Background – Examples – Affects / Conclusion
by
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, IPC, FPAC
BACKGROUND
Various activities were undertaken in the Berlin period by the IPC (Charly, Johnny, etc.), which can be disregarded in the present consideration. A special project was the Power Box, a joint effort between Germany and Malaysia (see: www. ...).
With increasing international activity from 1990, which started in Pakistan and then continued into Cameroon, Colombia, etc., new challenges were encountered in the field of construction methods and technology.
EXAMPLES
In the TTTC of the AeFeA (NGO) in Pakistan, solar cookers, solar dryers, windmills (Savonius principle), hot water heaters, also a power box, for applications in rural areas and able to be locally produced, i.e. also without electricity and special tools, were made available and accessible not only to the villagers, but also to student visitors for educational purpose.
The objects were made in small quantities, distributed and sold and explained in lectures and workshops - from Adamkot in the south to Bahawalnagar to Abbottabad.
In the case of building methods, foremost the “women's center”, a competition for building samples was carried out, with a jury, awards and an exhibition. Not only experiences from excavations in the ancient city of Harappa by M. Kenoyer (three-layer wall construction used 5000 years ago, today referred to as passive solar architecture) were used, but also tests carried out in the wind tunnel of the TU Berlin before building, in order to ensure natural ventilation and air circulation cycles; The village and the planned development were modeled in accordance with the results of the study.
Different materials were used for the buildings (mud bricks, hollow bricks, solid wall and combinations with insulating material, also upside-down clay pots). The temperature was measured regularly at fixed points in order to use the experiences for later buildings (Lahore, D.I.K.). The experimental buildings in Lahore (PCC and BNU) were financed by the German Embassy and the IPC, the one for DIK (flood victims) by the Rotarians and with the help of the SES. The objects for the flood victims also considered results of developments in adapted technology. The building experiments in the BNU led to establishment of an Institute for Experimental Buildings (IEC, see www. ...).
The requirements for AT (alternative technology) and AB (adapted, climate-friendly construction) were different in Pakistan, Cameroon, Colombia, but similar in prevailing conditions (lack of tools, lack of electricity, etc.).
In Bamenda/Cameroon a permanent exhibition for AT and AB was created in the Center for Adapted Techniques (CAT, NGO), with workshops, lectures and presentations from Douala to Bafoussam to Maroua. A cooperation with the BUST led to the founding of the IAM; CAT's work has received several awards and it has been praised in press articles, the crown was thereby the establishment of RUC / Royal University Centre.
With the support of the then GTZ, as well as the IPC, also with the support of the SES, Misereor, etc., CAT-clubs were established in the districts of the former NW province; the Kids-Club in Bamenda conducted and still conducts environmental workshops, despite the turbulent situation in the English-speaking areas.
In Colombia, TM (ONG) Saboya was able to bring awareness about AT to the people in the town; Through cooperation with a workshop in Chiquinquira, equipment was manufactured for schools (to explain and raise awareness of the students about AT) and remote Fincas (independent of power supply) and introduced for use. A particular success was the branch in Leticia on the Amazon with the assistance of the National University in Bogota (including a course for environmental technology as a run-up to an exhibition in the Museum Leopoldo Rother with material from Germany ). IdEpeT, an institution for like-minded people, was established in project and partner locations. In Colombia, the project work was supported by IPC, DGFK, Misereor and SES.
EFFECTS
If one asks about the achievements of the activities outlined, then, according to spectacular reports in the media, they are visible in everyday life. Everyday life includes coping with the normal demands of life and dealing with other developments. People in rural areas in particular are subject to enormous information pressure from the cities. In order to appear open minded, ideas are being adopted which are usually not compatible with the environment. There is a certain tragedy in the subsequent realizations of the townsfolk, whose previous influence on the rural population had already had a negative impact on the environment. A certain traditional conservative attitude can be helpful here, but it will be difficult for the willing and affected to maintain it.
A remarkable example was the experience in a Pakistani village - one lived there, in today's sense very environmentally friendly, was economical with water and fuel! And all this without much dependence on the urban areas.
CONCLUSION
All in all one can say: Good ideas require the right point in time and a minority that lives what it considers right and environmentally friendly!
