AD previ lima

truvian arch he final desi Juried out by insisting of I pgineers and JThe 13 interm Kiyonori Ki Fumihiko M? Charles Corrt Center for (Christopher Sara Ishika' Angel (USA) Toi\ Korho Esguerra, (Columbia) KnudSvenss Oskar Hanse Herbert Ohl Atelier Five J. L. Inigue Caslro (Spai fandilis Jos James Stirln Aldo E. van All their e ing pages ' very compn Lain! tor thi the minorii;

Summary

Photo montage of the international competitors at a briefing session with Peter Land (in front of blackboard), against a picture of El Augustino, Lima, (taken f mm Urban dwelling environments by Horacio Caminos, John F, C. Turner and John A. Stejfian. MIT Report No. 16, 1969).

PREVI/LIMA. LOW COST HOUSING PROJECT The Government of Peru has formulated an experimental project in housing which has as its objective the development of new concepts and techniques utilizing Peruvian and foreign experience. In August 1966 the Government submitted an application to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Experimental Housing Project (Prpyecto Experimental de Vivienda, 'PREVF) which was approved in June 1967. Following the preparation of the plan of operations, the work started in July 1968. The project will be carried out by the Government in collaboration with U N D P over approximately three years and consists of three pilot schemes to be implemented simultaneously in Lima. The entire project is to develop methods and techniques, to be afterwards applied on a larger and significant scale as part of Peru's housing policy.

The first pilot scheme is for the design and construction of a community of approxi187

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mately 1500 low-cost houses.

The second pilot scheme is to develop procedures and techniques to rehabilitate and extend the life of existing older houses.

The third pilot project is to develop methods and techniques for planning the rational establishment and growth of spontaneous housing settlements to meet proper standards.

Each of the pilot projects will be carried out by a separate Development Group consisting of Peruvian and foreign personnel comprising the different specialities needed for each scheme. A Board of Directors for the entire project consists of representatives of national housing and development agencies and the UNDP. The Government will provide the necessary personnel, services and plant to carry out the project and financing for the construction of the new houses. The contribution of UNDP will cover the international competition, specialized foreign personnel,

pilot plant and equipmentforthedevelopmeni of materials and building methods.

Pilot Project I To obtain ideas for Pilot Project I a competition was organized which was open lo all Peruvian architects and to 13 invited foiviLarchitects. The jurors were asked to vk\e Each received $5000.

International winners:

Atelier 5 (Switzerland); Herbert Ohl (Germany Fed. Republic); and Kikuiaki.

Maki and Kurokawa (Japan) Peruvian winners:

Elsa Mazzarri and Manuel Llanos; Fernando Chaparro, Victor Ramirez, Victor Smirnoff and Victor Wyszkowski; and Jacques Crousse.

Jorge Paez, and Ricardo Perez Leon.

It is now the intention of the sponsors to build a number of groups of houses utilising different designs by selected foreign and

The project lion of a co 1500 lam ih Mandatory dwelling 1< 150m2, of between 60 and that ' storeys, sh< third floor, module.

All othe free inter p resources i cencentrat niques ir within the density at row and c to considt storied hi Detaile requested general d final com The 40 ment are< be con no and to t Nearby i; winners fromI The site over whii The qual The watt and elev couples four chi

25 per ct units, f owners. planned children couple, of diffei

n architects (not only the winners), al designs and construction to be out by a Development Group in Lima ing of Peruvian and foreign architects, rs and other specialists. international competitors were: ri Kikutake, Noriaki Kurokawa, iko Maki (Japan) sCorrea (India) for Environmental Structure topher Alexander, Sandy Hirshen, Ishikawa, Christie Coffin, Shlomo (USA) Korhonen (Finland) rra.

Saenz, Urdaneta.

Samper

bia) Svenssons (Denmark) Hansen and Svein Hatloy (Poland) ri Ohl (Germany) Five (Switzerland) liiiguez de Onzono y A. Vazquez de (Spain) lis Josic, Woods (France) Stirling (England) . van Eyck (Holland) heir entries are published on the followges together with extracts from the omprehensive brief (prepared by Peter or the Sponsors), the jurors' report, and inority report.

mary of the brief roject was for the design and construcf a community of low-cost dwellings for families. /flwr requirements were that each ing lot should be between 80m2 and -. of which the dwelling should occupy Mm 2 and 120m-(includingall floors); hat the buildings, initially of 1 or 2 s. should be structurally able to carry a loor, and should be based on the 100mm le. other information in the brief was for nterpretation and was not binding. The rccs of the competition will however 'be nirated to explore and develop techs in architecture and construction n the general area of low rise, fairly high i\d compact housing ... in terrace, nd other formation . . . It is not feasible nsider other alternatives, such as multid buildings'. tailed designs of the dwellings were uested together with only a schematic al design for the community, since the community plan has yet to be prepared. e 40 Hectares site is in a new developarea of Lima 8km north of the centre, to nnected to a local network of new roads to the Metropolitan Roadway System. h\s the coastal Pan-American Highway. site forms part of a 400H residential area which the project will eventually expand. uality of the land and subsoil is excellent. ater supply will be based on tube wells levated storage tanks. elling types were to be 40 per cent for les with two children, 40 per cent with r children, 20 per cent with six children. rcent of each type were to be incomplete , for completion later by the house er:.. All dwellings were to be flexibly ned for eventual accommodation of eight ren of different ages, and one elderly le, in addition to the owners. Dwellings fferent costs were also to be provided for

each size of family. Multi-use of space and furniture was to be demonstrated.

Each dwelling had to provide for living, dining, kitchen, bedroom(s), bathroom(s) and service patio. The living/dining/kitchen areas (generally separate in Peru) could be planned for multiple use, The living area had to have access to a garden or patio, and the kitchen, if combined with dining, should open to this garden/patio, as well as having access to the service patio which links to the outside.

Bedrooms had to have built-in storage.

Bathrooms were to contain basin, shower and w.c. (either of the latter two being separate).

Long corridors were not desirable. Roof areas were to be usable as additional outdoor space, (stair access not to come through the living area).

Lots were to be entirely enclosed by a storeyhigh (2200mm) wall in combination with the walls of the dwelling.

The dwelling was not to be conceived as a .fixed unit bin as a structure with a cycle of evolution. The first phase accommodates the young family. The second provides additions for the growing and new children. The third introduces temporary partitioning for one or two newly-marrieds among the children. In the last stage, the elderly original owners cede place to one of the younger couples and the cycle begins again. (Elderly people do not require separate houses: in Peru they live with members of their family.)

Construction technology was to be developed around the concept of the growing house. The initial basic dwelling fabric and structural system in all complete and incomplete units will be contractor built; and technical advice and assistance in building will be made to families completing their houses.

Services were to be simplified and coordinated. Public water, sewerage and electrical systems will all be connected to the site.

Kerosene will probably be used for cooking and heating; also bottled gas for cooking. But any suggestions for new systems were welcome.

Lima is situated at 12°04' latitude and 77°02' longitude, and is 137m above sea level.

It rarely rains, but there is high humidity. In summer it is hot by day, pleasantly cool at night. There are no strong winds—only a light prevailing SW wind in the afternoons.

The elements of the dwelling were to be arranged so as to be sheltered against this wind (with the exception of the kitchen) yet to make use of it for generous ventilation.

Homes are occupied for long hours during the time for artificial illumination. In summer daylight, the high level of brightness and reflection have to be considered in relation to design of windows.

Furniture and equipment were requested to be shown in the plans, designed on the module, and simple and economical.

The income groups to be catered for were those earning from 2800 to 5800 soles* a month (about £333 and £690). Financing of dwellings, for repayment periods of up to 20 years, is calculated at 20 to 25 per cent of monthly incomes.

