Reflective Statement

The greatest humanitarian challenge we face today is that of providing shelter.   In the Fond Des Blanc design project, as architecture students, we were given the opportunity to design a housing community for the local residences.  When you take people of limited means and put them in well-designed homes, you change their lives by giving them stability, pride, and hope.  This positive affirmation carries out into the neighborhood and surrounding communities. 

Retired Expatriate 3 BIG IDEAS

Fond-des Blanc

 

3 BIG IDEAS 

Awareness of culture and environment is a necessity for good design. I selected a building site convenient to the pavilion and the walking bridge in a semi-private setting as it relates to the over-all master plan.  Fruit trees on the west side of the house provides privacy,  reduces summer heat gain, and provide fresh fruit for the homeowner.  In determinig the house program,   I created a simple design, easily replicated.  The entire method of construction and technology, in the form of rainwater harvesting, is independent of imported materials and labor.  The methods used in construction and technology are designed toward the Haitian people, empowering them by creating employment and stability; and by putting housing back into the hands of the people. By creating a simple, easily replicated design, utilizing local labor, and materials; the community can continue with its growth and progress.  

1.       Rainwater Harvesting:   A convenient and adequate supply of water is a necessity for the  homeowner.  The rainwater collection system's design is also a determinant in the over-all design of the home and expressed in the main circulation of the interior.  Where the rainwater converges on the final roof plane, the metal roofing material changes to concrete.  This change in material emphasizes the rains journey to the rain barrel and the main entrance of the home.

2.    Built-in Furniture:  My decision to  incorporate build-in furniture was determined by a number of  factors.  The square footage of the home totals 975.  Utilizing built-ins create more open space  in a small area and provides more storage options.  The design features baskets for storage in kitchen and bedrooms  and custom seat cushions for living and dining area, made of local materials by local craftsmen.   This is a more practical concept and benefits the local economy.   Hiring local craftsmen provides income and promotes pride and involvement in the community.  It is also more cost efficient and logistically easier due to the cost of transportation and the lack of adequate roads.

3.  Emphasis on Public and Private Space: The interior public and private spaces are proportionally equal (diagram 2).  The public interior is defined by the sheltering roof and the exterior public space is defined by a tree canopy.  Where the two  spaces overlap, I incorporated a front porch.  The porch concept connects the public roofed interior space with the outside public exterior space (diagram 4).  A front porch is very important in the Haitian culture.  It serves as "the" social gathering place.

   

   

 

   

   

 

Fond-des-Blancs Diaries

The following are journal entries from two every different people living in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti.

Dear Diary:                 07/13/2011

I woke up this morning with a good feeling about the day. You would think I would be used to waking up to roosters by now. I suppose it’s better than car horns, screaming children and the hustle of city life, but they never cease to startle me every morning. I love my new job. The school is very nice. The classrooms are much more simple than those I remember in Port-au-Prince. I think it makes for fewer distractions. I have been told some blan are coming to expand the classrooms and design a library for the kids. I think it will be wonderful to have a library.

I have known since I was a child that I wanted to be a teacher. I am only 17 though, and I’m not sure how well the children respect me. Mom would be so proud of me for moving away from the city. That was always her dream. I miss her today. I still can’t erase the memory of that fateful day…I don’t suppose I ever will forget.

I feel much safer in this town. Fond-des-Blancs has given me hope for a better way of life. I walk about 45 minutes to get to school. I have been told it is about 3 ½ miles. As I was walking this morning to school, I passed by a group of children gathered around a pipe coming out of the ground. They were gathering water…fresh water!

That is something I rarely had the privilege of having. We couldn’t afford it. The riverbeds were always dried up and the water that remained was very dirty. I sent my brother to fetch some water once school let out this afternoon. He is happy to do it. He is only 9, but he knows he still has some responsibilities. I try to let him be a kid as much as possible though. He has discovered his love of football, as many of the young boys have.

I am so thankful to have met that man that day in the city. No one has ever paid me any attention. God must have put him in my path that day. I must admit I was scared to move away from everything I knew in the city. I was skeptical of this job offer. I’m glad I came. Now my little brother has a chance to be part of a community. He has the chance to be a kid. I wish I had that chance, but I am so thankful I am where I am now.

I live with 6 other teachers. They have made me feel very welcome. They have even taken on my little brother as one of their own. We live in a 3 bedroom house. I share a room with Madeline and my brother. I don’t mind though. She is sweet and doesn’t mind sharing her space. She tells me that he reminds her of her little brother, but she rarely speaks of him. He stayed in the city with her parents. She came here the same way I did, and she is 19. She is like a sister to me. I could live her forever.               

-Amica

Journal Entry: Life back in Haiti  07/13/2011

It is our first week back in Fond-des-Blancs. I have thought about this time in my life for a long time. I have always wanted to retire here, but never thought I would have it in me to come back. Being back here just for a few days has made me realize how many things I have taken for granted living in a big city…electricity, running water, being able to sleep in… I miss New York, but we are excited about retiring here. My wife was only 9 when she moved to the states. She doesn’t remember much about her life in Haiti. I was 19 when I moved. I grew up here in Fond-des-Blancs. It’s funny how you can remember so much after so long. I probably haven’t thought about my childhood in 5 or 6 years. And even then, it’s been almost 45 years since I have been here.

As my wife and I took a walk along to road to market, we passed a family leading 2 head of cattle. I remember what that was like. We knew that if we sold one, we would have enough money to live off of for a month or two.

Market has changed drastically since I have been here. There are people on motorcycles, people driving through the streets through the crowds of people, people with megaphones… I certainly didn’t expect to see any of these. One thing hasn’t changed though…women run the market place. Their whole family’s income for the week may come from just that one day in market. I could tell they needed the money, but they seemed happy nonetheless. We gathered what we needed, and some things that we didn’t, and had some help to carry it back to our house.

