Open Architecture Network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Architecture for Humanity has been working with a number of construction professionals in Myanmar and Thailand the to respond to rebuilding after Cyclone Nargis.

We did not enter the country for the first few months as we find that non-essential personnel get in the way of the emergency relief effort. An assessment was done by a couple of in country Architecture for Humanity members who traveled into the regions worst hit. We realized that our primary impact would be to elevate construction standards and incorporate disaster mitigation into existing buildings to prevent future destruction.

After raising funds we decided to respond twofold;

1. Elevate construction standards by developing an open source directory of bamboo details that would be written in Burmese then printed and distributed locally.
2. Partner with local and NGO organizations (with shelter divisions) and offered technical support and design services.

In mid-September our design team (made up of regional professionals) will visit prospective sites and partners to establish a long term plan for our involvement in the reconstruction phase.

Examples of Post-disaster Reconstruction Efforts:
Proposals:
Hexayurt Shelter System (Unspecified Location)
Nato High School (Sagnay, Camarines Sur, Philippines)
Initiative reCOVER (Unspecified Location)
'Aquabox' water purifying product (The Rotary Club)
'Shelterbox' emergency aid kit (The Rotary Club)

Post Tsunami Efforts
Thirukannur Women's Cooperative (Thirukannur, Tamil Nadu, India)
Pillaichavadykuppam Community Center (Pillaichavadykuppam, Tamil Nadu, India)
School for Arts and Leadership (Calcutta, India)
Ambedker Nager Community Center (Ambedker Nager, Tamil Nadu, India)
Periyar-Lenin Nagar Community Center India (Periyar - Lenin Nagar , Tamil Nadu, India, India)
Tamil Women's House (Nr. Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India)
Nadukuppam Colony Community Center (Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India)
Soudhanikuppam Community Center and Village Square (Tamil, Nadu, Soudhanikuppam, Villipu, India)
Pitchandikulam Forest Eco Dormitor (Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India)
Fisheries Building, Chennai (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Post-Tsunami Boat Piers (Lenin Nagar and Poondiyakuppam, Tamil Nadu, India)
Safe(R) House (Dodanduwa, Sri Lanka)
Al Ashraff School (Pottuvil, Ampara, Sri Lanka)
Post Tsunami housing in Anderagasyaya, Sri Lanka (Kirinda, Hambantota, Sri Lanka)
Al Hidaya Transitional School (Pottuvil, Ampara District, Sri Lanka)
Lunawa Livelihoods Support and Community Center (Moratuwa, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka)
Yodakandyia Community Complex (Tissamaharama, Hambantota, Sri Lanka)
Childcare/Montessori in Sri Lanka (Moratuwa, Sri Lanka)
Housing Reconstruction post-tsunami (Nam Khem Phangna Province, Thailand)

Post Katrina Efforts
EBCRC Volunteer Housing Project (Biloxi, Mississippi, United States)
Biloxi Model Home Program (Biloxi, Mississippi, United States)
Bohn Street Rehab (Biloxi, Mississippi, United States)
Katrina Community of Care (Opelousas, LA, United States)
Dry-In House (New Orleans, Louisiana, United States)
Guardians Institute (New Orleans, Louisiana, United States)
Guillen Residence (New Orleans, Louisiana, United States)

News and Updates:
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
Humanitarian Information Centre for Myanmar Burma Raises Official Death Toll to 78,000(The Guardian)
Burma cyclone: Second storm gathering(The Daily Telegraph)
Extent of Burma cyclone revealed (Radio Show)(BBC International)
'No access' to Burma cyclone zone(BBC News)
McCain aides forced to quit over ties to Burmese junta(The Independent)
Opinion divided over air drops (The Independent)
Burma cyclone: now aid workers warn of refugee crisis (Times Online)
Burma cyclone: Burmese officials selling emergency aid supplies in local markets(The Daily Telegraph)
U.S. aid reaches Myanmar; Death toll rises (CBS)
Vote Held in Face of Disaster in Myanmar (NPR)
Listen to Judy Woodruff speaking with the ICRC (NewsHour)
Relief failing to reach hundreds of thousands of Myanmar cyclone victims (International Herald Tribune)
Myanmar Death toll may rise over 100,000 (NDTV)
UN warns death toll may rise (Reuters, India)
FACTBOX-Aid offers pour in for cyclone-ravaged Myanmar (Reuters Alertnet)
Myanmar Backtracks on U.S. aid flight (Reuters Alertnet)
I knew I'd lost my family, says a Myanmar fihserman (Reuters Alertnet)
VIDEO: Cyclone death toll may top 100,000 (Reuters Alertnet)
PHOTOS: Myanmar cyclone destruction (Reuters Alertnet)
Map Catalogue (Reuters Alertnet)
Bush Pushes for US Relief Teams in Burma (The Irrawaddy)
Myanmar survivors emerge desperate for help (Agence French Press)
World Vision responds to devastating cyclone in Myanmar (World Vision)
CARE to Respond to Myanmar Cyclone Disaster (Care International)
UNICEF sends first pre-stocked relief supplies as Cyclone Nargis toll climbs (UNICEF)
Cyclone victims storm shops as aid delays bite (CNN)
Dead are thrown into rivers as the living wait for aid (CNN)
French foreign minister urges UN to force aid on Myanmar (International Herald Tribune)