The current price of undeveloped land varies from 40-150 soles p. m2. The project site was purchased at 40 soles. Cost of development is about 100-150 soles p. m2 of dwelling lot area. The price p. m2 of covered floor area of low-cost dwelling is about 1500 soles excluding movable furniture/equipment. (Detailed

1 breakdown of construction costs was provided).

The target costs for complete units was to be 1350 soles p. m2 (a 10 per cent reduction), and 1100 soles p. m2 for incomplete units.

Thus the cost of dwellings was to be from 78,000 to 164,000 soles (15 per cent-20 per cent of this is for land and services).

Competitors were to submit a cost estimate.

Conventional building materials are available in Peru and others are being introduced.

But quality control is still very new.

Economy in construction was of overriding priority and standardization desirable. There are already some pre-cast concrete techniques being used, but steel production is limited.

Any new building plant/equipment recommended by designers must prove to have advantages and be suitable for Peru in the future.

Earthquake resistance was not considered mandatory at this stage, though it might be reflected in design proposals.

The other components of the community to be indicated schematically were three kindergartens, three primary schools, two secondary schools, a sports centre, a community centre and a sub centre, gardens and open space.

Comprehensibility within the community was to be based on and reflect the hierarchies of association (vehicles, walking, shopping, etc) with the family as the basic consideration— always bearing in mind that the character of urban life is Latin and not Anglo-Saxon, life and bustle continuing until much later in the evening, and there is a long mid-day break.

The schools were to cater for over 4000 children. Their open areas were to be used for other purposes by the community.

The community centre could include a supermarket and 20 shops, three restaurants, cinema, multi-purpose hall, church with offices, petrol station, municipal and police offices, two community admin offices, library, health centre and clinic, and pedestrian area (plaza, mall, etc.).

Automobiles which will eventually be owned by families (though almost none do yet), were not to be parked on individual lots.

Collective parking lots could be used for other purposes in the meantime. There was to be pedestrian/cars separation, the convenience of the pedestrian having design priority.

Road construction is very costly and was to be kept to a minimum. Being unsubsidized, it was to be included in the cost of dwellings.

Open space was to have multi-purpose use.

Areas were not to be very large, nor to break up the more compact areas of the community.

As all gardens in Lima have to be irrigated, the Spanish flower and water garden and Moorish patio are traditional, with paved and tiled areas, and planting kept to walls and pots.

'Arrangement of spaces within lots should permit home-owners to eventually build their own gardens following the patio principle'.

"The traditional and compact open space elements to be found in Peruvian towns are the plaza, the atrium and the paseo*—all are areas of pedestrian activity.

Land on the coast is expensive and in increasing demand; urban residential densities are high, 'Designers were to exercise inventiveness and experiment to achieve high densities bearing in mind all the above considerations.

• £1 = 105 soles. US$1 =43 soles 188

The jurors Eduardo Barclay (Peru), Jose Antonio Coderch (Spain), Halldor Gunnlogsson (Denmark), Carl Koch, (USA/UIA), Peter Land (UNO), Ricardo Malachowski (Denmark), Alfredo Perez (Peru), Manuel Valega (Peru), Ernest Weissmann (UNO), Dario Gonzalez (Peru), and Alvaro Ortega (UNO).

Jurors' comments on 4 of the international submissions Atelier 5 An interesting method of construction with pre-cast concrete elements is proposed for use in both wall and roof construction, with good possibilities for reducing building costs. The design of the house is on two levels with somewhat complex combination of internal spaces and patios. The compact grouping of houses around small plazas is good, which together with the separation of pedestrians and automobiles should provide a tranquil environment for family life. The commercial and educational facilities arc located on landscaped plazas in the centre of the community arid are conveniently accessible from the housing clusters by means of a winding service road.

Kikutake, Maki and Kurokawa and Associates The building method employs pre-cast concrete wall and floor units which are assembled in single or double combinations depending upon the loading conditions. Foundations are also pre-cast and the overall system is simple, well worked out and could lead to building economies. The design of the houses separates service and living functions through the cross section of the house and all nouses contain a central patio the size of which depends upon the amount of living accommodation. The house design also includes proposals for service zone equipment including kitchen, sanitary and storage units. This approach to low-cost housing design could produce interesting new ideas and economies and could encourage the local industry for producing these elements. The overall design for the community proposes a separation of pedestrians and automobiles and landscaping proposals with water gardens and channels. Some members of the jury felt however, that the central public area was too extensive for effective use.

Herbert Ohl This project brakes away from conventional concepts of urban development.

It proposes a highly mechanized method of manufacturing rectangular reinforced concrete elements which can be assembled in different patterns and numbers of units to create the shell of the house in sizes accommodating different requirements. The project also offers a new method of foundation which should result in a reduction of construction time and costs. The internal arrangement of houses is independent of the shell thus offering flexibility in use and a possibility of changing the disposition of the builtin space in response to changing family size or standard of living. The design of the community proposes a central spine below the pedestrian level which also contains the utility mains and underground parking which could be built in stages as required in the future. Series of small pedestrian streets and plazas connect the spine with residential zones north and south and also cross the spine at ground level as and where necessary.

The design provides a safe environment for family and community life by excluding cars entirely from the ground level in residential areas. Jn connection with this radical departure from conventional urban design some members of the jury felt that collective transportation was a means of reducing the use of private automobiles, a major source of accidents and environmental pollution.

The project combines contemporary ideas in urban planning with industrial housing technology which, if used wisely and guided by concern for human dignity, could provide flexibility for growth and change.

See, below, a minority opinion on this project.

Center for Environmental Structure

This proposal recommends the use of several traditional building materials such as bamboo and a new type of block constructjon for the walls. Patios are included in the houses which are placed on long lots and arranged in groups from which the traffic is excluded. In this project special emphasis is put on the processes of building and exercising choice by families, among a variety of house arrangements, in regard to individual requirements and preferences. The special contribution of this project is its sociological approach in analysingfamily living and providing a considerable level of 'decency' at rents attainable to families with low incomes. A group of these houses using the building processes and methods proposed would provide a feasibility test of methods and techniques of social inquiry into family requirements and preferences; the degree of flexibility of the system in terms of changed family

requirements and levels of living; and the contribution of self-help and the use of local building materials in combination with industrialized methods of construction. Some members of the jury felt that this project therefore was highly applicable in connection with the pilot project of sites and services. They also felt that the house design as presented tends to respond to customs and traditions some of which have been already changed rather than accommodating a process of change and improvement as family incomes rise. It also accepts the private car as the major means of urban transportation without suggesting alternative ways of organizing urban transport.

Some members however stressed that though the street pattern was too complex; the convenience of readyaccess from the house to the family car was important.

See, below, a minority opinion on this project.

Minority report The undersigned are in complete disagreement with the majority on two projects, as follows: Herbert Ohl's is a personal regimented and expensive solution both as to dwelling units and site plan. It is inhuman.

Christopher Alexander's (Center for Environmental Structure) attacks the low-cost housing problem with special application to Peruvian conditions and resources in an imaginative way far above the level of all other projects. It is the only project which effectively meets the programme requirements to develop new ideas and techniques for low-income housing. We particularly commend it for emphasizing in every design decision the need to provide freedom of individual choice.

We strongly urge the UN to publish this milestone in low-cost housing design as it is—now, so that it may benefit the many in all countries who need and are awaiting new and better answers.* The highly complex problem of lowcost housing in Peru, as in many other countries all over the world, is perhaps not a practical subject for an international competition. Unanimity cannot be expected on a problem still so far from being effectively attacked, let alone being solved. We wish to record our opinions of the aforesaid two internalional projects in the hope that they may be useful to others that may share our disappointment with the results of this competition.