We are still waiting on a well to be dug behind our house so that we can have running water. Until then, we have a young boy to help us out with fetching water. Many of them do not know what it’s like to have water come to their homes, so they don’t know the difference. It would be too hard on us to gather water each day. We are also waiting on a satellite dish to be installed on our roof. We have only been away for a week, but we already dearly miss our grandkids. Having Internet will make my wife happy so she can see them and talk to them.

I do miss having glass windows. There’s a bunch of damn roosters that peck around outside our house and make a lot of noise, and the vent blocks make the walls seem like they aren’t even there. We do like getting up early, though. We love to get up and watch the sunrise over the mountains. We have watched the sun rise over the skyscrapers and layers and layers of buildings for 30+ years. Being back in the mountains is so calming. I look forward to the coming years. 

-Perry

Reflection & Next Steps

Traveling to Haiti gave us a whole new perspective on life, culture, construction, climate, and all kinds of other local conditions. It was a truly humbling and life changing experience. We could go on and on about key issues we were able to identify, but we've chosen the ones that are most relevant to our project:

Local Materials / Construction Technologies:

When designing in any unfamiliar context, it is always important to look at local construction practices, available materials, and feasibility of access/transportation. Being wise about your material palate is mandatory when designing in these conditions. Concrete and masonry were pretty much the norm.. Concrete block are often cast on site, making transportation to remote locations much easier. There was hardly any glass on the structures we saw. Rather, vent blocks were used. These allow cross ventilation, and cooperate well with the wall assembly module. Like blocks, they can be cast on site as well.

Vent blocks: the local standard for ventilation and openings in Haitian construction. Photo by Zach Smith

Shade, Light, and Ventilation:

Lack of air-conditioning is the standard in almost all of Haiti. This makes solar orientation, aperture sizing, shading methods extremely important. Haitian construction utilizes vent block, or hollow cmu shapes, for window construction. If planned well and placed correctly, these may also contribute to cross ventilation. Shade is another thing to strive for. Haiti is very hot almost all year round. Planning using solar orientation is an important part of construction. Deep overhangs are also a way to provide shade to openings in the structure.

Open air vent block in Haitian classroom. Photo by Zach Smith

Porch and Community

We quickly became aware that the porch of a Haitian house is usually the most important "room" of any residence. Our clients mentioned that almost all gatherings at one's house took place on their porch. Through our design, we must look for a way to give hierarchy to this important space in Haitian culture.

Porch area in Fond-des-Blancs home. Photo by Cassidy Barnett

Privacy

While the Haitian People had a strong sense of community, privacy was also a significant thing. The idea of having one's own property was very important to people there. Almost all the property lines in Fond des Blancs we marked off with rows of cacti. In a country were everyone has very little, the people are very proud of the things they do possess.

Local privacy fence with wooden gate entrance. The actual fences are cacti. Photo by Cassidy Barnett

Pragmatic, Sustainable Construction Practices

What we American's know as "style" is not as high of a priority in a country like Haiti. We must find ways to create architecture with a sustainable material palate, without being wasteful or inefficient. We must find ways to building sustainably in a country that often doesn't have the luxury to use green technologies.

Concrete blocks cast on site. Photo by Zach Smith

Visit to Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti

Culture

Upon arrival to Fond-des-Blancs, after a 4 hour bus ride that covered only about 70 miles, we knew we were in for a culture shock. The comforts of home, like readily available water, electricity, air conditioning, etc, were nowhere to be found. The house we stayed was connected to a generator to provide some of these things, but only for about an hour a day.

Group gathered outside Jean and Joy's guest house (where we stayed). Photo by Cassidy Barnett

During our daily activities, most of which consisted of walking or hiking, we were able to witness the daily life of the Haitian people living in Fond-des-Blancs. Although we were able to witness, it was very hard for us to relate to and understand. For some, much of the day was spent traveling (by foot or donkey) to gather clean water, which often came from nearby streams. In the same streams, sheep, chickens, donkeys, and cattle drank while the women washed their clothing in it.

Local women washing their clothing in the stream. Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. Photo by Cassidy Barnett

The market was an unforgettable experience, in many aspects. There were no storefronts, credit card machines, or cash registers. Many items were laid out on a cloth on the dirt, while some had wooden tables under a tent. Women worked and sold most of the items at market, while men and women of all ages crowded the market’s main cross-section.

Fond-des-Blancs market. Photo by Zach Smith

We stuck out worse than a sore thumb. Unlike in the city, where aid relief and tourism is common, many people of Fond-des-Blancs rarely see groups of white people.

Some of our group walking through the market. Photo by Zach Smith

Fond-des-Blancs market. Photo by Zach Smith

Motorcycles and cell phones were a phenomena that it still a mystery to us. In a country where people barely have enough money to eat and drink clean water, they have cell phones and many have motorcycles.

Photo by Zach Smith

Many of these cultural aspects are foreign and hard for many of us to understand. As we returned home, we felt as though we had a good understanding of daily life and living quarters of the people of Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. 

Site Overview

During our site visits, it was immediately apparent to us that the parameters of the site were smaller than we had envisioned. The west side of the site has slopes on each side of the stream much steeper than we originally thought. The vegetation is lush, with many different types of trees and shrubs.

Site boundary at stream crossing. Photo by Cassidy Barnett

A group palm trees at the front of the site creates a natural shaded area.

Palm trees. Photo by Cassidy Barnett

There are also several cleared-out areas, as seen below.

Photo by Zach Smith