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HAITIAN WISDOM FOR AID BUILDINGS,DRAFT EXCERPT OF THE 2ND
EDITION:BUILDING APPROPRIATE KREYL HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Patti Stouter, Landscape Architect & Tropical Building Consultant March, 2012
Build Simple Inc.,www.BuildSimple.com, [email protected]
COPYRIGHT 2012
This work can be used according the following Creative Commons License:
Attribution Non-commercial 3.0You are free: to Share to copy, distribute and transmit the work
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Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.For more information see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A:SHAPING KREYL PLACES-3
1. Rebuild Beloved Landscapes- 2. Relocate Existing Communities- 3. Let Real Communities Develop-
4. Limit Communities to 7,000 People- 5. Soften the Grid- 6. Use Varied Houses- 7. Haitian Lot Sizes-8. Cluster Houses- 9. Use Familiar Ownership Styles- 10. Identifiable Neighborhoods-11. Degrees of Privacy- 12. Local Activity Nodes- 13. Plan for Shade- 14. Hierarchy of Open Space15. Enable Land Ownership
PART B:SHAPING KREYL HOUSES-22
Yards to Live in- Start Small- Spaces for Beds- Celebrate the Entrance- Open Up the Front Room-Degrees of Privacy- Living Courtyards- More Bedrooms for Haitians- Add Openings and Storage-
BeautifyPART C:UNDERSTANDING HAITIAN PEOPLE
PART D:HISTORIC KREYL HOUSES
Haitis WeatherLearn From the Past-Classic Types of Houses in Haiti- History Behind Haitis Houses
The Kay- The Creole House- Gingerbread and European StylesNew Needs in Haitian Houses
IMAGE CREDITS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study is dedicated to the courageous and giving people of Ayiti. Que Dieu te benisse.
It relies heavily on the help of many experts and amateurs who love Haiti. It began with the help and encouragement of:
Architect Christine Neptune photographs and masters thesis
Jay D. Edwards, Anthropologist, Director of the Fred B. Kniffen Cultural Resources Lab, Dept. of Geography and Anthropology
, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Since the first version of Haitian Wisdom was made public many studies and comments about Haitian culture have been made
public. Those most influential in my work have included:
Christopher Robin Andrews & Seth Wachtel, Kreyl Living Wisdom & Haiti Regeneration: Using Indigenous Environmental
Patterns, Dec 2010
Abraham Rodriguez, Haitian Renconstruction thru Education: Pattern Language Development; unpublished report for Fall
2011 Architecture course by Hajo Neis and Yeosaine Huggins at the Portland Urban Architecture Research Laboratory
Thanks is owed to Jack Wilson and other faculty of Dartmouth University and the Ingersoll-Rand company for their support of the
$300 House contest and Haitian design workshop. In these Dartmouth sessions, at my earthbag construction training sessions, and
at project development sessions with Engineering Ministries International, Haitians, Haitian migrs, and long-term Haitian workers
have generously given their time to discuss their culture:
Dr. Arielle Ariane of the Rasin Foundation, Leogne; Leslye Bell; Rose Bazile; Legrace Benson; the Jeune family of GraceInternational, Carrefour; Dr. Paul Leger; Elizabeth Briere, Fred Mangones; the Pacius family of HCDP, Gonaives; Isabelle
Verwaay; Patrick Vilaire of Food for the Poor, Port-au-Prince; and many others
This project was begun because of Owen Geiger and Kelly Harts dedication to providing culturally appropriate building aid.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 3
PART A:SHAPING KREYL PLACES
The nature of the buildings and streets of the cities where we live affects our behavior, the way we feel
about ourselves, and most important, the way we get along with others.i
Building aid to Haiti can intensify cultural and economic and social destruction. Or, if
carefully done in a Kreyl manner (according to the culture of the majority of Haitians),
it can improve all types of Haitian life. In addition to this needed broad cultural
sensitivity, environmental and economic sustainability are important goals.
This document focuses on the scale of work done by architects and landscape
architects. At the scale of specific building developments I can be most helpful in
recommending remedies to prevent irreparable cultural damage. The larger scaleeconomic and cultural patterns are just as important. I include the following hints
about them for government and regional planners.
Reducing environmental impacts can be important in developing countries. The
technologies that fit the environment are often better suited to tropical settings. Softer
technologies can cooperate more thoroughly with nature and may cost less. They may also respond better to the realities of fragile
or deep and expansive soils and the use of local manual labor.
Many Haitians, including town officials, are beginning to insist that NGO s create farms and other businesses that will support theiraid projects in the future. Haitis tradition of living off the land must be supported. The following patterns from Christopher
Alexanders work come to mind.ii Incentives or guidelines should encourage:
A full range of town and city sizes evenly distributed among Haitis villages. Economic potential must somehow be found in
cities like Petit-Gove, Port Salut, Jacmel, Cap Haitien and Gonaves in addition to Port-au-Prince.iii
Leaving real country areas served by nets of streets no closer than 1.6 km (1 mile) apart.
Fingers of farm and open space at least 1.6 km wide stretching into areas of new development around cities
Growth of new country towns dotted in the countryside instead of a spreading contiguous city and suburban development
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 4
1. REBUILD BELOVED LANDSCAPESit is to a comfortable vernacular that their residents wish to return. This implies a number of patterns which are
too often overlooked and ignorediv
Traditional communities are combinations of buildings that have developed
slowly from the values and knowledge of the local people. We must really look
at how Haitians have best lived in and crafted their environment, as well as
their dreams and aspirations to a healthier society.v The signals and symbols of
social status or other meaning may seem subtle to outsiders, but they are
obvious and important to residents.
When rebuilding involves large groups of buildings, it is terribly easy to
accidentally destroy all sense of place and community. Prime Minister Jean-Max
Bellerives concern at a recent conference addressed this. "Look, I don't want mycountry to look like the Dominican Republic or Indonesia or some other place.
We're searching for a genuinely Haitian way of rebuilding."vi
Left: A village street; Far left: Street vendors in Port au Prince
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 5
2. RELOCATE EXISTING COMMUNITIESThe order must be allowed to be social rather than geometric.
Allow social forces to shape new development:
Build infill on small lots within existing neighborhoodsRelocate existing residents from tent camps to nearby infill houses
Match neighborhood scale and types of circulation when large lots are available
The social fabric of relationships within the bidonville
or slum is still important. Those who do not have
many material belongings depend more on their
friends and acquaintances. If relocated some distance
away, the poor will not be able to afford to travel to
see them.
Add fingers of green, areas of improved utilities, and
leave new drainage channels undeveloped to reduce
problems from routine storms.
TENANTS FROM THE DISASTER SHELTER SITE WILL MOVE A
SHORT DISTANCE TO NEWY INFILL LAKOUS IN CIT DE DIEU ,
$300HOUSE PROJECT/GHESKIOU
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 6
3. LET REAL COMMUNITIES DEVELOPThat very variability of the vernacular becomes one of the essential components of place.
vii
Existing vernacular towns may seem chaotic
to designers, but are subtle and reflect their
community. When developments grow
naturally, critical adjustments are made
during the process. Often developers build
the centers of blocks first. Then the special
lots at intersections can be developed for
the more specialized commercial or mixed
use tenants attracted naturally to the
growing community.
DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR CIT DE DIE U INFILL,
$300HOUSE PROJECT/GHESKIOU
Often old neighborhoods display a brilliant use of space. They have finely tuned transitions from the private space of the porch, to
informal neighborhood gathering spaces like public water supplies, and to the more public market places. Each type of space
shelters and supports critical segments of community life. Streets that bend have interesting views. This kind ofvariety, whimsy and
surpriseonly results from the efforts of many local artists, gradually customizing buildings and yards to the needs of individual
families.
In redevelopments give exisiting residents a chance to choose between different options. The residents may be the only ones who
understand the subtleties of exactly how their neighborhood works.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 7
4. LIMIT COMMUNITIES TO 7,000PEOPLEThe power of the [traditional]
Haitian social system was the
great interconnection of mutual
responsibility among the membersof extended families and villages,
communities- Lakou of around
500 people. viii
Strong interaction occurs at a neighborhood scale. But if
too many neighborhoods make up a city, individuals feel
have little or no influence on local decisions.
Haitians have had serious problems with too muchpower gained by individual leaders. More workable
community sizes may help Haitians to develop healthy
self- government at the local scale, a first step towards
healthy regional and national government.
Since common Haitian family sizes range from 6- 10 individuals, between 500 and 1000 buildings may be the best size for any
distinct community. If smaller scale settings are more conducive to self-policing and group development by the poor, efforts should
be made to separate new aid communities in obvious functional systems of no more than 500 houses.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 8
5. SOFTEN THE GRIDPlaces for which no one or no group
develops territorial feelings are subject to
misuse and abuse. such attitudes can
result from any planning venture wheredecisions are made without involving the
actual participants.ix
New residents cannot feel proud of impersonal neighborhoods of
identical buildings. One block looks like the next, and no one really
seems to belong there. If no one develops a sense of ownership,
buildings are vandalized and people feel (and are)unsafe.
REPETITIVE HOUSING BLOCKS PLANNED FOR THE CARAKOL DEVELOPMENT,USAID
One example has been the large Haitian disaster relief camp in Corail. Although the lack of sanitation and shade are also serious
problems there, the unimaginative, regimented military style layout is a valid part of the residents dissatisfaction.x
Part of the reason for residents dislike oflarge uniform developments is that they lack the healthy variety of scales and uses found
in natural communities. It takes some variety in building size and setback from the street to provide the kind of small-scale outdoor
spaces that serve as memorable settings for people to interact. Sterile projects of uniform house rows can be in direct conflict
with traditional socio-spatial customs to the extent that they can be culturally destructive or are rejectedxi
Modern society moves at a faster pace than traditional cultures. With modern techniques and infusions of cash from outside the
local economy, buildings can be quickly planned and built. For a fast-paced construction process, make special efforts to allow
variety to develop. Dont skimp on the time to get feedback from planners who understand spaces for people. Slow down the
building pace or foster natural variety through real community involvement.
Neighborhoods that are attractive and useful dont have to be expensive. The Carakol project shown above has been used to
demonstrate alternatives throughout this book. Many simple techniques can give life and variety to even inexpensive aid projects.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 9
6. USE VARIED HOUSES:Our surroundings reflect our personal statuses or contribute to the images of ourselves that we hope
others will accept.xii
Add some variety to the different blocks. A simple house layout can
be offered in single and duplex versions. Duplex buildings leavemore usable space on small building lots, and they can give thedevelopment more future value in an improving neighborhood.When residents with larger families become able, they can buy theadjacent duplex and own a whole larger house.
If a house plan is asymmetrical, it can be built as drawn, andreversed. For a symmetrical plan of sturdy masonry, include sometwo story or slightly larger models.
ABOVE:MIXED DUPLEX AND SINGLE HOUSE ALTERNATIVE,CARAKOL
BELOW:DUPLEX AND SINGLE KAYS ON SMALL LOTS
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 10
ABOVE:VARIED KAYS WITH DOUBLE ENTRY , SINGLE ENTRY AND 2 STORY
RIGHT:SITE PLAN DETAIL,HCDPHOUSING,BOGNOL
Use different proportions of the different layouts in each block. Letsome streets have more of one type than another. Also includesome completely random mixtures.
The kay house is the standard layout in most of Haiti, with a galri or porch under the gable end next to the street. There a re manydifferent versions of kays. Houses can have side porches or L-shaped additions, and be one or two-storied.
Many kays are now built wider than in the past, and with an asymmetrical front. Small cabinet rooms are added under part of theporch roof.
The Creole style of house turns its side to the street. If this style of house is also found in yourarea, include a few on lots that arentas deep. Let future tenant groups tell you what proportions of each house type to use.
Different house layouts can be used to respond to the problem of afternoon overheating on west facing galri. One smalldevelopment outside of Gonaves used two simple house versions so that in all houses the porches would not overheat from directsun in the afternoon.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 11
7. HAITIAN LOT SIZESDaily activities take place in spaces that are mostly outside the framework
of the house itself. the house often consists of several buildingsxiii
Aid housing lots for transitional settlements must be large enough to allow residents to live
in their yards. In Haitian cities and countryside people who can fence in their yards or plant
prickly hedges to define their space.
The Haitian yard is shaped by a very African lifestyle.xiv In many ways Haitian yards
resemble those of their African ancestors. The yard includes separate small dwellings,
outdoor kitchens, drying structures, silos, and
monuments for graves.
Within the lot enclosure there must be room for:
A generous front porch that abuts the road
Separate cooking shelters so each family in the
house can cook without being watched by others
Storing motorcycles, moped or bicycles alongside
the house
Working in the yard (drying grains, small craft
workshops)
A latrine far from the house (because of smell)
In addition, preferred lots will have room for:
Adding more rooms in the future
A container to grow a few vegetables or herbs
A cistern if the family can have a well
TOP:CISTERN UNDER AN ARBOR;
ABOVE:CARPENTRY WORKSHOP UNDER
AWNING;
ABOVE LEFT :ARBOR-LOO LATRINE
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 12
8. CLUSTER HOUSESit has a great deal to do with reciprocal commitments
to personal security and joint efforts for the benefit of the
neighborhood as a whole. Cluster [homes] around a
common entrance increases the opportunity forcontact so that there is more sense of personal
involvement and mutual concern. It also makes it easier
to recognize who belongs [there].xv
Haiti is an intensely relational culture. Group identities of families and
neighborhoods are often more important to people than their individual
circumstances. A strong cohesive community promotes a high quality of life and
an investment in the future of a settlement. Public spaces should be connected,
inclusive, diverse and appropriate in scale [relating] to functional activities.xvi
PHOTOS AND PLAN OF LAKOU DEVELOPMENT BY M. NEPTUNE IN THOMASSIN
Even in cities Haitians like to have a sense of lakou. These townhouses are very
popular because they overlook a private court with shared space where children
can play. A peripheral wall and gates at the entrance roads keep this small
community safe. The central triangle includes a playground and some plantings.