Herbert Ohl's c: of design which v for determining a free families of ir choice, adequate pleasant living an economy or ad repetition have limited and limiti The precast recta even fail in this their main advanl to prefabricate interior componen The site plan was as the dwelling crane appeared t useful tool, the d project. To base t central sunken a garage is both ecc and of questionabli the automobile is a what Herbert OhI p able solution, Christopher Ale hand, throws a bi gloomy subject. A f a commitment to 1 of the individual, understanding of t between this indivi belongings, his n entire community part of their propo; practical level, they mcnt to provide a b the fewest standard vide the maximum' solution. The techr cated a balance bet\d pr the context of prese practice, the prop urethane structural as the sulphur compi all original, nor yet more in the spirit of appeared to be recoj of the jury. The v concept, however, i: any or all of these tec in our opinion, eve proven materials an the outstanding qu; submission remains Fortunately for all cost housing (though against them in this sentation was also im of a booklet in both 1 which included their [ well related.

Carl A h * ft has already been publ

FOOTNOTE Who are we building for, and why* The answer to the first question is clearer in Lima than it is elsewhere in the world since Lintenos are neither mute as to their aspirations nor are they passive with regard to effecting them step by step.

What they wish is implicitly and explicitly demonstrated by what they actually do. The barriadas offer an emphatic testimony.* The question as to why one should build in the way implied by this project programme is another and extremely important issue from many aspects— economic, social and political as well as architectural. There are, of course, positive reasons why one should. However, less positive implications which could, but need not, lurk around the corner if 'misused, must be kept in mind.

It would be a grave error ifpre-designed and partially pre-constracted urban environments such as this pilot project proposes should counteract the growth and 189

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development of the barriada idea and practice, instead of stimulating it through the erection of improved dwelling types, construction systems and overall community planning.

The needs and aspirations of the people are revealed in barriadas like Comas, San Martin de Par res and ditdadde Dios as well as in partially precontracted settlements like Ventinilla and Pamplona.

Each are, of course, different in their possibilities and lack of possibilities; yet basically there is little or nothing to show that initially people who will buy and extend a dwelling in a pre-designed and partially constructed settlement are different or have substantially different aspirations to those who go to the barriadas to build from scratch both their own house and the community they have initiated themselves.

Aldo van Eyck (see page 205) •See AD 8J63 and 8168.

The competition site (dotted line) superimposed onto an aerial vi» Ciudad de Dios.

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able solution. Alexander, on the • Christopher hand, throws a bright new light on al gloomy subject. A freshness of approach,! complex.^"^-compact groupu.^a commitment to the dignity and worthl of the individual, a recognition andl inority report IVllUUnt-j -_r understanding of the complex linkages S ^^ S^ onS^ S residential areas.

In conn t,onal between this individual, his family, I The undersigned are in complete belongings, his neighbours, and ' disagreement with the majority on two entire community are implicit in eu projects, as follows: part of their proposal. On the mundan Herbert OhVs is a personal regipractical level, they met well the requir mented and expensive solution both ment to provide a building system to m as to dwelling units and site plan. It is the fewest standard components to pro inhuman. vide the maximum variety and choice <j Christopher Alexander's (Center for solution. The technical proposals ind Environmental Structure) attacks the cated a balance between innovation low-cost housing problem with special assured practicality. We believe thapplication to Peruvian conditions and the context of present Peruvian huiV resources in an imaginative way far practice, the proposed bamboo „., ^...Chance. ... ltv nointon on this above the level of all other projects. It —ti^nfi structural components well! is the only project which effectively SS5*d>i single, or oou , -^ .c uihiie as neithen meets the programme requirements to develop new ideas and techniques for low-income housing. We particularly commend it for emphasizing in every design decision the need to provide freedom of individual choice. fact- a* bamboo We strongly urge the UN to publish this milestone in low-cost housing design as it is—now, so thai it may benefit the many in all countries who need and are awaiting new and better

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answers.* The highly complex problem of lowcost housing in Peru, as in many other countries all over the world, is perhaps not a practical subject for an international competition. Unanimity cannot be expected on a problem still so far from being effectively attacked, let alone being solved. Wewish to record our opinions of the aforesaid two international projects in the hope that they may be useful to others that may share our disappointfeasibility test of;mf'Sly requirements ment with the results of this competition. cial inquiry W»«gS QMf flexib,hty

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189

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Ciudad deDios.

KIKUTAKE,KUROKAWA,MAKI

Attempts to ma\imi/e the involvement of each tiwcllu discovery lhat triangular dwellings provided the great exposure tor each unit. Ovci of this pailern prinkii: coininon areas within the i as \\ell as common eontinu ilie edges. ('ircuLiiion route areas were derived naini'ii extension of iliesc eoniiniu areas. I'lie complc\f publ cireulaiion routes ihus fonin ihc 'omniheir as a im\i.i- n its multifunctional naiure. I grkl \\hieli.il ereaieil ni;uk-1; kiiHlt'ixiii'tciM. playgi'onmK community facilities ii> I enclosed comnion areas.

Onl\) si/es ot" plot \\ 6 • 20ni and d • 16m unit uas split into a living , /one and possihle i:\iensio la tier /one to serve a-, an i>; in the event of an iiifican \e facilitated the adoption nt' prefabrication s\stem '1 prospect of lone, term LXOI s>stcni achieves maximiini llexihiliiy in unii i»ri;ani/a minimum (if huilifing i Sirticlural suihiliiy itH-mi-. addilion of further couip ihcirsi/e and weight has hcc to a level which will faeilii; or self-niodilicaiion h> I!K 'I he quality of pretahric.it that no additional internal necessary apart from the at asphalt floor tiles. I \iernal either precast concrete as ik mixture of glass hricks ;uul arranged according lu llie ] ihc occupier, rath llooi an

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spans full width anil eaJ readies ceiling htighi M> : and assenihly are freed ufo or teinporary strucuiral in^ ser\e /one of each dweliui 1 w i t h a modular loilei, »;h shouer. and, in the kik simple modular sink coot unit. I he same modular v> for cupboards and other M^ necessary.

Axonometrlc section <>/ .\tnictim' with element.'

191

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VARIANTS IN FUNCTION = 15 only elementary forms without derivations or forms in between

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The establishment of minimum constraints for an optimisation of free growth combining elements of userdesign for boih the individual and the communii), forms the basis of this project.

The basic order devised is inlended lo establish a democratic interchange between human and technological factors.

The order devised will stimulate multiplicity, multiformity, micro and macro relations: all expressed through logically derived dimensional and functional modules themselves articulated by a svsiem of guiding lines. The basic microplanning module is 30cm, proceeding do\\ to IOcm, 5 and 2-5cm in more refined dimensional areas. Towards larger dimensions 60, 90 and 120cm are used w i t h the latter as the basic planning module. 7-2cm is established as the uniform span for all habitation structures, whilst all plots are 9-60m wide, thai figure representing the larger urban planning module. The next module up is the 2S-80m square which contains three linear or nine square urban planning modules. The functional module* are based upon human communications and travel data and involve a primary separation into six neighbourhoods each served by a central pedestrian lane w i t h a corresponding underground service road itself linked to tangential service roads.

The neighbourhoods themselves are divided up into a number of standard plots capable of receiving dwelling units of various configurations. These plot modules are further subdivided into micromodules covering furniture, servicing and internal substructures.

The industrialized building swem proposed is adapted to the social and economic conditions currently reigning in Peru. One aspect of it features the central and continuous production of highly-finished three-dimensional building frame sections: the other involves the on-site manufacture of housing elements. The design of the housing units themselves permits universal use of an identical frame structure â&#x20AC;&#x201D;permitting an initial production run of 16,999 units.

The use of travelling cranes whose span corresponds to the distance between footways enables the work of construction and alteration to proceed at am time without disruption of community life. Similarly the replacement and modernization of individual units can proceed without the necessitv for largescale" redevelopment. I'he \\stem further permits a combination of high density w i t h considerable formal flexibility impossible to achieve by traditional methods. The reduction of the irulustriali/ed frame to one standard structural component also has the efl'ect of minimi/ing the investment necessary at the initial production stage, whilst the in JT//H preparation of the house components can proceed according to demand.

