According to the Miami Herald, architect Andrés Duany has created a temporary house -- referred to as the "core-house" -- that can be made of a strong, composite material and flat pack shipped to Haiti. The prefab houses sleep eight, if arranged with the bunk beds, and can expand with additional core units. Duany believes they could be built affordably in order to provide a temporary shelter from the elements and rain. (to find out more..)
image & passage from: http://www.jetsongreen.com/2010/01/strong-flat-pack-prefabs-for-haiti.html
midori mizu
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The HaitiHouse™ division of our company, Harbor Homes LLC, (http://www.haitihouse.org) is the creator of the HaitiHouse™ FlatPackHome™, the FlatPackQuad™, the cargo2™ container series of bunkhouses, showers, kitchens, laundry, and office units, FEMA approved travel trailers, park models, mobile homes and support facilities for use as temporary AND permanent shelters.
We are already manufacturing a home that folds out in 15 minutes, packs down to less than 10 inches and fits 16 to a single cargo container. The HaitiHouse™ FlatPackHome™ is 7’6”x18’9” long comparable to the creation pictured. We also manufacture a larger version, and an entire FlatPackQuad™ line which creates private interior courtyard spaces for residents. Our unique FlatPackHome™ is engineer certified to withstand 130 mile an hour winds and has a Seismic D rating. People are safer in such structures. The entire integrated raised floor frame sits on the ground with clearance for water to pass through but it does not have to be set up on blocks as the shelter in the photo you show. Plus, the HaitiHouse™ FlatPackHome™ is already rated for 30-year use, is fireproof, waterproof and impervious to insects and rot. You can a time lapse video of the house being assembled with a wrench and a ladder by a few men in 15 minutes from placement on the ground at www.youtube.com/haitihouseorg1... MORE POSTED AT THE LINK BELOW.
The full text of our notes can be found posted on our website at:
http://www.haitihouse.org/252010duany-shelter-fails.html
While we admire Mr. Duany, we feel this is more an industrial manufacturing challenge, not an architectural one. Frankly, his creation looks like a cross between an open bus stop and a prison camp barracks.
Thanks for the detailed informations HaitiHouseOrg. It is very surprising to me that it's manufactured to a 30-year usage life. Not many would endure living in it for that length of time so governments may later recollect and store them away to serve the region for occasions in the future that require them. Or they could turn into materials for interior fittings or furnitures for the people immediately following the reconstruction of the city. Either way looks fine.
On the other hand, I do agree with you. The project is highly commendable as a relief effort, yet it should be noted that it's an issue of manufacturing technology. It's not even valid to be a building, more like the same type with mobile toilets units.
However, contrasting to many (Many) other 'architectural proposals', I respect Mr.Duany & his team for how straightforward and necessary their creation is, nothing redundant, nothing about exploiting the chance for self-satisfying designs
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