-like structure made of near indestructible, space-age materials that can withstand earthquakes and hurricanes. Dubbed the ‘core house’, this light, expandable temporary dwelling accommodates eight people.
The prefabricated house is made using composite material that the designer calls ‘totally miraculous’. Apart from being fireproof, waterproof and mold-proof, this composite material is thin but does not compromise with strength, durability. Duany believes that without much trouble the houses could be shipped to Haiti in a package less than two-feet thick and could be erected with the help of local laborers in a matter of few hours. A prototype of the Haiti house is being fabricated at a Miami Gardens factory.
The Haiti core house will be rectangular in shape and over eight feet in height, with a floor about eight by 20 feet. The sides of the prefab house will be open and covered with screens to permit air circulation, while a canopy would extend out from the house to provide shade, shelter and space for possible outdoor cooking. In order to give protection from showers, waterproof fabric panels will be lowered to cover the openings. Duany will pay special attention to sanitation and sewage arrangements too.
Via: MiamiHerald