Each of the 22 front rooms overlooks the street. An opening at ground level
serves as a carport but is cleared out to use in the frequent neighborhood parties.
Because this suburban cluster is occupied by middle class Haitians, the courtyard is not crowded in the daytime. This group is a little
larger than the traditional lakou. For Haitians with less financial resources, smaller cluster settings may be helpful.
Haitians want their front porches to face their neighbors. They love to have shared open space in front of their most attractive
faade, facing the street. Shared areas require some supervision to be maintained well. If they are in front where everyone watches
the street, they will be valued and kept safe. The area will be worth any minor decisions and repairs it needs. Seating and shade
trees and play equipment could all be added as the neighbors agree.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 13
There are many other ways to form a sense of lakou, without walling
a block off from its neighbors. Mini-lakous could be created on small
roads to allow residents to share a public courtyard. Locating them
on smaller roads with less traffic will make the neighborhood quieter
and safer for children.
Another way to create a lakou within a town is to add a generous
courtyard on one side of the street.
RIGHT:MINI -LAKOUS ADDED TO THE CARAKOL PROJECT
BELOW:ALTERNATING CARAKOLS STANDARD BLOCKS WITH ROADSIDE
COURTYARDS
The Caracol development currently labels the interior open space in
each block a lakou. It may not function well as ashared space because it is at the rear of the
houses.
There is a great difference between front and
rear yards. Rear yards are where people wash
clothes, cook, take showers, and have
workshops. These activities require some
privacy, and no one will want to be near the rear
latrines.
Private internal pathways are desired, whether
footpaths or for vehicles, for use by block
residents only.
An interior open space can be used as jadens or
gardens. It can either be divided up or leased to families who want to keep animals or grow crops on the extra land.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 14
9. USE FAMILIAR OWNERSHIP STYLESMultiple family dwellings can reduce the costs per family for each lot and
for building walls. But dont apply what works with prosperous social
groups in cold climates to thoseclimbing out of poverty in a warm climate.
Although Haiti has apartment buildings, they are not cooperatively
owned. As of January 2012 there was no legal basis for that type of
ownership. Haitian families cooperate within a lakou, possibly because of
the socially accepted order of responsibility (and command). Unrelated
neighbors will have more difficulty sharing building maintenance.
Duplex buildings have worked well for Haitians in the past. Each side has a
separate enclosed yard and maintains their own half of the building. Each
side can have full access to the yard from every room if it is desired.
Multi-story buildings are harder to share. The high costs of land make
multi-story houses desirable in cities. In other parts of the world single
workers buy cooked meals on the streets and rent a space to sleep on an
upper floor. But in Haiti it is rare that single workers will rent a room from
a family. Few people are employed, and families are more comfortable
taking in relatives and friends. Since most selling occurs on street corners,
there are also few homes above shops in Haiti now.
Haitians who do not have their own ground level yard will be hampered in
their living style. The most basic need is for access to cooking and
sanitation, but mothers have a harder time supervising children from
upper levels.
Perhaps most important is the fact that each apartment in a duplex also has three exposed walls for good ventilation. Breezes in the
afternoon and evening are necessary for comfort in the hot, humid climate of Haitis low lying areas.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 15
10. IDENTIFIABLE NEIGHBORHOODSEstablish clear boundaries and a clear identity. This is
essential The only way that group territorial feelings
develop in very large projects is to break them down
into smaller components with different names andclearly different characteristics
Different neighborhoods need to look different. Each group of several blocksshould have a distinctive:
Type and location of trees (between houses, along street)
Proportions of different house types and detailing
Locations for marketing (at corners or along streets)
Types of clusters (public, semi-private, private)Sizes and shapes of shared spaces (along street, sheltered from street)
Uses of shared space (farms, play space, workshops, meeting areas,
storage areas, parking) xvii
Place special houses or uses at end-of-street views.
Have larger houses near corners where businesses will naturally develop.
People who usually walk will do most of their shopping within a short
distance, knowing their women selling on theirmarket street.xviii
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 16
11. DEGREES OF PRIVACYMost expressed a strong preference for living next to the road. So children can play in a private area, To
have more control over the garden and cooking area, To have a business in their home.xix
Haitians have many reasons to live near a road. For some, the road is where their children play. For others, a corner lot means they
dont have neighbors on one side. In tight developments, distance from neighbors means less conflict.
For others, the road will bring people past their stand to buy their drinks or get a hairdo. Obviously different levels of road traffic are
needed. This can be provided by having different kinds of road.
Major and collector roads should be straight and pass through the neighborhood.
But if possible make the less important roads more varied:
Offset some road intersections so through traffic mostly goes around
Allow some roads to loop between collector roadsPlace cul-de-sac housing clusters at the edge of the development
Dont make long stretches where back yards face the street
Break some roads to make short stub roads (but connect them byfootpaths)
ABOVE:STORES ALONG THE MAIN ROAD;RIGHT:QUIET PRIVATE ROADS INTO A CENTRAL
COURTYARD FOR THE CARAKOL PROJECT
Cost for infrastructure can be reduced by removing some roads where blocks of
4- 6 cul-de-sac clusters can be located back to back. Less area needed for roadsalso means more space for yardsCul-de-sac lakou clusters also create larger lots at corners. This can allow more
farming, or a building for special services for the community. It could be a
location for a water kiosk and public shower. Or there might be room to widen
a road for the market.
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 17
Varied smaller road types within an overall grid system; Carakol alternatives
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 18
12. LOCAL ACTIVITY NODESmarket places are the intersection points in the trade network by
which the bulk of Haitis marketed agricultural product and its
imports reach their consumers. The most sought after vendor
spots are along the roads and at busy intersections.xx
People gather where there is something they need. Streets with vendors and services like
wells draw crowds. Around the well the crowds are friends and neighbors. But anyone
might be on the shopping street
Streets in Haiti are for selling. Busy corners have multiple vendors- stacks of wooden poles,
bags of vegetables, little stands where people cook over fires. Centers of towns may have a
wider market street so busy that cars can barely drive through. But many ordinary houses
on small streets also have a front room or front window facing the road for selling.
Corners at busy intersections should be widened for vendors. Small market stalls on busy streets that open directly onto the street
can greatly increase vendors income by providing them a way to store more inventory than they can carry.xxi
Water points in Haitian culture are a meeting place between
members of community. ... a welcoming place for people to sit while
they are waiting for their turn to fill their bucket, or just to gather and
chat with their neighbors.xxii
It is most important to evenly distribute wells around the neighborhood, to reduce thedistance to carry water. One water supply for each 5 households may not be enough. If there
are more wells per household, some could be on the street.