I'/n-i'c basic plan*

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STRUCTURE

Christopher Alexa

Site plan

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Key to lite plan 1 Primary school 2 Secondary school 3 Technical school 4 Church 5 Cinema 6 Supermarket 7 Market 8 Municipal office i 9 Grove of trees 10 Kindergarten I I Clinic 12 Dance hall 13 Sports Centre 14 Parking 5 S Outdoor room Key to house plans I Entrance 1 Sala (parlour) 3 Family room 4 Alcove 5 Main patio 6 Verandah 7 Kitchen B Laundry 9 Kitchen patio 10 Storage patio I I Master bedroom 12 Bed alcoves 13 Mirador 14 Clothes drying 15 Shower 16 Toilet Key to housing cell I Ground floor plan. 2 First floor plan. 3 Shop.

4 Outdoor room. 5 Parking. 6 Cell gateway.

7 Garden.

Key to structural details I Floating slab. 2 Bamboo/Urethane foam beam. 3 Bam boo ,'U re thane foam plank. 4 Mortarless cavity

The site The site contains 1726 houses, al a gross density of 43 houses per hectare.

House lots are 5.20 metres wide and vary in length from 13 to 27 metres.

No two houses are alike. The exact form and length of each house is determined by a choice process which allows families to fit their houses to their 0*1 needs and budgets.

Once each family has made ils choio, it will be necessary to lay out a ncu si;c plan. This new plan will have the same morphology as the one shown, but iht exact number of houses of different lengths will reflect the families' choice.

The morphology of the plan is fluid enough to adjust to the new lengths.

The site contains a number of cells.

Each cell contains 30-70 houses; it isa pedestrian island, surrounded by I sunken one lane road, which feeds qua!. parking lots that surround the cell.

First, the basic form and circulation of each cell is uniqueâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;according to it! particular location in the large plan.

Second, during the choice process, people will be asked questions about the location they want for their house. When they are then located according to these choices, people with similar altitudes and interests will be living in the same eel Third, the cells are physically separated, and the pedestrian passes through a physical gateway whenever he enters a cell: this will give each cell a better chance to build up its own unique flavour.

Fourth, at the heart of each cell, theft is a small open place, surrounded by in unfinished, roofed arcade, II is iw intention that the people who li\ in tht cell will develop this arcade according to those community uses they think mod valuable.

Over and above the cells, the silt contains three major overlapping configurations: the road system, the petotrian network, and the community spint Vehicles travel on narrow one-waj loop roads, around the cells, with car parking at the entrances to the celt There are enough parking spaces to provide for 50 per cent car ownership.

This figure was given to us by the United Nations: they estimate 50 per cent at ownership in 30 years, and asked us to work to that figure.

'Won The central spine of the pedestrii systeiA, we call the paseo. The past give's people a high density pcdeslrii spine of looped paths where a traditic of evening and Sunday walks d develop.

193 AD 4/70

At frequent intervals along the paseo, ftere are 'activity nuclei': small open places, with the community facilities and ihops grouped around them.

The peripheral pedestrian paths connect cells to one another, and connect Ihem to this main paseo. Each cell which Blarge enough, has a pedestrian loop in it; this will help to create the inner character of the cells, since it will become natural for people to take a walk 'around stopher Alex

26 houses, at a ses per hectare, s wide and vary metres. like. The exact house is deterss which allows ses to their own made its choice, y out a new site ll have the same shown, but the SCS of different families' choice. e plan is fluid new lengths. umber of cells.

0 houses; it is a rounded by a hich feeds small nd the cell. and circulation according to its e large plan. choice process, stions about the eir house. When cording to these ilar attitudes and n the same cell. hysically separpasses through ever he enters a h cell a better ts own unique f each cell, there rrounded by an ade. It is our who live in the de according to hey think most

the cell'. All pedestrian paths from the outer parts of the site lead towards one of the eight activity nuclei: the nuclei will always be full of people.

The house Although the choice process guarantees that no two houses will be exactly alike, all houses are based on one generic house.

This generic house is a two-storey house, 5.20 meters wide, and about 20 metres long, which has an alternation of rooms and patios along its length, the rooms connected by deep verandas.

This alternation gives every room light and air, and makes the house seem larger.

The two main patios are always one behind the other in the direction of the breeze (which comes from the south)— so that cool air circulates through the house in summer. In winter, the patios will be covered by dacron sailcloth covers which run horizontally on rods at roof level.

The ground floor of the house contains two parts: a public part and a family part. The main features of the public part are the front patio, and the a/a (formal living room or parlour).

In Peruvian life there is a strong distinction between members of the family, who may go anywhere in the house, and strangers, who must be entertained in the sola. The sola is separated from the rest of the house by the front patio, and, even in the smallest house allows visitors to be treated with proper formality, The family part of the house centres around the family room (comedor estar).

An alcove (two in large houses) opens off this family room to make a place where children study at night, where

cells, the site verlapping constem, the pcdesmmunity spine. arrow one-way cells, with car es to the cells. king spaces to car ownership, us by the United 50 per cent car and asked us to

women can sew, where people can talk while the TV is on, etc. Behind the family room there is a kitchen, with two service patios, one on either side of it.

The one between kitchen and family room is a pleasant place, where people can eat, and work. The other provides storage for the inevitable building materials, animals, and laundry lines.

Upstairs the house contains a master bedroom, bathroom, and a number of tiny individual bed alcoves. These bed alcoves give each child a small space which is his own, for his own things; very young children may double bunk in a single alcove. Since Peruvians don't like being isolated, these alcoves are clustered around common spaces. There are two clusters; one for boys and one for girls. Every house, even the smallest, can be extended to make room for as many as eight beds.

Every house can be extended to provide room for a grandmother downstairs near the family room, a sleeping place for a servant, a room at the back which can be rented out, or a small shop.

Finally, each house has a very strongly marked entrance, with deep recesses, a seat outside, and a gallery or mirador at the second storey. Peruvians spend a great deal of time street watching: people hang out in doorways, sit on benches outside the doors, and watch the street from windows above. They like to be in touch with the street, but from the seclusion of their homes. Most houses in our site plan command a direct view into the centre of the cell in which they stand, so that activity can be seen from the front window or the door.

Construction The basic structure of the house consists of a floating slab foundation, load-bearing walls, and a light weight plank and beam system. This form of construction is conceptually very similar to traditional construction: but each of the components is a cheaper, lowerweight higher-strength version of its traditional equivalent. The floating slab is laid in large sections by a road building machine. The walls are interlocking mortarless concrete-block walls, reinforced with sulphur, with a cavity for plumbing and conduits. The planks and beams are made of urethane foam-plastic and bamboo, reinforced with a sulphursand topping.

All these building components can be produced in Peru today with available resources and skills. Further, the ideas embodied in these methods and products have the potential for long-range development of natural resources.

These building materials are especially suited to the local earthquake conditions.

To simplify building construction, all components are prefabricated, on site.

They all conform to the 10cm module.

They are assembled dry. This makes them equally suitable for use by the contractor, when the houses are first built, and by the families who live there, when they want to change their houses later.

We have chosen these components with special emphasis on the idea of future do-it-yourself construction. Peruvian families add to their houses, and change them, continually. They can only do this

the pedestrian seo. The paseo sity pedestrian here a tradition ay walks can

if the components are extremely small in probably not be able to grasp the meaning scale, and easy to work with home tools. of the choices.

