Haiti-Patrimoine

A lecture given by Randolph Langenbach that includes a large section on Haiti, is now available for viewing in its entirety on line at YouTube.com and Vimeo.com. 

CLICK HERE
to view video of the lecture

This slide presentation explores a comparison between traditional forms of construction and the most common contemporary construction type now used throughout much of the world – reinforced concrete with infill masonry. The session will discuss how one of the traditional construction typologies could form the basis for possible collapse-prevention Read the rest of this entry →

The April 2010 Mission Report by the World Monuments Fund reconnaissance team is now published, and freely available on the World Monuments Fund website.  The book is authored by Randolph Langenbach, Stephen Kelley, Patrick Sparks, Kevin Rowell, Martin Hammer, and Olsen Jean Julien.  It was edited by WMF editor, Erica Avrami.  It was published in December, 2010. ISBN-10 1-890879-42-8; ISBN-13 978-1-890879-42-6

This mission report documents the assessment process and outcomes, including mapping of the historic buildings, photographic documentation of damage, an online Gingerbread Damage Survey Database, a preliminary condition and repair feasibility analysis, recommendations for conservation strategies, and community workshops to advance the revitalization process.

This 85 page book is available in both English and in French as a free PDF from the World Monuments Fund website.  Please click on the title below.

English: Preserving Haiti’s Gingerbread Houses

Française: La préservation des maisons de style gingerbread d’Haïti

Clicking on title above will take you to the World Monuments Fund website where you can download a free copy.

NOTE: If you view it as a two-page spread, be sure to check “Show Cover during 2-up” on the  (on a Mac, it is “book mode” or words to that effect) in the View > Page Display Menu in the Acrobat Reader.  The Table of Contents and all odd numbered pages should appear on the RIGHT when you view the book correctly as designed.

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The Hotel Florita in Jacmel at Rue du Commerce #29 needs help in restoring it’s courtyard. The earthquake destroyed the finest part of the courtyard and we cannot find anyone who has the skill to do the brick work. Help!

The Guardian (formerly the Manchester Guardian) published an article by Steve Rose on the 1st anniversary of the Haiti earthquake featuring an interview with Michèle D.Pierre-Louis, president of FOKAL and describes the Gingerbread District, mentioning the World Monuments Fund reconnaissance mission to help preserve the houses.  The article illustrates a very different image of Haiti from the death and destruction that has been the usual fare for the press.  The article is available at:     Guardian January 12, 2011 Article: “HAITI:ROCKED TO ITS FOUNDATIONS“

Aljazeera.net has posted a news story on the Gingerbread Houses dated August 23, 2010 at 23:12 Mecca Time.  Olsen Jean-Julian is featured in it, interviewed in front of the Oloffson Hotel.  You can see the video  and read the article by clicking on this  link: Aljazeera News Article on Gingerbreads

TIME Magazine 26 July 2010

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On July 8-10, 2010 at the Colegio de Arquitectos y Arquitectos Paisajistas de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Coalition of Caribbean Urbanists assembled to undertake what at the Ecole de Beaux Arts is called a ” charrette” to “interchange ideas and alternatives on the future development and recovery of Port-au-Prince as a contemporary sustainable governable metropolitan area.” This enabled urbanists from Haiti to meet and work with others from the the islands of the Caribbean “to address Read the rest of this entry →

“TWIG “local building materials in construction” under the Early Recovery Sub Cluster: « Logement-Quartiers » First Bi-weekly meeting

This meeting will be co-chaired by:
Dr.Steeve Ambroise assistant technical Director in charge of the building sector.
Kevin Rowell, Program Director for Kleiwerks International

With over 1.2 million Haitian in need of shelter in the short term and adequate housing in the long term, UN- Habitat and its partners invite you Read the rest of this entry →

Integrating environment friendly coir and cir-pith clay construction elements to Produce green buildings.

Jürgen Becker

Institute of Bio- Architecture & Ecology

Udayan, Auroville, India, 2010

Background

The construction industry is at present polluting & environmentally unfriendly at every phase, aside from failing to provide a good living quality. It contributes  30% of the CO2 emission Read the rest of this entry →

IBE India

The horrific scenes of death and destruction remind me painfully of these after

the tsunami in India and Indonesia. At that time I experienced how fast,

professional help is of the utmost importance. Read the rest of this entry →

This photo was taken by my father, Rex Hardy, who was on assignment for LIFE Magazine around 1937.

Hyppolite Iron Market Bldg-Haiti c.1937

The Dwarf Child of the French Revolution in the Making of the New World

France, Britain, The United States and Haiti are the principle makers of the new world and this world order. The dynamics of the relationship and the disadvantages of Haiti as a small black nation Read the rest of this entry →

Having studied architecture for over 6 years, and having being inspired to do so by the vibrant architecture of my native Haiti, it is upsetting at best to see how little many think of Haiti as they position themselves to make millions out of our tragedy by proposing sub-standard alternative housing for Haitians.  Read the rest of this entry →

ISPAN (The Haitian Institute for the Preservation of the National Heritage) has published Read the rest of this entry →