Haitians often want their wells clustered inside more private community spaces. Nearby
playgrounds might allow parents an easier task of watching their children. But when children
are sent to fetch water, a nearby playground might distract them from their chore.xxiii
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 19
13. PLAN FOR SHADEThe architect of the tropics must battle against heat, strong solar radiation, high levels of air humidity and
torrential rainfall and, in addition, develop methods of building that offer users comfortable spaces without
requiring mechanical cooling systems.xxiv
In coastal Haiti, shade is very important for comfort. Since porches are livingspace in Haitis hot climate, locate them for breeze and afternoon shade.
A large tree cools because it shades a large area and evaporates water.
Although Haitis mountains have serious deforestation, most towns and lakous
have trees. They may function as important meeting places, and can provide
fruit as well. Public gathering spaces, whether for fetching water, shopping,
listening to music, or waiting for a clinic, should all include trees.
ABOVE:A BENCH AT A FARM NEAR JACMEL IN THE SHADE ;
RIGHT:WAITING FOR A NURSE AT PETITE RIVIRE ALL CAREFULLY LOCATED IN THE SHADE.
The Haitian sun is high in the middle of the day and a roof overhang can shade
the walls. Morning and afternoon sun is at a lower angle and can overheat
buildings quickly. Orient buildings east and west, so that their longest side is
shaded well from the sun. Locate more windows and doors facing east or north
than west and south.
ABOVE:HIGH NOONDAY SUN; RIGHT:LOW AFTERNOON SUN
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Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, Part I: Houses- 20
14. HIERARCHY OF OPEN SPACESThe desire for public space has been expressed by the residents throughout the community engagement
process. ...Vibrant public spaces existed prior to the earthquake and despite years of neglect they
maintained an important psychological and social function in the fabric of society. .. many public spaces
have become IDP camps and tent cities. However, the presence and respect for public space in the form of
town squares (especially) is noticeable across Haiti.xxv
Outdoor spaces are the living rooms of the tropical world. A town
needs many different sizes and types. The home, the lane, spinal
street, and main thoroughfare represent a gradual hierarchical
order, a continuum of an expanding living environment.xxvi
Haitians use and adapt street space for play, gatherings, art, and
performance spaces.
Since the earthquake many spaces that used to provide
recreation or refreshment are now filled to bursting. Although
the need for housing is great, public spaces will be welcome if
the tent cities begin to empty.
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15. ENABLE LAND OWNERSHIPThe homeowner selection process must be carried out in collaboration with the Joint Project Committee.
The identification of social groupings and where people want to live must be a central part of this process.
The neighborhood blocks offer a variety of opportunities (including access to agricultural land, proximity to
areas of commerce and schools etc) and this must be considered as part of the selection process.xxvii
Perhaps the greatest limitation for Haitian building is the uncertainty about land
owner ship.
The enslaved ancestors of most Haitians never owned their land, but did have
rights to their houses. When the colonists were overthrown in 1804, many
former slaves left the plantation land and squatted on parcels in the hills. A
system of land ownership somewhere between that native to either France or
West Africa evolved. African land often belongs to the community leader. It can
be claimed on the basis of farming it.
ABOVE:SMALL PARCELS ALONG THE ROAD, LARGER BEHIND;
BELOW:TENTS AT GRACE INTERNATIONAL IN CARREFOUR WITH ADDED GALRIS.
Land can be bought and sold in Haiti, but there is a waiting period of years to be
certain no one else can claim it. This has been complicated by the fact that
government officials seize and redistribute land to their supporters. Today some
Haitians do not want buildings that look more expensive than those of their
neighbors, for fear of attracting negative attention.
Temporary housing is often planned for displaced people after a natural disaster.
It frequently becomes transitional and f inally permanent when other solutions
never develop. This results in more people claiming land without true legal tit le.
Temporary housing must be laid out in ways that will be appropriate if the use becomes permanent. Follow models of land
subdivision that make sense for the culture and local area.
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SHAPING KREYL HOUSES
YARDS TO LIVE IN
The architecture of the Caribbean is first and foremost an architecture for life out-of-doors. Daily activities take
place in spaces that are mostly outside the framework of the house itself. And even the framework is open to the
outdoors, offering protection only from the sun and rain.xxviii
IN HAITI MOST OF LIFE HAPPENS OUTSIDE, IN THE FRESH AIR AND COOLING BREEZES. A SMALL HOUSE JUST SERVES AS
STORAGE, SHELTER FROM RAIN, AND A PLACE TO SLEEP.
The space defined by the houses shadow may be as important as any room within,
because it is the setting for adult work as well as child care.
Left: The true Haitian living room
Below: An outside service area
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Parking: some residents have cars or are drivers for wealthier families in town and are responsible for their employers car at night.
sidewalks would not be safe enough to park on. If the house is to the side of the lot, there is space to park a car. Also people can
agree to leave some open space in their courtyard for parking. xxix
Outdoor areas must be carefully designed to house outbuildings for many functions.
REPEAT FAMILIAR SHAPES
ALLOW ENCLOSURE
yard may be associated intimateley with the house, and its land may have important ritual or kinship significance...
often particular symbolic meaning for local people, though this may be implicit and little noticed by outsiders.
Mans freedom begins with his own fencexxx
property wall(s) in Haiti serves many purposes [to] keep things out: intruders, vehicular and pedestrian traffic;
keep things in: animals, children and privacy. They frame the yard and house, decorate and formalize theentrance.
xxxi
Living hedges of thorny plants 5 feet high (1.5 m) usually define rural lakous. Village houses
may not include walls because the entire village may be considered as belonging to
the same lakou. In cities and suburbs walls have been multiplying in Haiti, because economic
and political problems increase crime in these crowded and more anonymous areas.
Solid walls are often not needed. Metal fencing or perforated
block patterns allow air to move throughbarriers.
Even temporary shelters can be located in arrangementsthat Left: Vent block walllet their walls form enclosures. Above: Gates open to entry porch
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Allow space for residents to develop for mal or informal barr ier s around clusters.
A life style that was specifically Caribbean. for life out-of-doors.
Providing housing involves much more than just building houses [it involves] a whole system of spaces which a family needs.xxxii
In cities most household chores are done outside, including washing and drying clothes. In the country the yard also includes space
for flowering bushes, herbs, and a few vegetables. Animals are penned and cared for. Food is dried and stored in a roofed silo that is
raised above the ground. These uses are basic and must be provided appropriate space that is large enough and comfortable enough
for work.
In both city and country cooking is kept out of the house. This wisely keeps both smoke and heat out of the interior. The majority of
Haitians use charcoal to cook, and do this on the ground. They usually locate a lean-to for cooking across the yard from the dwelling,
downwind from the house. This area may also be used for smelly tasks like slaughtering animals or singing feathers.
Haitians prefer two separate kitchens. The majority of cooking is done outside, but food storage
must be located near the dining area of the salle. In better houses a sort of kitchenette or butlers
pantry is located inside.
Left: cooking outside on charcoal on the ground
Below: Food preparation
Even modern additions may separate the kitchen and toilet by a hall or porch from the main salle
or other rooms used in the daytime. Simple bucket-flush type toilets, which require less water
than a porcelain water closet, may also be smellier. Often a toilet or latrine is located in a
separate lean-to, perhaps joined to a simple paved and screened wash area.