We have therefore tried very hard to create a system of components that are The combination process: All houses are easy to work, and can be used at the formed by the same sequence of rules, rather low tolerances that correspond to based on the form of the generic house. the realities of home construction. In But each house has to meet certain our opinion, this is more relevant to particular conditions: those imposed on people's needs, than a system of highly it by the family's choices, and those machined components, which must be imposed on it by its position in the site— built to very fine tolerances. Given the orientation, the lengths of next door assumption that home construction will houses, location of nearby pedestrian always be done rather roughly, with walkways, and so on. Each individual hammer and nails, and fillers where house is formed by the interaction of the required, our system will allow the local conditions which it has to meet, homeowner to do almost anything he and the generic rules of the combination wants to do. process.

For example: on the slab foundation, For example, in order to make the a new wall can be built anywhere, with- house-form coherent, the shape of the out needing extra footings. The mortar- house entrance must be different for less block wall can have individual blocks houses with a small sala and houses with removed or added, at will. The hollow a medium sala, it must be different for wall makes it easy to add new plumbing houses on a corner lot and houses on a fixtures or electrical conduit, cheaply centre lot, it must be different according and simply, by taking out a block. A to the length of the next door house on person can make his own blocks, instead the eastern side (since the entrance is of buying them: the block moulds are always on the east). The rules which form designed to be operated by one unskilled the house entrance therefore depend on person. Extra block columns can be the size of the sala, the type of lot, and inserted at any point. The sulphur joints, the position of the next door house on the unlike cemented joints, need only to be eastern side, melted by local application of heat, to It is very important to stress the fact loosen; when they cool they harden again that the rules of the combination process The bamboo foam beams are made in are almost mechanical, and can be five metre lengths which fit across every carried out by any trained draughtsman. house; they can sit anywhere along the The low cost of the houses cannot support length, on the continuous impost block. any individual design time. We estimate They can be hand cut to frame any that a trained draughtsman will need desired opening. The bamboo foam about one hour per house, to translate planks can also be hand cut to any the family choice sheet into a set of length and any width. The beams which working drawings and specifications for support the roof are initially designed to the contractor. carry a minimal live load only: if the The draughtsman has one master site house owner wants to make a usable plan with the house lots shown on it: third storey, he may insert extra beams and one file for each family, containing next to the existing ones. the family choice sheet, and a blank house plan, which shows the side walls The choice process: The people who live only, 5.20 metres apart, for both floors, in our houses will, because they are all and shows no end walls or interior walls.

Peruvians, share certain needs and all He now builds up the detailed design of have similar backgrounds. At the same each house, by using a set of clearly time, each person, and each family, will defined rules, one step at a time (these be unique. The choice process tries to do are given in detail in the architect's justice to this fact. report).

The needs which people share led us to the patterns and these patterns led us to Costs: The generic house will cost the generic house design already pre- 119,000 soles (32800) as of summer 1969. sented. But even if all families share the The smallest house will cost 79,000 soles needs which are solved by this generic (S 1800), and the largest, with all possible house, they wilt, because they are unique, extras will cost 163,000 soles (33800). also have very different attitudes to the These costs are within 1000 soles of the relative importance of these different targets set by the United Nations. They needs. One family, which tends to be give an average of 1130 soles per square formal, will consider the need for a sala meter of interior space (not including most important of all; another family in verandas or overhangs). This is 25 per which life tends to be informal, may live cent less than current low cost construcmost of the time in the kitchen. Although tion in Lima. both families will want a sola and a Our major cost savings have come kitchen, the first family would prefer a from the following sources: the foundalarge sala and small kitchen, if they had tion slab, without footings, costs 100 to choose—and the second family a soles/m2, compared with the usual price large kitchen and a small sala. The of 200 soles/m11 for slab and footings. uniqueness of any family, will, in this The mortarless concrete block walls reinway, be reflected by the relative amounts forced with sulphur, costs 120 soles/m2, of money they would want to spend on compared with the usual price of 140 satisfying their various needs. soles/m2 for a mortared block or brick This is essentially how the choice wall. The long side walls are two-leaf process works. We ask each family to party walls, thus halving the usual cost decide how much they want to spend; of individually owned walls. The and then we ask them to divide this bamboo-urethane floors and roofs cost money up among the various parts of the 200 soles/ma, compared with the usual house, in the way that best reflects their cost of 340 soles/m2 for reinforced individual preferences. The form of the concrete slabs. The finish of the mortarhouse allows its various parts to vary in less block wall and the finish of the bamsize, independently of one another; boo ceilings make plasteringunneccssary, without disturbing the unity of the whole. and save the usual cost of 50-60 soles/mB Even though no one part of the house for plaster. The dacron sailcloth cover on can take more than a small number of the patio, costs 250 soles/m* and saves different sizes, the total number of com- the cost of windows throughout the binations is extremely large—in the house, at a usual cost of 500-600 soles/ neighborhood of a million. In a com- m2. We have eliminated several doors munity of- 1500 houses, it is highly at a cost of 550 soles per door. The ABS unlikely tbat any two will be the same. accumulator and use of the cavity wall Choices' would, of course, have to be as a vent, saves the cost of several metres made before construction starts. To help of waste pipe, vent pipe, and connections. people make the choices, it would be The fact that our site plan has 1726 essential to build one or two model houses, as against the 1500 expected, houses ahead of time, and allow people to saves 12 per cent of the cost of site visit them. Otherwise they would development. [>

194

The patterns* Community patterns Cells—subculture cells, degrees of publicness.

Road system—looped local roads, Tjunctions, direct visible parking, tiny parking lots.

Pedestrian network—paseo, activity nuclei, car pedestrian symbiosis, pedestrian 50cm above car, knuckle at road crossing.

Community spine—central market, evening centres, walk-through schools, visible kindergartens, social gardens, Cell interior—cz\\, multipurpose outdoor rooms, shops on corners, centripetal pedestrian paths, street football, flowers on the street.

House patterns House shape and orientation—long thin house, perimeter wall, cross-ventilated house, light on two sides of every room, patios which live, tapestry of light and dark, Public part 0//io</.«?—intimacy gradient, bathroom position, puertoffalsa, fiesta, staircase is a stage, thick walls.

Family part of house—family room circulation, family room alcoves, kitchen family room relationship, home workshop, two service patios, elbow room kitchen.

Sleeping areas—individual bed alcoves, bed clusters, master bedroom location, master bedroom dressing spaces, old people downstairs, servant sleeping space, two compartment bathroom, clothes drying closet.

Entrance and facade—entrance transition, front door recessed, mirador, front door bench, gallery surround, no ground floor windows on the street.

Patio section—translucent opening patio roof, light from two storey patios, sunshine in patios, two meter balcony.

Shop and rental—shop front possibility rental.

Construction patterns—continuous floating slab, mortarless block wall, composite bamboo/foam beam, composite bamboo/ foam plank, sulphur reinforcing and topping, plumbing accumulator, continuous electric outlet.

A pattern defines an arrangement of parts in the environment, which is needed to solve a recurrent social, psychological, or technical problem. Each pattern has three very clearly defined sections: context, solution and problems.

The context defines a set of conditions.

The problem defines a complex of needs which always occurs in the given context.

The solution defines the spatial arrangement of parts which must be present in the given context in order to solve the problem.

We have tried to state the observations and evidence behind the patterns as clearly as possible, so that they can be checked by others, and rejected when incorrect.

The evidence we use cornes from three sources: the published literature, our observations in Lima, and our laboratory tests and experiments. We spent a month each living with low income Peruvian families in Pampa de Comas, San Martin de Porras, La Victoria and Rimac (districts of Lima) to better understand their way of life. We built and tested each of the major building components, with supportive testing from professional laboratories. Where our observations are hard to support, we have stated them as conjectures.

•Of the total of 67 patterns listed, the full text! of 7 are reproduced here.

195

AD 4/70

Subculture cells In the Provecio Experimental, the community is divided into 43 small residential cells, each containing between 25 and 75 houses. The cells are clearly separated from one another. All houses in a cell face inwards, and the outer cells are surrounded by a narrow road sunken 50cm below grade, so that these cells are elevated pedestrian islands.