Labels: Bamenda, Berlin, Chiquinquira, Cultura e V, DGFK e V, FBTC, FPAC, IPC Cheyenne, Lahore, Nauen, Prof Dr Pintsch, SPAETcolombia, SPARC project, SPATHcameroon
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:45 AM,
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By Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch / FPAC
The NGO A.F.A. is working successfully since over 29 years. In order
to develop the project further, an application for support was made to
the Japanese embassy in 2004 for the purpose of establishing a School
of Home-Economics in the TGD village next to the village school. Due
to the massive earthquake however, all funds were diverted to the
rehabilitation of earthquake victims so the application remained
inconclusive.
In the meanwhile, a requirement for overnight stay is increasingly
felt for regular student groups, which visit the village, also to
witness the use of alternative energy techniques in the village as
well as the cooperation of the village NGO with universities in Lahore
regarding mud construction techniques. Three experimental construction
samples were set up at the Peerzada Cultural Complex, three further
samples and two flood water shelters at the Beaconhouse University.
The experience gained in these trials has led to the conclusion, that
a Bio-Gas unit should be installed at the planned construction site in
order to give access to thy farmers in the village to alternative
technology.
The planned building consists of a ground floor ventilation area,
which can be used by the neighboring residents as cattle keeping area
as well as for the installation of the Bio-Gas unit. Outsiders reach
the rooms level via a bridge leading from the road to the building. In
this way, the visitors as well as the farmers do not disturb each
other. The rooms level is supported by a steel-concrete construction
with different heights fixed with supports. The different levels of
construction aid the air circulation; the rooms are located a little
apart from each other, which also supports the ventilation. A
staircase leads to the next level.
The rooms are made of mud walls. These are protected from rain by the
elongated roofs. The room ceilings are made of bamboo material, so
that the bamboo roof and the steel concrete roofs are separated from
each other for thermal reasons and air can circulate easily between
them.
The planning office in Lahore will make the basic design. It is
intended to integrate students of universities in Lahore into the
project.
The main aim of the project is to demonstrate the use of climate
friendly construction materials. The use of mud as construction
material and alternative energy techniques will show a way for the
future.
Also the location of the one-room houses is to be done in a climate
friendly manner and air circulation is to be promoted through some
distance between them.
The ground floor provides the farmers with a secure place to keep
their cattle and also a location to fix the Bio-Gas unit.
The Bio-Gas unit will be used by the upper level rooms and by the
villager families living near the ground level. The lighting in the
compound will be provided by the photo-voltaic unit installed on the
roof top.
Labels: Bonn, Cheyenne Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch / FPAC, Lahore, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch / IPC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch / SES, SHE near TGD in Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 4:18 PM,
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Read more »Labels: Images, Lahore, Mud Housing Project, SPARC
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 7:57 PM,
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The MHP was initiated through
SPARC (local NGO) in 2010, but it has a history, which began in 1990 in a village development project (
Thatta Kedona) in the district of Okara (
Gogera) in southern Punjab.
The mud construction has a long tradition (
Harappa) in this region and it is still used extensively in the rural areas. However it has not developed further due to the influences of the city culture. Double storeyed mud constructions are however found very seldom. This although mud housing has many positive-construction biological properties and it is much more energy efficient than constructions of baked bricks and steel concrete.
Purpose of the Project
Purpose of the MHP is to emphasize the usefulness and importance of mud construction in city development.
Usefulness
An attempt is being made in cooperation with architecture students of PU, COMSATS, BNU, NCA and a constructor (Thekedar) from Harappa-Museum to develop solutions on the basis of a traditional mud hut, which would ultimately lead to a change in urban development strategies.
Implementation
As a start, construction was started at the premises of the Peersada Cultural Complex; the mud construction serves as accomodation for the handicraft workers.
In cooperation with SPARC and the DGFK (german NGO's), support through the SES (Senior Expert Service) in Bonn and the German embassy in Islamabad was obtained.
Current Importance
The MHP has gained additional importance due to the consequences of the recent floodings in Pakistan.
Short term aims
Help is necessary. Financial means are to be used effectively, local solutions are to be found, the daily requirements (e.g. hot water, cooking, etc.) are to be considered. Possibilities of using Appropriate Technology are to be explored.
Long term aims
The MHP should be understood as the initial flame and its aim to urgently establish a facility for experimental construction, which requires availability of suitable piece of land.
For various reasons, the implementation has to done in steps. The first steps have been taken.