Left: Modern layout with indoor and outdoor kitchens
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Below left: Service building
The basement of the house or a part of the yard usually includes a cistern to store rainwater fordroughts or the frequent power outages when well pumps cant be run.
Perhaps the most important part of the yard for many Haitians, a solid masonry tomb with a
sheltering roof may form a setting for ancestor veneration. Before stone masonry was used on
houses, it was customary for tombs.
Often the tomb looks much more sophisticated than the house. No matter what happens to the
land, the family always retains the right to return to their tombs.
Minimum Housing Needs2 doors preferred, heat/ ventilation issues, (1 door & 2 small windows on 12- 18 sm too little ventilation)need outdoor covered areas, avoid flooding hazard water infiltration at base, need secure wallsxxxiii
Classic Types of Houses in HaitiEach home should contain one master bedroom, one dining room and one toiletxxxiv
kay signs start of marriage rectantular 22- 26'(7- 8 m) x 13- 16'(4-5 m) small porch multi use common room & bedrmxxxv
faire sa case/ make one's hut = be adult
Third,
better off want 2 kitchens incl 1 inside, cistern, in towns closed off more privacy security for middle class 3 br townhouse w maid
quarters lower class street becomes lr
hut center of caribbean garden, p.14 kitchen downwind of hut define hearth by large rocks or metal screen, decorative space in
front- flowers, (herbal flavor/ medicine) conch shells, waste, washing, fire, animals, raised porchxxxvi
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La rsidence paysanne inclut la maison elle-mme (la kay) et lespace qui lentoure, o se rpartissent les multiples activits
quotidiennes. Dans cette aire de vie, chaque fonction dispose dun lieu appropri et la circulation est permanente entre les
diffrentes constructions.xxxvii
Haitians use raised seats for toilets or latrines. Although more smelly, latrines are most common because they are simple to build
and maintain. Some rural leaders favor arbor-loos, whose smaller holes do not pollute groundwater as quickly. The human wastecan be used as fertilizer without processing by planting a vine or tree in the filled hole when digging a replacement. Some systems
for composting human waste have been accepted in Haiti when individuals do not have to service them.
The primary response of all residents was that the homes are too small and do not respond to the Haitian
lifestyle as the covered external areas are too small and the rooms too small. Many indicated that they did
not need the partitions and that they would remove them and re-use the wood for other purposes, such as
to build the extension. Approx 30% have the intension of extending the house right away.
Agricultural use is primarily envisaged at four scales: the private kitchen garden located within each
homeowners private land, the shared semiprivate gardens within each block, small public land within the
ecological corridors and larger scale public agriculture to the north of the site that acts as an ecological
buffer to the Romance water channel.xxxviii
THE PORCH IS TOO SMALL.*+ IT IS NOT A PORCH, IT IS A DOORWAY . IT CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING
THE WAY IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED.YOU CANNOT CARRY OUT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES P ROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS
(SUN , RAIN) IN THE CURRENT LOT DESIGN, AND THERE IS NO SPACE FOR A TABLE OR CHAIRS. TREES WILL NOT
GROW RIGHT AWAY AND IN THE HE AT, SHADED OUTDOOR AREAS ARE BOTH PRACTICAL AND CENTRAL TO THE LO CAL WAY
of life. Latrine: As far from the house as possible at the back of the lot. Many placed trees around their latrine to hide it and keep
it cool. ... it concluded that it should be on the opposite side to the cooking area. Fencing: Almost all chose to fence their property
in. They left two openings: a larger on in front of their front door, facing the street, and a smaller one to the back of the lot facing
the courtyard or alley.Santo p. 222
The public/private domains vary greatly from town to city. Traditionally Haitian families were centered around a Lakou or vi llage
common space. The definition of Lakou is as much social space as it is physical space, th is is where the community would gather,
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and woman would also collectively parent and oversee children in the Lakou space.. In rural villages it is common to have a large
gardens in the backyard space, urban hosing areas in the hills near Port au Price are often very close together with adjacent walls
and outdoor space that is suitable for cooking, but not for large gardens. boyle
START SMALLPITI PITI ZWAZO FE NICH. LITTLE BY LITTLE THE BIRD BUILDS ITS NEST.
HAITIANS HOUSES USUALLY START WITH 1 OR 2 ROOMS AND GRADUALLY GROW.BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN SIMPLE, MODULAR LAYOUTS, EXTRA ROOMS
ARE ADDED WHEN NEIGHBORS OR RELATIVES NEED A PLACE TO STAY . THE HOUSE EVOLVES NATURALLY, ACCORDING TO THE HAITIANS INSTINCT, NOT IN
A DETERMINISTIC MANNER.xxxix
IN THE VILLAGES OR COUNTRYSIDE ROOMS ARE ADDED ON TO THE SIDE OR REAR . IN MORE CROWDED CITIES, ROOMS ARE
OFTEN ADDED ON TOP.
EACH HOUSE IS USUALLY FREESTANDING, AND SERVES ONE COUPLE.TO MAKE ONES HUT (FAIRE SA CASE) IS TO BECOME GROWN UP.xlA YOUNG MAN
WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT A GIRL BUILDS A SEPARATE HOUSE , USUALLY ON HIS FATHERS LAND.
YOUNG CHILDREN, ELDERLY WIDOWS, SINGLE NEIGHBORS MAY ALL EVENTUALLY SHARE ROOMS, BUT A
HOUSE IS NOT USUALLY SHARED BY SEVERAL COUPLES.
THE TRADITIONAL RURAL HOUSES HAD ROOMS ABOUT 10 WIDE, SUITED TO SMALLER AND LESS
EXPENSIVE ROOF FRAMING MATERIALS. IN CITIES WHERE LAND WAS MORE EXPENSIVE, THEY WERE
OFTEN 12-14 WIDE.
IF HAITIANS HAVE A SMALL WATERPROOF AND QUAKE RESISTANT BUILDING CORE, THEY CAN EXTEND
IT WITH LESS WATERPROOF ADDITIONS THAT MAY BE USEFUL MOST OF THE TIME.
ALWAYS ENLG HUT AWAY FROM STREETxli
ABOVE:SMALL HOUSE NEAR A TIDAL MARSH
SMALL DETACHED HOUSES ARE MORE DESIRABLE THAN MULTI-FAMILY STRUCTURES INHAIT I.
SPACES FOR BEDS
CELEBRATE THE ENTRANCE
BUILDINGS BECAME A BACKGROUND CANVAS FOR A COMPOSITION IN WHICH THE GARDEN IS AS PRECISELY LAID
OUT AS THE HOUSE ITSELF. BETWEEN THESE TWO DOMESTIC AREAS-EXTRA MUROS AND INTRA MUROS- THE
GALLERY IS AN ORGANIC LINK, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT IT IS THE
DECORATIVE SHOWPLACE OF THE HOUSE.
