Haiti Rebuild

Comment

Comment by Benson on February 25, 2010 at 8:35am

Hello Haiti Rebuild Group! We’re Second and third-year drafting students at Fort Lauderdale High School and we’re interested in helping out with the Haiti relief effort.

Right Now were in the process of designing a small, single-family home that can be fitted with. We’ve already planned out a water collection system for the roof of the house and where solar panels can be used for electricity. If this group could give us any tips or insight on what types of structures, foundations, materials, roofs, etc, that can work well for earthquake and hurricane resistant housing, it would be greatly appreciated. Any other suggestions’ would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks and we’ll keep you guys updated.
The FLHS A-Team

Comment by AFH miami on February 8, 2010 at 9:19am

Haiti/AFH Miami
Project #1: House <$1K
Deadline: February 21st @11:59pm

Here are the directives:

1. Develop a model home that could be built for $1,000 by identifying, evaluating, and improving the existing alternatives (developed by habitat for humanity among others) and adapt them to the current Haitian environment.

.......
We're not rebuilding Haiti, Haiti is rebuilding itself.

We're first going to be working remotely, either as individuals, in groups or as firms. You may choose what suits you best at this point.

At our next monthly meeting (next Tuesday, Feb. 16), our guests - Haitian Architects & Engineers with experience in building in Haiti - will share their knowledge with the rest of the group. At this meeting, you'll have an opportunity to ask them general questions or more specific questions regarding your projects as well.

Towards the end of our meeting, we'll be breaking out into groups so that each person can discuss their ideas with their peers.

Please post questions/comments/suggestions here or email me @ jennifer@afhmiami.org.


Please remember this when designing:

Consider using local materials and construction methods that can be done with equipment available in Haiti.

Think about constructability. The easier it is to build, the more likely an end user, without much skill, would help in the building process. If they're part of it from the start, the more ownership that individual or group will feel.

Think about what and how you'll be shipping the materials that you'll need, which may not be available on site.

The goal with everything AFH does is to serve as a helping hand to a group of individuals that may not have the necessary resources to fend for themselves.

Think about empowering these individuals with a skill they may not have had before.


Cheers!

Comment by AFH miami on January 26, 2010 at 1:34pm

We need speakers for Feb.20's PechaKucha Event.

Know of an interesting Haitian? Story teller? Chef? Dancer? Singer? School Teacher?

Wondering what PechaKucha is? Please visit http://www.pecha-kucha.org/

Comment by AFH miami on January 26, 2010 at 8:55am

"One Peace at a Time" Film Screenings:

Feb. 11 Wolfsonian @7pm <<not yet confirmed
(No popcorn allowed!)

Feb. 25 Miami Science Museum's Planetarium<<confirmed
Cocktail hour @7pm. Screening @8pm

March 9 Cosford Theater (UM) @8pm <<not yet confirmed
(popcorn allowed)

Popcorn: $2/bag
Need corn, popcorn bags, & soda. We're accepting donations.

Comment by AFH miami on January 26, 2010 at 1:04am

AFH Miami Newsletter – January 2010


In the past few weeks, we've been bombarded by the media with terrifying images of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti. It's been almost 2 weeks now since the earthquake happened and since emergency relief organizations from all over the world stepped in to help. Now that relief is pulling out and the Haitian government has ceased its search for survivors, the media will stop coverage and global interest in helping the country will decrease.

This turning point is crucial to the effectiveness of relief and the future of Haiti. Many times we, as citizens of the world, feel an obligation to step in right away, almost precipitated, with the best of intentions to be of help. However, the best that we can do as architects/designers/builders is to assess the situation, wait for the right time to move in, and think long-term rather than immediate intervention. While a Haitian looks for a lost family member or food or water, the last thing on their mind is a plan to rebuild their home or the school their kids used to go to or the local church they used to commune.

Even though they cannot fathom the process of rebuilding, it's our job as architects, designers, builders and engineers, to collaborate and plan for that. While all media puts attention on immediate needs, our job is to wait patiently for the right moment to start rebuilding. That, in itself, is what we can do to help Haiti.

Our local South Florida chapter of Architecture for Humanity - AFH Miami - is in the process of helping AFH build a coalition of architects, designers and builders that want to help rebuild Haiti.



Plan of Action (by AFH):

1. Pre-Planning Assessments and Damage Analysis (underway, will run for a year)
2. Establish CommunityResourceCenter and Reconstruction Studio (Week 6 to Month 3)
3. Sorting OutLand Tenure and Building Ownership (Month 6 to Year 5)
4. Transitional Shelters, Health Clinics and Community Structures (Month 6 to Year 2)
5. Schools, Hospitals and Civic Structures (Month 9 to Year 3)
6. Permanent Housing (Year 1 to Year 5)


Here’s how you can help:

1. Help plan/host a fundraiser<<primary focus at the moment.
We have several fundraisers in the pipeline that need your help.
- Film Screenings
(Film: One Peace at a Time, by director Turk Pipkin of Nobility.org)
3 venues identified (Wolfsonian, UM Cosford Theater, MiamiScienceMuseum).
These screenings will take place in February & March. If you'd like to host a screening, it's
$125 for the material. Right = free for AFH.
>We need volunteers on the day of the event. If you volunteer, you get 50% off entry ticket.