Labels: Lahore, Mud Housing Project
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:34 PM,
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The Mud Housing Project is being currently implemented by SPARC in Lahore.
SPARC had taken up the initiative years ago in order to remind of the importance of mud as construction material and to sensitize the general public in this respect.
Mud is not a construction material of the past; that steel concrete and bricks have pushed back such good construction material is a story in itself. Considering the enormous costs of cooling and heating the current form of buildings, it becomes quite clear that mud is environmentally friendly, energy efficient and biologically far superior.
In order to realize the initiative, SPARC was successful in arranging foreign support as well as a local architect, who is working since the year 2000 in south western Punjab, and together with DGFK, it has been giving prizes under the Preservation of Cultural Heritage program: for the best maintained Mud House, Brick House and the most interesting Design.
Now in the realization phase of the initiative, it was important to gather financial and organizational support as well as participants open to new ideas, which was made easier through the provision of land by the Peerzada Group on their Cultural Complex. The planned rooms are to be used by the handicraft workers as sleeping quarters in the night while they work in Workshops during the day.
Example of appropriate technology (solar cooker i.e.) will also be available for demonstration purpose and in order to be independent of the public technical infrastructure.
This combination was also greeted by the universities PU, COMSATS, BNU, who find it useful for involvement of students in practical projects: construction physical measurements are part of the MHP as also experiments with materials.
Generally speaking, the
MHP comes at a time of extreme flooding misery around the river Indus and therefore unintended becomes current in its own right. There are however no demonstrated examples of the concept, which can contribute to experience and which can be adjusted for example for usage in the crisis regions.
The initiative described above is small, but it has a large potential: Help at the Indus is of course a priority, but the construction methods in the urban areas are to be examined closely in terms of energy consumption. Mud housing is normally ground floor construction, but there are also interesting mud house examples in double storey construction.
A project of experimental construction is therefore required for a more exact evaluation and experimentation of this and other aspects of mud housing.
Labels: Lahore, Mud Architecture, Mud Housing Project
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:29 PM,
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Peersada brothers with Tikedar (contractor) Iqbal from Harappa
Years ago,
SPARC had taken up the initiative to refresh the importance of mud as construction material and to sensitize the general public in this respect. Currently, the Mud Housing Project is being implemented by SPARC in Lahore.
Mud is not a construction material of the past; only steel, concrete and bricks have pushed back such useful construction material, (this is a story in itself.) Considering the enormous costs of cooling and heating the current form of buildings, it becomes quite clear that mud is environmentally friendly, energy efficient and biologically far superior than any other construction material.
In order to realize the initiative, SPARC was successful in arranging foreign support as well as a local architect, who is working since the year 2000 in South Western Punjab, and together with DGFK (German Society for the Advancement of Culture, Berlin), it has been giving prizes under the Preservation of Cutural Heritage program for the best maintained Mud House, Brick House and the most interesting Design.
Now in the realization phase of the initiative, it was important to gather financial and organizational support as well as participants open to new ideas, which was made easier through provision of land by the Peerzada Group near their cultural complex. The planned mud rooms are to be used by the handicraft workers as sleeping quarters in the night while they work in Workshops during the day.
Example of appropriate technology (solar cooker) will also be available for demonstration purpose and in order to be independant of the public technical infrastructure.
This combination was also greeted by the universities Punjab University, COMSATS and BNU, who find it useful for involvement of students in practical projects like construction and physical measurements that are part of the Mud Housing Project.
Generally speaking, the Mud Housing Project comes at a time of extreme flooding misery around the River Indus and therefore unintended becomes current in its own right. There are, however no demonstrated examples of the concept, which can contribute to experience and which can be adjusted for example for usage in the crisis regions.
The initiative described above is small, but it has a large potential: Help in the Indus Basin flood hit areas is of course a priority, but the construction methods in the urban areas are to be examined closely in terms of energy consumption. Mud housing is normally ground floor construction, but there are also interesting mud house examples in double story construction. A project of experimental construction is therefore required for a more exact evaluation and experimentation of this and other aspects of mud housing.
Related:
Mud Housing ProjectLabels: Lahore, Mud Housing Project, Real Estate, SPARC
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:01 AM,
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Labels: Culture, Heritage, Lahore, Mud Village
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:26 AM,
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