LEFT:HOUSE IN LABOULE
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THE FRONT PORCH IN HAITI IS THE GALERIE . THIS IS TRULY THE CENTER OF FAMILY LIFE .PEOPLE SIT AND TALK, WATCH AND GREET NEIGHBORS. THE
FRONT ROOM BEHIND IS USUALLY BUILT FIRST , AND ALWAYS FACES THE STREET OR ACCESS PATH.
EVEN IF IT IS SMALL, THE GALERIE WILL USUALLY BE SHELTERED UNDER A ROOF AND RAISED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE GROUND. IF THERE IS NO RAISED STOOP,
THERE MAY BE AN EDGING OF STONES OR BRICKS TO SHOW WHERE THIS FAMILY SPACE BEGINS . IN A VILLAGE OR CITY IT MAY HAVE A RAILING , GRILL, OR
OPEN-WORK WALL TO PROVIDE MORE SEPARATION FROM THE STREET AND SECURITY FOR BELONGINGS .
ADDITIONAL PORCHES, VERANDAHS, AND SECOND STORY BALCONIES CAN ALSO CONNECT THE INSIDE WITH OUTSIDE AS WELL AS EXPAND THE DOMESTICLIVING SPACE. BUT THE GALERIE PROVIDES CLEAR SIGNALS OF RELATIONSHIPS , OWNERSHIP AND PRIVACY.IT SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT TRANSITION SPACE
TO THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE .xliiFOR MANY, THE THRESHOLD OR THE MAIN DOORWAY MARKS THE
LIMITS BEYOND WHICH THE VISITOR MAY ENTER ONLY BY INVITATION.xliii
PEOPLE APPRECIATE
GRACIOUS BOUNDARIES.
THE GALERIE WALL IS OFTEN LAVISHLY TRIMMED AND PAINTED . IT MAY BE SIDED IN WOOD EVEN IF THE
REST OF THE HOUSE IS BUILT MORE SIMPLY . AROUND IT MAY BE DECORATIVE FLOWERS, BUSHES AND
SHELLS.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS DESIRE FOR A GRACIOUS ENTRANCE PORCH IS IN CITIES. TWO-STORYBUILDINGS IN CITIES OFTEN HAVE A COVERED WALKWAY IN FRONT OF THEIR DOOR INSTEAD OF A PORCH.
AS SHOWN AT RIGHT, THEY USUALLY HAVE A PORCH ON THE SECOND LEVEL THAT SERVES AS THE
GALERIE.
EVERY DWELLING NEEDS ROOM FOR A PLEASANT ENTRY PORCH THAT FACES THE ROAD OR ACCESS PATH.
OPEN UP THE FRONT ROOM
To be admitted inside a hut, speak Creole and be answered in Creole when one is a foreigner- this is a mark
of trust.xliv
In both of the most popular Haitian traditional house layouts, one or two doors from the galerie open into a more private multi-
purpose room with a table. This practical salle is where the family eats, keeps utensils and food, writes, and listens to the radio. At
night children may sleep there on mats on the floor.
In Haitis cities and low lying areas, old houses have high ceilings and many tall doors. Their
breezy front room is only slightly more enclosed than the galerie.
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Many doors allow flexible room use and access from the yard where adults work and children play. The common double or French-
type doors stand open all day but can be adjusted to provide shade when the sun is low. They are only closed tight for storms and at
night.
LEFT: A TRADITIONAL KAY FRONT ROOM HAS 3-5 DOORS
In cooler country locations houses often have fewer and smaller openings. Small, dark houses may be remnants of traditionsbrought to Haiti by many West Africans. As in Africa, the blacks of the Antilles preferred darkness in the interiors of their cabins and
closed them hermetically. shut like a box. This African custom was reinforced by the circumstances of slavery. The slave h ad
nothing that really belonged to him. The interior of his house was the single element of his life over which he had some control.xlv
CONNECT INSIDE AND OUT IN WAYS THAT WORK FOR HAIT IANS
DEGREES OF PRIVACY
MORE BEDROOMS FOR HAITIANS
The second room of a two room house is used as a bedroom. This bedroom or
chambre will have fewer and smaller openings than the front room, more windows thandoors. There may be a raised platform that serves as a large bed.
The wall between the salle and the chambre probably does not extend to the open roof,
ending at the eaves line. It may be an openwork screen. But it defines an important
boundary. Above: A new home for a family
Bedrooms are considered very private. Haitians do not allow strangers into bedrooms. They welcome cousins, aunts, uncles, or
neighbors to stay with them. But they prefer to use separate bedrooms for the girls and boys. People of the opposite sex do not
enter someone elses bedroom.
Families housing neighbors and relatives in need will feel strongly a need to provide enough gender-segregated bedrooms. Often
two-room houses are expanded to provide more bedrooms. Haitians have houses with more bedrooms than other cultural groups of
the same economic level in other parts of the Caribbean.
IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WITH EXTRA PEOPLE IN FAMILIES, PLANS SHOULD ALLOW EXPANSION FOR AT LEAST 2- 3 SMALL BEDROOMS.
ADD OPENINGS AND STORAGE
Double door and window shutters may be stronger than single shutters. They use smaller lengths of wood.
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RIGHT:WOOD SHUTTERS AND FRENCH DOORS
In the simplest traditional houses neither doors nor shutters lock. They have latches on the inside. Although glass is not needed for
windows, many Haitians want to close openings at night. Solid shutters work well to give a sense of
safety, and to keep storm winds and rain out. Doors and shutters always open outward so they cannot be
blown open during hurricanes.
LEFT:STORAGE ABOVE THE PORCH ROOF
The only space that can be locked in a small house is often a soute or storage area above the ceiling of the
galerie or entry porch. This warm and dry location serves well for farmers to store grain and other foods. It
is accessed by a door in the gable end, and from inside the salle, which has no ceiling.
ALLOW TARPS OR SHUTTERS TO CLOSE ALL OPENINGS.PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE ROOM WITH SECURE WINDOW GRILLES AND A LOCKABLE DOOR .
BEAUTIFY
West Indians declare their love for their homes with the delicate frills and lacework that
adorn galleries and interiors *and have exteriors+ brightened by sharp, livelycolorsxlvi.
the works of the poor have been elevated always by the gaiety, the fantasy and the
exuberance of the African tradition.xlvii
Traditional Haitian homes are more simple shapes than small homes in
other parts of the Caribbean. Yet, despite a scarcity of resources, they
have always been lavished with beautiful colors and patterns- Life may besimple, but it can be vibrant and beautiful.
Above: Wood decoration
Left: Painted patterns on a home near Hinche and vent block railing
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Left: Vent block windows and a bright taxi
Add some paint into the bud get so Haitian s c an per sonalize their build ings
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IMAGE CREDITS
Sketches on pages 9, 12, 14, 15, 16- 19, 21- 25 by Patti Stouter.
Photographs on pages 3 top & middle, 4 bottom, 6 top & bottom right, 7 top & bottom, 8, 9 middle left, 10, 13 middoe, 17 top left,
19 bottom, 26 top & middle right & bottom right by Christine T. Neptune. Plan on page 7 by Christine T. Neptune. Plan sketch on
page 5 based on site plan by Marcel Neptune. Used with permission.
