Issue fact sheet no.12: Living with environmental extremes

fact sheet

Description and analysis

Local environmental factors make building in some parts of the world more difficult and therefore more expensive. In some areas of the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific circular storms with winds over 200 km/h occur frequently. Elsewhere, the meeting of continental plates can result in geological instability, resulting in earthquakes of varying scales. Be it climate or geological activity or any other factor, buildings can be subjected to excessive wear and tear, damage, or even destruction.

Local formal building practices already take into account recurring and therefore predictable extreme conditions. However low-income groups frequently build houses from materials or in locations that make them vulnerable to destruction by for example earthquakes in Guatemala and Iran, or typhoons in South Asia.

Parry technology lasts - look in our Photograph Archive to see roofs that survive places with reputations for turbulent weather.

Design response

The challenge is to develop more robust forms of construction that are still affordable by low-income people. This requires any technology introduced to be easily adopted by self-build organisations and simple, without requirement for specialist contracting skills.

Parry Associates technical input

We have been instrumental in innovating new technology, adapting and refining traditional methods to improve the durability of buildings. Our company provides a full range of equipment that creates the capacity to produce components that can cope with extreme environments. We can provide design advice on the maximum level of possible incorporation of locally available resources.

Local resources required

As with all low cost construction, the design emphasis needs to be on using abundant, preferably renewable natural resources in the locality concerned. There should be minimum external purchases, generally confined to binders such as cement and basic reinforcements such as frames, tensile rods and fibres. Locally grown materials such as rattan, bamboo and agave fibres should be incorporated wherever possible.

Potential local business response

Entrepreneurial abilities are needed to take on activities that will seem novel but if presented effectively will be seen as having commercial potential. The ideal experience is from contracting, self-employed skilled artisans and small-scale manufacturing.

Other fact sheets are available on:
Import Substitution : Livelihoods for the disabled : Mud and dust in hospitals, schools and offices : Low energy construction : Living with floods : Rural economic development and stability : Reviving a war-torn economy and providing employment for ex-combatants : Quality housing at low cost : Work for women : Roof structures without using timber : Living with diurnal extremes : Living with environmental extremes : Being prepared for the next Earthquake

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