Architecture For Humanity and the California Fires
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.25.07
Architecture for Humanity, who we usually think of as working in distant locations, hits the ground running yet again. The local San Diego chapter is already hard at work with Rebuild San Diego, helping seniors and looking for anything and everything, from food, to toiletry, to bedding. They have a page up already on the Open Architecture Network put out the call-
"As voluntary architects and designers we have the opportunity to use your our skills and assets to come together and help Rebuild San Diego. If any of you are interested in seeking out volunteer opportunities, you can get in contact with us by sending an email to rebuildsandiego (at) gmail.com. From there, we will round up folks, set up a meeting and see what we can do." ::Rebuild: San Diego If, like me, you are too far away to pitch in physically, do so virtually by making a tax-deductible ::Donation via Paypal like I just did.
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Why rebuild? Let it grow in naturally! Maybe this is mother nature saying,"DON'T BUILD HERE!!!"
I'm not trying to be a jerk, and it's very sad and crazy for those that lost everything, but it would be nice to start over right and try not to repeat the same mistakes we keep making year after year.
maybe people just need to know the risks and be required to take proper precautions before building in a brush zone. i.e., no eaves or other overhangs (unless they are metal or something equally non-combustible), build your house out of concrete and/or cmu, and put in an interior AND exterior sprinkler system. there are ways to be smart about it.
on a side note, i don't ever remember people saying similar things en masse about people that build their houses in coastal areas that are prone to hurricanes.
With xericulture-architecture, more land could be rebuilt than with traditonal archicture/landscaping, although there should be as much redevelopment banned as feasible.
If people don't irrigate land, there's less biomass buildup to burn (including organic material buildup in soil), and less severe burns. Combined with heavier duty construction, (more steel, hardwood, less particleboard, softwood 2x4) this environment IS habitable by populations. People MUST, however, change their ideas of suburban living, and become desert people, not golf people.
Listed Green hopes that this tragedy will bring some new opportunity to rebuild with progressive, innovative, energy efficient and fire-resisitant building products and ideas.
A wake up call for all of us - time for change.
I could care less on helping rich folks who build in fire areas or barrier islands. Assume the risk in these places when you build a $$$$ house/estate. Don't ask me to subsidize you. At least they got out of those pesky ARMs that are readjusting.
I could care less on helping rich folks who build in fire areas or barrier islands. Assume the risk in these places when you build a $$$$ house/estate. Don't ask me to subsidize you. At least they got out of those pesky ARMs that are readjusting.
Does this architecture group follow sustainable practices?
The insurance payout to rebuild is going to be minimal, since so much of the value in that area resides in the land itself. Accordingly, in all likelihood, the houses will be rebuilt using the cheapest materials, using the same old wasteful building practices.