Photographs on page 13 top & bottom,22 top and bottom by Jay D. Edwards. Used with permission.
Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, used by permission, retrieved athttp://commons.wikimedia.org/:
p. 3 bottom Roadside Market1-21-2010 Fred W. Baker, IIIp. 4 top EQ damage overhead, US Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sondry-Kay Kneenp. 6 bottom left Carpenters Workshop Remi Kauppp. 12 Haiti EQ building damage, Clindberg
p. 16 top Papslam, Alsandro, middle Lone House, Remi Kauppp. 24 middle right, Basse Ravine, Remi Kauppp. 25 bottom right Habitation St. Domingue, Gaston Vuillierp. 26 top right Haitians in PauP marketplace, Petty Ofcr 2nd class Candice Villarreal, USN
Photographs on pages 2, 7 middle right, 11 top, 19 top & middle left & bottom right www.saintmonicasinhaiti.com. Used with
permission.
Photograph on page 14 middle left and bottom right, 15 middle leftwww.earthbagbuilding.com. Used with permission.
Map detail on page 5 from the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, topographic coverage by KLM.
HELPING ACROSS CULTURES
The purpose of aid should be to empower people to improve their own lives and communities. Helpers from a different culture
often dont realize how little they understand the needs. Even with the best cross -cultural information, they continually miss or
misinterpret important issues.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/http://commons.wikimedia.org/http://commons.wikimedia.org/http://www.saintmonicasinhaiti.com/http://www.saintmonicasinhaiti.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.saintmonicasinhaiti.com/http://commons.wikimedia.org/ -
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Good designs for Haiti are based on how Haitian houses, neighborhoods, and towns function.
Ask Haitians for opinions often, and follow their advice. People being helped need to take ownership in any project by maki ng real
decisions about the land chosen, location of buildings, building shape, rooms, and construction methods.xlviii Something that the
future tenants have not planned and worked for may seem like it is free. But it is more likely to be, actually, simply without value.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SOME WEB SITES WITH PHOTOS OF HAITIAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE:
http://www.alliance-haiti.com/societe/technique/architecture.htm
http://www.haitiphotos.com/my_weblog/architecture/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/hai
tiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&pr
ev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-
us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1
http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/LM_tikay_blan.jpg
http://www.visualgeography.com/categories/haiti/houses.html
WEB SITES ABOUT REBUILDING IN HAITI
http://haitirewired.wired.com
http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/taxonomy/term/470
www.earthbagstructures.com See note under earthbag below.
BOOKS AND ARTICLES ABOUT HAITIAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE:
http://www.alliance-haiti.com/societe/technique/architecture.htmhttp://www.alliance-haiti.com/societe/technique/architecture.htmhttp://www.haitiphotos.com/my_weblog/architecture/http://www.haitiphotos.com/my_weblog/architecture/http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/LM_tikay_blan.jpghttp://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/LM_tikay_blan.jpghttp://www.visualgeography.com/categories/haiti/houses.htmlhttp://www.visualgeography.com/categories/haiti/houses.htmlhttp://haitirewired.wired.com/http://haitirewired.wired.com/http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/taxonomy/term/470http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/taxonomy/term/470http://www.earthbagstructures.com/http://www.earthbagstructures.com/http://www.earthbagstructures.com/http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/taxonomy/term/470http://haitirewired.wired.com/http://www.visualgeography.com/categories/haiti/houses.htmlhttp://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/LM_tikay_blan.jpghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/images/Rosahu1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://virtuelfransk.weibrecht.net/undervis/haitiweb/bienvenue.htm&usg=__ktWXFWSLqNsFhHSvQIwu3nQHLGI=&h=332&w=254&sz=11&hl=en&start=20&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=V9hvmIHfAcy5UM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527maison%2Btraditionnelle%2Bhaitienne%2527%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7GPEA_enUS290%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1http://www.haitiphotos.com/my_weblog/architecture/http://www.alliance-haiti.com/societe/technique/architecture.htm -
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Berthelot, Jack and Martine Gaume, Kaz antiye jan moun ka rete =Caribbean Popular Dwelling = Lhabitat populaire aux Antilles,
trans. Karen Bowie, traduction creole Robert Fontes, Jean-Pierre et Juliette Santon (Guadeloupe: Editions perspectives creole,: 1982)
Correa, Charles, Architecture in a Warm Climate, Mimar 5: Architecture in Development 5 (1982). Retrieved at
http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/collection.jsp?collection_id=873-10-2010
Edwards, Jay D. Rebuilding Haiti- Lessons from Katrina, unpublished powerpoint presentation, 2010
Edwards, Jay D., Origins of Creole Architecture Winterthur Portfolio, 29 (Summer - Autumn, 1994) 155- 189
Fisher, Anthony Hart and John Michael Vlach, The Popular Architecture of Haiti, Mimar 23: Architecture in Development 23 (1987).
Retrieved athttp://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=44443-10-2010
Mintz, Sidney W., Houses and Yards Among Caribbean Peasantry in Perspectives on the Caribbean: A Reader, Philip W. Scher, ed.,
(Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010)
Neptune, Christine Therese, Creating New Precedents for Residential Design in the Contemporary Haitian SocietyThesis dissertation
for M. Architecture (Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 2002)
Slesin, Suzanne, Stafford Cliff, Jack Berthelot, Martine Gaume, Daniel Rozensztroch, photo. Gilles de Chabaneix,Caribbean Style (NY:
Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1985)
Vlach, John Michael, Sources of the Shotgun House, volumes 1 and 2 (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms International, 1975)
Vlach, John Michael, The Shotgun House- An African Architectural Legacy, in Common Places: Readings in American Vernacular
Architecture, John M. Vlach and Del Upton, eds. (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1986)
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN GENERAL
Oliver, Paul, Dwellings: The Vernacular House Worldwide (London: Phaidon Press, 2003)
Oliver, Paul, ed. Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, volumes 1 and 3 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1997)
CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN
http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/collection.jsp?collection_id=87http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/collection.jsp?collection_id=87http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/collection.jsp?collection_id=87 -
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Brown, G.Z. and Mark Dekay, Sun, Wind & Light: Architectural Design Strategies, second edition (NY: John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2001)
Lauber, Wolfgang, Tropical Architecture (Munich: Prestel, 2005)
Stouter, Patti, Shaping Buildings for the Humid Tropics: Cultures, Climates, and Materials, a 28-page ebook 2008 available at
http://earthbagbuilding.com/pdf/shapingbuildings1.pdf
INEXPENSIVE EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
EARTHBAG
Owen Geiger, Kelly Hart, and the author are developing multiple earthquake resistant emergency shelter plans and construction
details using earthbag. Over the past month these have been revised to work in Haitis culture, climate, and materials. Several are
being tested in mid-March. More information should be available atwww.earthbagbuilding.com later in March.