Families choose the cell they want to be in, according to its relative 'quietness', and according to the community facilities nearby. As a result, the families in any one cell will probably share attitudes and interests; we hope that each cell wilt develop a unique 'character*, different from the others.

The general pattern is: Context: Any urban area which contains more than a few hundred dwellings.

Solution: The area is made up of a large number of small inward focused residential 'cells'. The cells are separated as sharply as possible from one another, if possible, by open land, community facilities, or public land.

Each cell is intended, in the long run, to sustain a different way of life: a different subculture. A subculture is defined as a group of people (not necessarily friends) who share certain attitudes, beliefs, habits and needs not shared by others, and who may require special environments, local organizations, or services, to support these special needs. The community facilities which surround any given cell should reflect the particular interests characteristic of that sub-culture. All community facilities (including roads, schools, hospitals, churches, parks, industry, commerce, entertainment) are placed in the boundaries between cells.

The arguments which define cell size, are not yet fully clear. At present it seems that no cell should contain more than 1500 people, or less than 50, with a mean cell population of about 500.

Problem: People need an identifiable unit to belong to. They want to be able to identify the part of the city where they live, as distinct from all others. Available evidence suggests that the areas which people identi1" with are extremely small—of the ordi, between 100 and 200 metres in diameter. They cannot identify these areas, unless the areas are well differentiated from one another: and studies show that areas will not be strongly differentiated from one another unless they support identifiably different ways of life. This suggests that any urban area should be broken into a number of small 'subculture cells', each supporting an identifiably different way of life. (See Frank Hendricks, "A situations] approach to residential environmental planning: A Research Framework', unpublished report to the U.S. Public Health Service, March 1967.)

Psychological arguments lead to the same conclusion. There is strong evidence to suggest that a person cannot develop his own life style fully, unless he does so in an ambience where others share his life style.

In a homogeneous urban area, differences of life style tend to vanish, and ego-strength, self-confidence and character formation deteriorate. This again, suggests that the urban area, should, as far as possible, support a large variety of strongly differentiated life styles, each supported by a 'subculture cell'.

Ecological arguments help to fix the suitable cell size, and the need for radical separation between cells. To develop their own life style, the families in a cell

must be able to agree on basic decisions about services, community land, etc.

Anthropological evidence shows that a human group cannot maintain the face to face relations required to coordinate itself in this way, if its population is above 1500; many people set the figure as low as 500. (See for example, Anthony Wallace, Housing and Social structure, Philadelphia Housing Authority, 1952; currently available through University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan.)

It has been shown that the group feeling necessary to support a particular unique life style, is greatly strengthened when the group is physically separated from all adjacent groups. This suggests that cells should be inward looking, and wherever possible separated by community facilities.

(The full arguments, and empirical evidence for all these points, are presented in Christopher Alexander, Cells of subcultures, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, California, 1968.)

Car—pedestrian symbiosis In the Proyecto Experimental, the car roads form loops, and the pedestrian paths form a diagonal network which crosses these loops at right angles. Where they cross, there are parking lots, cell gateways, and space for pedestrian activity. The two systems form a double gradient: car densities dominate towards the outside of the site, pedestrian densities dominate towards the inside of the site, with a smooth gradient between the two.

The general pattern is: Context: Any area which contains pedestrian paths and local car roads.

Solution: The system of pedestrian paths and the system of roads are two entirely distinct orthogonal systems. They cross frequently; so that no point on either system is more than about 50 metres from a crossing. Every time they cross, both paths and roads swell out, making room for pedestrian activity and for parking and standing.

Problem: It is common planning practice to separate pedestrians and cars. This makes pedestrian areas more human, and safer. However, this practice fails to take account of the fact that cars and pedestrians also need each other: and that, in fact, a great deal of urban life occurs at precisely the point where these two systems meet. Many of the greatest places in cities, Piccadilly Circus, Times Square, the Champs Elysees, are alive because they are places where pedestrians and vehicles meet. New towns like Cumbernauld, where there is total separation between the two, seldom have the same sort of liveliness.

The same thing is true at the local residential scale. A great deal of everyday social life happens where cars and pedestrians meet. In many low income areas, for example, the car is used as an extension of the house. Men, especially, often sit in parked cars, near their houses, drinking beer and talking. (Clare Cooper, 'Some social implications of house and site plan design at Easter Hill Village: a Case study', Institute of Urban and

Regional Development, Center for Planning and Development Research, University of California, Berklev California, 1966, pp. 39 ff.)

Many studies show that conversation and discussion grow naturally out of the communal car lots where men meet when they take care of their cars. Vendors always set themselves up where cars and pedestrians meet; they need all the traffc they can get. Childr , always play in parking lots—perKps because they sense that this is the main point K arrival and departure; perhaps beeaust they enjoy the cars.

In Peru, there is a new version of the paseo: the auto-paseo—several friends hop into a car, and drive around, visiting their friends, often not even getting out of their cars, but talking from house to car, and back.

None of these things can happen in i plan where car roads and pedestrian paths are separated, unless the two raw frequently, and the places where they meet are treated as minor centers of activity.

Intimacy gradient In the Proyecto Experimental, there is I strict gradient from formal to informal, front to back. Each house containsentry5Q/a-family room-kitchen in that order.

Those houses too small to have a proper sola, have a small receiving alcove, just inside the front door, which functions is a sola.

The general pattern is: Context: A house in Peru, or any othe Latin country.

Solution: There is a gradient from front to back, from the most formal at the front, to most intimate and private at the back. This gradient requires ihefollottinj strict sequence: Entry-rata-family roomkitchen -bedrooms.

The most important element in this sequence is the sola (parlor). It is essential that the house contain a sola. If the house is so small that cost rules this out, the house should at least contain a liny receiving alcove immediately inside ihe front door.

Problem: In Latin American countries, such as Peru, friendship is taken verj seriously and exists at a number of belt Casual neighborhood friends may never enter one's house. Formal friends, such as the priest, the daughter's boyfriendand friends from work may be invited in but tend to be limited to a well furnished and! maintained part of the house, the sak ' This room is sheltered from the clutter and more obvious poverty of the family which are visible in the rest of the house, Relatives and intimate friends, such it compadres, may be made to feel at home in the comedor-estar (family room) where the family is likely to spend mud of its time. A few relatives and friends, particularly women, wiil be allowed into the kitchen, other workspaces, and. perhaps, bedrooms of the house, In this way the family maintains both privacj and pride.

This is particularly evidenl at the mat of a fiesta, Even though the house is to! of people, some people never get beyond the sola; some don't even get beyond to threshold of the front door. Others goal the way into the kitchen, where til cooking is going on, and stay thai throughout the evening. Each person hi a very accurate sense of his degree o intimacy with the family, and kno* exactly how far into the house he ma penetrate, according to this establish! level of intimacy.

Even extremely poor people try i

lave a sola if they can. The photograph shows a sala which a family has made in Mortarless block wall i barriada shack. Yet many modern raises and apartments in Peru combine In the Proyecf Experimental, the jj'j and family room in order to save bearing walls, sh;ar walls, and ground Qace. Almost everyone we talked to floor partitions are cavity walls made of complained about this situation. As far as interlocking, self-aligning concrete K can tell, a house must not, under any blocks, moulded on site. No mortar is arrumMances, violate the principle of the required. The blocks simply interlock to Kvwcy gradient. form the wall. Blocks are made of a dry concrete mix, and may be 10 or 20cm thick: column and corner blocks are Thick walls made in special moulds. Walls and columns are reinforced with sulphur.

In the Proyecto Experimental house, the Plumbing lines and eleclrical conduits tall connecting the sala, patio, veranda run through the cavity. and family room, has a series of small niches in it, formed by 40cm stub walls iliat siiuk out at right angles to ihe main rail. Each niche conlains a seal, shelves, cupboard or display.

