Project Name: A Sustainable Place on the Island of Carriacou

Project Type:
6) architecture

Project Mission/Goal:
3) respond to our growing need for clean water, power, shelter, healthcare, education

Project Description:
A sustainable place on the Island of Carriacou, yet unbuilt, is intended to allow and protect the independence and self-sufficiency of the island’s historic inhabitants. The design is comprised of a pair of cottages, linked by shared sanitary facilities, an agricultural nursery, and eventually a school, library, and additional housing. The project was under Ed Plaut’s active consideration for many years. Ed, a journalist, author and political writer, died in a fire at his house, on December 7, 2008, at the age of 85. He and I met each other at Wilton Friends Meeting (Quaker Meeting) in 1994, where our attendance and conversations continued to be on-going. Ed was confident of the wisdom of this idea because he believed in the gifts of a shared endeavor ‘to build,’ right use of natural resources, an abiding respect for the ‘ought’ of wellbeing, and stewardship of ‘place.’

This project is to be owned by the WISH Foundation (West Indian Self Help) under Plaut's creation as a 501(3) (c) entity. Plaut and I worked on the design development of the cottages, specifically, from January – June, 2008: one cottage for continuous use by the director of the site and one cottage for visiting people interested in the project’s oversight and development.

The cottages are designed for community living with the exterior linking porch and circulation deck being the outdoor living room -- the heart of the house -- shown on the west side because it is quiet, unlike the east which is very windy. On the particular property concerned, the view is also to the West. The cottages are designed to be built according to local capabilities and methods, using masonry exterior walls finished in stucco on both the exterior and interior and a curved-tile roof to withstand strong winds. Window and doorways remain open, with operable louvered shutters; however, windows and doors would be installed, in time, with a provision for UV/Low-e glass. Screening would be provided in yet to be determined locations. Interior partition walls are wood panel ‘open’ lattice construction designed to provide both privacy and airflow. The floor finish material is tile or linoleum. These dwellings are intended to be simple, but not primitive. Appropriate application of solar energy is not yet resolved; similarly, the plumbing design. Much of the land is volcanic with shallow topsoil. Water conservation is required.

The site development program introduces terrace planting, composting, and water harvesting and conservation with composting toilets, cisterns, grey water separation and irrigation. Propagation plans include indigenous edible agriculture: Ackee, for island distribution and commercial packaging as an incubator business; Leucaena, a tall and fast growing tree suitable as a food source, for construction wood, and as an effective wind buffer when strategically planted as such; and other suitable plantings such as varieties of fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

Links:
1) Carriacou (13 sq miles) is one of three islands comprising the nation of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carriacou_and_Petite_Martinique
2) Ackee: http://books.google.com/books?id=skkrAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA472&dq=ackee&cd=1#v=o...
3) Leucaena, a tall and fast growing tree suitable as a food source, for construction wood, and as an effective wind buffer: http://www.satglobal.com/leucaena_entry.htm
4) Designer website: http://wildgoosearchitecture.com/pro_bono_.html

Image Captions/Credits:
Map of Carriacou.pdf
Ed Plaut's Cottages Floor Plan 050208.pdf
Ed Plaut's Cottages West Elevation 050208.pdf
Ed Plaut's cottages In Between Section Elev 050208.pdf
Ed Plaut's cottages East Elevation 050208.pdf
Ed Plaut's cottages Side Elevation 050208.pdf
© Kathleen Flynn

Project Details:
Concept/Lead Architect(s)/Designer(s):
Project Architect: Kathleen Flynn
Year: the design of the cottages was in progress during 2008, but the project as a whole was an ongoing focus for Ed Plaut over many years. He had visited the island many times over the course of many years. He was familiar with the realities of everyday life in every aspect of the island's political and social culture; and he knew many individuals who live/ed there... from those in political leadership positions to ordinary citizens. He kept informed of local news with a weekly subscription to "Carib News."
Client: Ed Plaut
User Client: the native people of Carriacou
Number of beneficiaries/users: hopefully, ongoing for many historically native islanders
Project Phase: design development
Major Funding: required
Cost/Cost per unit:
Area (if applicable): minimum 1,800 sq feet
Structural Engineers: to be determined
Electrical/Mechanical Engineers: to be determined
Contractor/Manufacturer: to be determined
Additional Consultants: third world water conservation and harvesting consultant
Other: Should this unbuilt project be suitable for inclusion in the second edition of your book, "Design Like You Give a Damn," the story of this project can be further told in greater detail. Attached you will find pdfs of design drawings for the pair of cottages and the common wash area between them.

Nominated by Kathleen Flynn

Location