People seeking help on specific aid projects underway may benefit from joining the private shelter blog at
www.earthbagstructures.com. For an invitation or to ask for plans, contact Owen at strawhousesATyahoo.com Kelly at
kellyhartATgreenhomebuilding.com or Patti at handshapedlandATyahoo.com
RAMMED EARTH,CEB,ADOBE,LIGHT CLAY
Minke, Gernot, Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (Basel: Birkhauser, 2006) A large book that
covers scientific characteristics of earth, and techniques for rammed earth, cob, adobe, cast light clay, and compressed earth blocks.
Minke, Gernot, Construction Manual for Earthquake-Resistant Houses Built of Earth (Eschborn, Germany: GATE-Building Advisory
Service and Information Network, 2001). Available athttp://www2.gtz.de/dukumente/bib/04-5789.pdf. Structures of rammed
earth, or wood and CEB or tubular earthbag.
Other Materials
The World Housing Encyclopedia at http://www.world-housing.net/has tutorials for earthquake resistant construction techniques
for reinforcing existing adobe, building new adobe with mesh, and building confined masonry and reinforced concrete frames.
There are many promising new materials as well. Earthbag has been spreading around the world because of its simplicity and its
potential to dampen the severity of quake forces. This potential is being tested by engineering students. Rubble in gabions offers
promise in some settings. Other lighter-weight materials may be quicker to build or more easily made quake resistant. Compressed
http://earthbagbuilding.com/pdf/shapingbuildings1.pdfhttp://earthbagbuilding.com/pdf/shapingbuildings1.pdfhttp://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://www.earthbagstructures.com/http://www.earthbagstructures.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www2.gtz.de/dukumente/bib/04-5789.pdfhttp://www2.gtz.de/dukumente/bib/04-5789.pdfhttp://www2.gtz.de/dukumente/bib/04-5789.pdfhttp://www.world-housing.net/http://www.world-housing.net/http://www.world-housing.net/http://www2.gtz.de/dukumente/bib/04-5789.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.earthbagstructures.com/http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/http://earthbagbuilding.com/pdf/shapingbuildings1.pdf -
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plastic trash Ubuntu-blox have withstood severe shake table tests. Other low-tech and inexpensive materials may include geo-
textiles, fiber and clay mixes, or high strength plasters. The level of termite and mold damage, and the amount of precipitation also
influence material choices. For a general introduction to low-tech and inexpensive alternative materials, please see
http://buildsimple.org/learn.php.
The real questions are: What do local builders intuitively feel comfortable with?, and Can they afford to make it safe for the local
level of hazard?
NOTES:
i C. M. Deasy with Thomas E. Lasswell, Designing Places for People: A Handbook on Human Behavior for Architects, Designers, andFacility Managers, 1985 NY Whitney Library of Design p. 9ii Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language . The website athttp://www.patternlanguage.com/is also very helpful.iii For a more indepth analysis of this and the regional patterns mentioned next, see Abraham Rodriguez, Haitian Renconstructionthru Education: Pattern Language Development; unpublished report for Fall 2011 Architecture course by Hajo Neis and Yeosaine
Huggins at the Portland Urban Architecture Research Laboratory, pp. 9- 13iv Jay D. Edwards, Comments on Haitian Wisdom for Aid Buildings, (unpublished paper: 2010) 2v Christopher Robin Andrews & Seth Wachtel, Kreyl Living Wisdom & Haiti Regeneration: Using Indigenous Environmental Patterns,Dec 2010, p. 3vi Farmer, p. 167vii Edwards, Comments, 3viii the Haitian League, Lakou to the rescue, atwww.haitianleague.org/LakouProject/LakouUSA.ppt. Retrieved 3-1-2010ix Deasy p. 28x Ian davis what is the vision for sheltering and housing in Haiti Summary Observations of Reconstruction Progress following the Haiti
Earthquake of January 12th 2010xi Paul Oliver, Built To Meet Needs, p. 179- 180xii Deasy p. 47xiii Caribbean Style, Forward, Jan Morris Introduction, Jack Berthelot and Martine Gaume.xiv Paul Oliver, ed. Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, vol. 3 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997) 1714xv Deasy p. 48- 49xvi santo community development masterplan architecture for humanity habitat for humanityxvii Santo, p. 22xviii boyle
http://buildsimple.org/learn.phphttp://buildsimple.org/learn.phphttp://www.patternlanguage.com/http://www.patternlanguage.com/http://www.patternlanguage.com/http://www.haitianleague.org/LakouProject/LakouUSA.ppthttp://www.haitianleague.org/LakouProject/LakouUSA.ppthttp://www.haitianleague.org/LakouProject/LakouUSA.ppthttp://www.haitianleague.org/LakouProject/LakouUSA.ppthttp://www.patternlanguage.com/http://buildsimple.org/learn.php -
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xix Santo, p. 222xx Santo p. 27, 82xxi Boylexxii Santo p. 88xxiii Santo p. 223xxiv Wolfgang Lauber, Tropical Architecture (Munich: Prestel, 2005) 9xxv Santo, p. 25xxvi Norbert Schoenauer, 6,000 Years of Housing 179- 180xxvii Santo p. 96xxviiiBerthelot and Gaume, Introduction in Caribbean Style, 3xxix Santo, p. 222xxx Perspectives on the Caribbean: A Reader Philip W Scher, Sidney Mintz p. 14xxxi Christine Therese Neptune, Creating New Precedents for Residential Design in the Contemporary Haitian Society Thesisdissertation for M. Architecture (Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 2002) 22xxxii
Charles Correa, Architecture in a Warm Climate, Mimar 5: Architecture in Development 5 (1982) 33. Retrieved athttp://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=44443-1-2010xxxiii transitional to what? Architecture for Humanity / Habitat for Humanity Adam Saltzman . Cara Speziale . Eric Cesal . Heidi Arnold .Schendy Kernizanxxxiv Santo, housing focus groupxxxv encyclopedia of vernacular architecture of the World, Paul Oliver ed. Cambridge U press, cambridge uk, 1997 p. 74xxxvi Berthelot and Gaume, Kaz antiye pp. 13- 14xxxviihttp://www.cidihca.com/haiti_architecture.htmCentre International de Documentation et d'Information Hatienne, Caribenneet Afro-canadienne (CIDIHCA)xxxviii Santo, p. 18, 20, 222xxxix Neptune, Creating New Precedents, 22xl Berthelot and Gaume, Kaz antiye, 77xli Berthelot, 81xlii Neptune, Creating New Precedent, 28xliii Paul Oliver, Dwellings: The Vernacular House Worldwide (London: Phaidon Press, 2003) 166xliv Berthelot and Gaume, Kaz antiye, 9xlv Caribbean Style, Berthelot and Gaume, Introduction 2-3xlvi Berthelot and Gaume, Kaz antiye, 2xlvii Caribbean Style, Forward, Jan Morris Introduction, Jack Berthelot and Martine Gaume.
http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444http://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444http://www.cidihca.com/haiti_architecture.htmhttp://www.cidihca.com/haiti_architecture.htmhttp://www.cidihca.com/haiti_architecture.htmhttp://www.cidihca.com/haiti_architecture.htmhttp://www.archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=4444 -
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xlviii Oliver Built p. 216