Hie general pattern is: Context; Interior wall, in any part of a iuilding which is intended to be personal.

Nation: The wall has 'depth', at least Jfcm, which is created by a hand.i-vable rigid space frame, in which a 1'ious variety of niches, shelves, cupboards, leaning posts, and v seats occur at frequenl intervals. md-carvable space frame is made trials which are readily available : retail market, and easily cut, :d, painted, nailed, glued, replaced .iid, using only tools available at any :,:.ure store. Possible examples are \vi, plywood, fiberglass styrofoam, v-styrene. The space frame is highly :,iailant structurally: large sections ; may be removed, without weakening .mil pieces or sections may be added in ..i a way that these sections become aminuous with, and indistinguishable from, the original surface. bobiem: Rooms with large, flat, unbroken wall surfaces almost never have E) personal character, and it is very ird for people who live in such rooms imake them personal. A room becomes onal, only when the imprint of its _jbitants is clearly visible, the walls jwded with treasures and belongings resents, pictures of sweethearts and indparents, flowers, vases, knickBcks, books, collections), these treaRS built integrally into the fabric of eroom, and the surface of the room uulded to the character of its inhabinls. If a room has large unbroken wall [faces, made of unmouldable materials, me of this is possible. It is hard to things in the open, without Itering up the room, and it is not ;ible to build these things in a perJ\y into the fabric of the room.

In order to make a room personal, n, its wall surface must be deep iugh to contain a variety of niches and :s, where special things can be Wt without being in the way; and wall must be made of materials which >w these niches and recesses to be jpled to the idiosyncracies of the ings which are to be placed there, and ihe habits which go with them. (This jument is presented in full, with ipirical evidence, in Christopher xander, 'Thick Walls', Architectural jsign, February 1968.)

The general pattern is: Context: Low cost, low rise building, in any place where concrete is one of the cheapest building materials.

Solution: Bearing walls, shear walls, columns, partition walls, and foundations may be made from EDI-Thermomod blocks. The block is self supporting up to a height of three stories. Vertical edges, corners, and horizontal upper edges are either poured concrete, with steel reinforcing, or are reinforced with sulphur-fiber. The EDI-Thermomod system is patented by Educalional Design, Inc. Problem: In areas where concrete is the principal building material, concrete block is one of the cheapest forms of wall construction. One of the biggest costs of a concrete block wall is the labor cost: each block has lo be placed and mortared by a skilled mason. The EDI-Thermomod block system eliminates almost all these labor costs. The blocks are mortarless and self aligning; they weigh only 5kg apiece, and are very easy to handle.

Two men can build a wall exlremely fasl, simply by stacking the blocks on one another. Masons are not required.

Another major cost in concrete block construclion is the cost of the block itself. Here again the EDI-Thermomod block saves money. The block can be hand-manufactured on site in a simple mould, or machine manufactured. One mould produces about 400 blocks in 8 hours; a battery of five moulds will produce aboul 2,000 blocks a day—enough for the walls of an average 100 square meler house. Half blocks and blocks of different thicknesses can be made from the same mould. The blocks are cured after 24 hours. On site manufacture eliminates expensive slorage and trucking.

The wall has several other advantages: The syslem is light, and earthquake resistant. The dry construction allows the blocks lo move during a quake, thus preventing fracture of the wall. Since there is no mortar, blocks can be removed at any time to make new openings in the wall. The cavity can be made to serve as a conduit for plumbing and electricity— because the blocks can be removed, the conduits are easy to reach. Finally, like any cavity wall, the wall has good thermal and acoustic insulalion.

The EDI block has been used to build very low cost buildings in Mexico and the south-eastern United States. Many of these buildings were built entirely by self-help; the buildings are performing well in use; those in Mexico have successfully withslood major earthquakes.

Composite bamboo beam In the Proyecto Experimental house, all beams are rectangular section boxed beams, 20cm wide, 40cm deep, and 5 meters long. The beams are made of 6cm bamboos, placed over plywood templates, with a core of two Ib. density polyurethane fire-retardant foam, foamed in place. The bamboos are pinned and spot glued together at 50cm intervals, with epoxy glue and wooden dowels.

The second storey floor beams are all supported by interior partitions or columns, and have clear spans of 3 metres or less—except in the family room, where they span 4.50 metres between shear walls and impost blocks, and are spaced close together to make up for the long span. The roof beams span the full 4.80 metres between impost blocks, and are spaced at intervals ranging from 1.50 to 2.40 metres.

The second storey floor is designed to carry 200kg/ma (bamboo foam plank 15 kg/m 2 , sulphur cement topping 45 kg/m 2 , second floor partitions 50 kg/m11, and live load 90 kg/m 2 ). The roof is designed to carry 80 kg/m a (bamboo foam plank 15 kg/m*, thin topping 20 kg/m* and live load 45 kg/m2). To put a third storey on the house, additional beams will need to be inserted (they can be slipped onto the impost block easily), and the lopping on ihe roof increased.

At these loads, the beams have a deflection of less than I /360 of the span, and can safely be plastered. (See table below). Families who do not like the appearance of the exposed bamboo can plaster them.

The general pattern is: Context: Short spans and light loads in countries where bamboo is abundant and cheap.

Solution: Beams may be made of bamboos (pinned and glued with epoxy) to form a box which is filled with plastic foam. Spans may range from 3 to 5 metres with corresponding variation in beam spanning. Allowable loads are shown in the problem stalement.

Problem: Concrete beams are expensive, very heavy, hard to move around, and hard to work. In many buildings, especially those where people will be building for themselves (as in self-help housing) beams need to be light weight, and easy to work. In earthquake zones, it is also necessary to reduce dead loads as far as possible. If bamboo is locally available and petroleum resources allow local manufacture of urethane foams, then it is possible to make lightweight bamboo/foam beams, with excellent structural characteristics.

We have built three different beams of this type, and tested them. It is clear from our tests that bamboo/foam beams of this type are about as strong as softwood beams of the same size. The most serious problem is deflection. Bamboo is extremely strong in tension, and the urethene foam makes the beam section rigid; but the bamboos tend to slip past each other in horizontal shears.

In the third of the three test beams, we pinned and spot glued bamboos together with epoxy glue and dowels. This test beam was 20cm wide, 40cm deep. We tested it over a clear span of 3.50 metres.

At a uniformly distributed load of 1300 kilograms the deflection reached 0.8cm after an hour, and showed no

sign of further creep 24 hours later.

We may use the formula: Deflection Max = (5/384)WL3/EI to obtain a value for El, and extrapolate the following figures for maximum allowable uniform loads, at various spans: Span (metres) Load* (deflection less 3.00 2200 thanL/360kg).

3.50 1620 4.00 1240 4.50 980 5.00 800 *(where the design criterion is L/240, for unplastered conditions, these loads can be increased by 50 per cent) These beams will cost 100 soles per metre (compared with about 200 soles per metre for comparable reinforced concrete beams), and weigh about 20 kilograms per metre (compared with 50 kg per metre for a reinforced concrete beam of similar strength). Furthermore, these beams can be cut with simple tools: they can be lifted and inslalled by two men.

Sulphur reinforcing and topping In the Proyecto Experimental, the connecting surfaces of blocks which make up shear walls, bearing walls and columns are coated with molten sulphur and fibreglass for tensile reinforcement.

Sulphur mixed with sand is placed 2.5cm thick on the bamboo/foam planks to create a walking surface, to create simple joints between the planks and between planks and beams, and to give continuity to the structure. Sulphur is also used as the water-proofing agent in wet areas such as shower and^toiJet, sink backsplashes, etc.

The general pattern is: Context: Low cost dry block construe lion and/or panel construction.

Solution: Sulphur may be used as a reinforcing agent or bonding agent, wherever tensile slrength is required in block walls, shear walls, planks and beams. It may be used by itself or with chopped fibres, applied hot, or as part of a sulphur-sand grout.

