Destruction in Fondwa

As you drive down the road to Fondwa, almost every APF building has been destroyed.

Even parts of our living complex were destroyed...the concrete guest house was unsafe and our dining walls were USAID tarps.

Temporary shelters for APF orphans were constructed.

Tarps were distributed for families throughout Fondwa.

An Interesting Observation

Concrete houses were either destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquake, while the traditional houses escaped with very little damage.  

Assessing Construction Materials

Bob Theis (Left), GMf's team architect, is associated with a well-established natural building group.  Bob and Thomas Israel, GMf Co-Founder, assessed the masonry construction and materials. 

Laying Out Plans for Fondwa

With a Laser Measuring Distance Device, Bob surveyed the major APF sites for the development of a master plan for Fondwa.   We were brought to potential sites for the university and other areas that had been destroyed, in preparation of new rebuilding plans.

The Architect's Office 

Bob actually had the best office of all!    With a make-shift drawing board made from a discarded door, parallel rule, drawing pencils and paper, he was set for work on his private veranda.  

Bob' Office view was constantly changing as our house was at the center of activity on the Twoukoffee intersection -- young guys going to cockfights, school kids playing soccer, peasants going to market on donkey or foot, or others stopping by the local shop to get some fresh-cooked Creole food or daily supplies. 

Peasants Provide Input Into the Design

The peasants would stop by and visit, providing Bob input into Fondwa's plan.  They were amazed there was no computer renderings.  

Sherylne Joseph, head of the OFPF (Women's Group), and Bob worked on designing OFPF's new building for their food processing business which was destroyed in the earthquake.  Together they measured the land and put the plan together with much thought to materials and design.

Natural Building Materials Explored

The use of bamboo was discussed during many conversations with the peasant farmers. and on a field trip to a bamboo plantation.   Although some peasants are hesitant on the use of bamboo for building, others made some strong points in its favor:

• Bamboo can prevent erosion on hillsides. 
• Bamboo used in building provides strength and flex of walls.
• Bamboos can be locally grown.

Bob added that: 

• The strength and flexibility of bamboo-framed houses have been proven in previous earthquakes zones and stand up well in hurricanes
• Bamboo meets USA building codes.
• Architects and designers are building beautiful large bamboo buildings in Hawaii, Costa Rica, US, and Taiwan.

The group visited a bamboo plantation, where they not only grow bamboo, but have a furniture factory.

The Presentation

On our last day our team presented an overview to the APF Executive Team of Bob's renderings, which were well received,   The final drawings will be in the hands of APF for review and revision.  Much coordination and over site, as well as adequate funding, will need to be in place for the reconstruction of Fondwa.