-PechaKucha (Japanese for "Chit Chat") Haiti/Miami: 10 speakers. Each speaker allowed 20
sec/slide, 20 slides. Date: Feb. 20, @20:00. Location TBD.
>We need speakers. Help us find them! We want to feature interesting Haitians with interesting
stories. Nominate them by emailing us at info@afhmiami.org

-AFH Private Fundraiser/Benefit Night: Special invitation-only event featuring silent Haitian art
auction/live music/gourmet hors d'ouevres/lecture
>help our group's Event Team organize & host event.


2. Help identify Haitian contractors & builders in Miami and in Haiti.
AFH is creating a database of builders/contractors with experience in Haiti and/or who speak Creole.
We need contractors for immediate rebuilding efforts.
>Please email info@afhmiami.org for any contacts you may have/find.

3. Offer Design
As we raise awareness of our ability to provide architectural services pro-bono, foundations, ngo’s and
community groups have already started to turn to us for help.
>Please fill out the "offer design" form at http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/getinvolved/offerdesign
>Please specify if you have experience with structures that are earthquake and/or hurricane resistant.

4. Volunteer at Architecture for Humanity’s CommunityResourceCenter & Reconstruction Studio in Haiti
(Part of Week 6 to Month 3 of the AFH Rebuilding Plan)
>When you fill out the form above, specify your interest in volunteering in Haiti.

5. Spread the word about AFH’s rebuilding efforts
>Volunteer at our tabling functions, such as Farmer’s Markets, Earth Day events, Festivals, etc.
>Help in creating flyers for our events, pamphlets, printed newsletter, etc.
>Help with translation of AFH manuals and guides for community building, design, hurricane preparedness, etc.
>Please visit our website www.afhmiami.org for events calendar, info on events, and volunteer sign-ups.


Thanks so much for your interest in becoming part of an organized effort to help Rebuild Haiti. It’s somewhat of an ambitious plan, but together, we can execute it.

In Africa, there’s a saying that poses this question (that’s probably on your mind!): How does one eat an elephant? “The answer to it is simple,” Desmond Tutu says, “one piece at a time.”
(This saying was adopted by director Turk Pipkin as the title of his film: One Peace at a Time)



....................................................
UPCOMING MEETINGS/ EVENTS:
Please visit our website as we're frequently updating our Calendar of Events.

All our meetings to take place at AFH Miami's Office at 245 NE 37th Street, Ste 101 (on Federal Hwy, btw 36th st & 39th Streets in the Design District)
>Monthly Steering Committee Meeting: Every first Wednesday of the month @6:30-7:30pm
>Monthly Working Meetings: Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @6:30-8pm

....................................................
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

>FEATURED ARCHITECT (a new monthly series!): CHAD OPPENHEIM. His firm, Oppenheim Architecture & Design (OAD), has donated a new office space to AFH Miami for the new year. The space allows us to hold our meetings, workshops, lectures, events, etc. We're soon going to start a library of humanitarian design at our space. We'll also be serving coffee! Stay tuned!

>Steering Committee Members confirmed for 2010:
Moises Magro (member since 2008, architectural designer), Alejandro Lopez (member since 2009, architectural designer), Vera Fernandez-Villegas (member since 2009, architectural designer), Vanessa LaRouge (member since 2009, Chair of Communications), Carla de Maria (member since 2009, Chair of Public Relations), Juan Zarate (member since late 2009), Adrian Portal (member since late 2009)

Please contact Jennifer Siqueira, Founder/Director, if you're interested in leadership roles within AFH Miami @ Jennifer@afhmiami.org

>We are looking for (2) project leaders for AFH Miami's Camillus House project. More info on project and project leadership application process will be available soon.
>USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition
The Open Architecture Network is hosting USGBC's 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition. The competition challenges students and emerging professionals to design a small, green, affordable, LEED Platinum home for elderly residents of the Broadmoor neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. Please click here for more informaiton and to register.


We're off to a busy start for the year! Let's make it a good one!


Cheers,

The AFH Miami Team

Comment by Jose L. estevez on January 24, 2010 at 3:55pm

Was not able to attend meeting last Tuesday. What is next for the "Haiti Rebuild" group. Is there another meeting scheduled?

Comment by Michael R. Lehr, AIA, LEED AP on January 19, 2010 at 8:25am

I am not in the area, but I was under the impression that the AFH Miami Chapter is taking the lead on coordinating the long-term rebuilding effort in Haiti. I have already filled out the form on the main AFH site to offer services. Please confirm.

Comment by Moses Magro on January 18, 2010 at 7:37pm

Tomorrow's meeting is at the AFH Miami office:
245 NE 37th Street, Ste 101
Miami, FL 33137

Meeting starts at 6:30

Comment by Joan Hallberg Architect, Inc. on January 18, 2010 at 5:03pm

What is the address for the meeting?

Comment by Maria T Vidal on January 18, 2010 at 4:57pm

Alan,
You should fill out the form suggested on the AFH site and specify that you are offering construction document services.

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