Problem: Jointing and reinforcing is a major part of the cost of a block wall, particularly in a high earthquake zone.

In 1969 in Peru, Ihe cost of a mortarless block wall wilh sulphur jointing is 20 per cent less than the cosl of a block wall with mortar and reinforced concrete corners.

Test results show that the sulphur jointing has considerable tensile strength and that a sulphur jointed wall performs at least as well as the standard block wall in low rise construction. (Data are presented in John M. Dale and Allen C. Ludwig, "Sulphur Aggregate Concrete1, Civil Engineering, December 1967, pp.

66-68; in Allen C. Ludwig, Utilization of Sulphur and Sulphur Ores as Construction Materials in Guatemala, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, March 1969; and in John M. Dale, 'Sulphur-Fibre Coatings', The Sulphur Institute Journal, Fall 1965.)

Sulphur adds colour and texture in those areas where it is used. It may be tinted to produce colours other than yellow.

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Our project grew from the following four objectives: (1) Highest possible density commensurate with (2) Individual land ownership; (3) Minimum road and servicing cosl;/(4) Pedestrian/vehicle separation. i\ arrangement of narrow row houses w i t h access at both ends provided llic logical answer both to vehicle segregation and the minimization of sen ice runs \\ith porches and backyards acting as t r a n s i t i o n areas between pedestrian and car access and the interior of (he houses.

Proceeding from lliis basic row arrangement we aligned the houses along diagonal road and footpath routes so as to exploit the prevailing wind for ventilation purposes aided byairscoopsover the central area of each house - and to achieve optimum orientation with respect lo sunlight. Tree planting along pedest r i a n and service roadways can be employed to modulate both sunlight and natural vent Mation as well us trallie noise from the central thoroughfare, The service structure of schools, shops, church and recreation areas is strung out in a disjointed diagonal moving in the opposite direct inn to the footpaths and roads. They lake the form of covered, shaded areas set in well ventilated clearings and can he as easily reached on foot as they can hv vehicle. The shops can be serviced from CHI-tie-sac service roads. I-rom i n d i v i d u a l porches one can walk along pedestrian ways until these join the central spine of patios culminating in the central church and shopping area. A single underpass links both halves of the site across this central area.

I he houses themselves are designed in such a w a y that ihey can either he built by their future occupants, w i t h the assistance of the authorities as regards prefabricated elements, subsidies, skilled labour, etc.: or they can be completed b\e authorities themselves and sold lo individual Families. I he lormer option w o t , I d allow greater f l e x i b i l i t y and. bearing this in mind, we ha\ endeavoured lo minimi/e. bv design, the number of constraints t h a i w o u l d be nccessuiA under these circumstances.

The shape of the plots for example presenting a very narrow frontage ensures that the facade to be 'controlled' is very small and set well back into the porch. I here is considerable structural flexibility inherent in the t \ p e of shortspan housing chosen and ibis can be exploited by the occupants. A further element of f l e x i b i l i t y is incorporated into a phased programme of construction which can react either to improving financial circumstances or increases in the si/e of the family. I ifsl stage development allows for only the ground lloor to be constructed, incorporating a front porch, l i v i n g 'dining area, bedroom, central patio, bathroom, kitchen and a small service patio at the rear. This would sullice for a young family \ v i t h one or t w o children. Second stage development allows for (he addition of a first lloor bedroom: third stage development completes the tirst lloor with two more bedrooms and a second bathroom.

I ourlh stage development allows for the superimposition of a t h i r d lloor.

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hoods, each of about 500 du Feeder vehicular roads are kepi Ihe neighbourhoods so as noi i< rupl pedestrian circulation. Hoi. grouped in rectangular block distance between perimeters run ing 150m. and the maximum \e f

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A main pedestrian Mrcci or/m \Mtle. runs centrally through (ho this paseo run the 3m wide \v> alleys to each group of dwelling Lima tradition). A change of lew (heir junction w i l h the pa.\<-<>; ;> siic junction is divided inu>pti.seo ion nti of the central Children don't have 10 cross an\r r get to primary school. Main pci! ways are linked by 12m wide ;i which also lead to sub-centres am commercial centres and their ]>L Groups of one-family housi based on a standard house hp internal and service patios, on s 105m- and 132m-. Ground Hour vary in si/e but are similar. Upper arc planned alongside access alleys hanging here and there accord lypes of house growth. When Iher upper floor, a circular staircase n a ground-floor room.

The modular design allows U plan arrangements in addition in utrieties specified in the brief.

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chosen is a series of permanent slun elements for poured reinforced cc (walls, pillar, beams). The pl;u making these is cheap (I,22X,OW and can produce 250 dwellings ;i

Isometric Key: J. Hollow concrete hfock wall. 2. In \itu r.c. .?. In .situ concrete beam.

4. Hollow clay floor tiles. 5. r.c. beams. 6. Concrete block pillars with reinforcement and poured concrete. 7. In situ r.c. (3 cm) compression floor sltib. 8. Prefab r.c. stair treads 9. Concrete rings forming central staircase newel. 10. Asbestos cement vent 201 AD 4 70

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00 dwdlii c kept on' not to in n. Hoii^o blocks. ers not ex^ imum w;i';f Ihc area 5m. Parkin . ds. et or /WMV gh the MK ide peikwellings (a e of level 11 paxco', aÂťi central cross any \ funher than 50 Main pcdt m wide av centres anil their pta: ily houv house lypt atios, on si1 ound floor ilar. Upper ccess alleyv ere accord When thet staircase n n allows K addition U> the brief. mofprefabri rmanent snu reinforced o s). The pi p tl.22W.OW'. dwellings a

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The module of the main structural grid is 36m x 36m, ihe dimension deriving from: practical requirements (liability of rooms and their subdivision); international dimension and module standards and an adaptability to system building.

The advantage of separating the structural grid from the (internal) module is that it becomes independent of any particular material so that the structural dimensions need only be determined at the building stage.

The plan of the dwelling type is based on a functional separation of service and kitchen spaces, general spaces, and sleeping spaces. The ideal solution is considered to be one offering a flexible dwelling capable of accommodating all possible family variations. The family itself should determine the form of its own immediate surrounding.

The boundary walls of all dwellings are built first. The simplest dwelling thus consists of an undivided space, with water and drainage laid on in the service yard, which at the outset would serve as a kitchen. From this basis the owner tills in and extends his house.

Fixed linings (sanitary and kitchen) are made up of standard components, quality and quantity depending on the size and type of the dwelling. Services are concentrated lo avoid long installation runs.

The structural system proposed has shallow concrete foundation pads, a floor slab resting on the ground and concrete columns and beams. These support a corrugated asbestos roof. All basic dwellings are single storey, which means that at the first stage investment need not be made for the second stage. When the dwelling extends upward the original roof could act as shuttering for concrete. steel reinforcement could be placed in the troughs of the corrugations. Alternatively the corrugated asbestos sheets could be replaced by concrete elements.

Other materials arc also possible for the overall structure.

There arc three types of lot. The various si/es of dwellings are not zoned in their own areas, but distributed throughout the community in such a way that the larger ones border the central /.one.

Ihe Latin way of life is taken into account in the layout, conditioning the siting of various si/ed markets and street squares, not only in the central spine, but also in side areas. Public green spaces ;ire related to these openings, most of them being concentrated along the main pedestrian axis. The irrigation channel needed to maintain these green areas could perhaps be constructed by community self help. This kind of vvork, improving the level of the environment, could be a way of increasing social contact, and getting the inhabitants to feel that they belong to their neighbourhood, and that their neighbourhood belongs to them.

There is no traffic within each developed area, apart from service tratlic which penetrates on several wider roads.

Parking areas in the first stage are mainly reserved .for public buildings.

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