After the destructive earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti, it became quite clear that the planning of the homes and businesses in the city needed to change to prevent the same level of devastation the next time such an event occurred. It should be of no surprise that a large number of people have put a great deal of time and energy into determining how best to move forward. The video link below, presented by Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. is an intriguing one because it doesn’t seem to just address a physical solution, but also, and possibly more importantly, a social one. Duany presents a new durable model for a home that can be built both quickly and efficiently. However, Duany doesn’t just focus on the layout of a house, but also a neighbourhood as a whole taking into account both a sense of community and a sense of privacy for those that live within it. While I question the realism of such a proposal (Duany estimates that approximately 100 000 people within the city currently are without shelter), it is one that seems to cover a lot of bases.
Check out the video here: Rebuilding Haiti
And while we’re on the subject of Haiti, don’t forget to donate to the Red Cross of Canada or the Red Cross of America
