Project Name: China Steel-frame Housing
>> Effective post disaster reconstruction strategy of replacing traditional materials with more efficient materials, yet keeping same construction methodology. <<
Project Type:
-Architecture
Project Mission/Goal:
-Improve the human spirit
-Respond to our growing need for clean water, power, shelter, healthcare, education
-Address humanitarian crises
Project Description:
The project was a collaboration between three parties-- Autodesk, Hsieh Ying-Chun and Tsinghua University.
In response to the devastation of the 7.1 magnitude 1999 earthquake in his home country of Taiwan, architect Hsieh Ying-Chun developed an innovative method for efficiently rebuilding durable permanent housing in affected poor rural communities. Hsieh designed an entire innovative building process, taking into consideration economic, social, cultural and environmental factors. To address structural problems, Hsieh’s buildings use lightweight steel, which is sturdy but more flexible and, thus, capable of withstanding earthquakes than the stacked brick and stone walls prevalent in the Taiwanese and Chinese countryside. The steel emulates traditional effective wooden building styles, mimicking the wooden post framing. However, wooden framing requires skilled laborers, which were too expensive and not numerous enough in the aftermath of the earthquakes; on the contrary, Hsieh’s steel beams are inexpensive and can be assembled in a matter of days by groups of unskilled laborers, thereby making the houses affordable to their target rural population and employing surplus labor. Furthermore, insulation consists primarily of resources available on- or near the sites, such as bamboo, wood, stone, straw and earth; additional materials, including corrugated steel for the roofs and cement for the walls, are deliberately inexpensive and easy to work with. Importantly, this approach is adaptable to various locations: the steel beams may be combined to construct buildings in a variety of forms and because the buildings are built with local materials and local labor, they can be customized to each place without increasing the cost. Additionally, Hsieh developed a system to finance these projects without financial assistance from outside organizations; with this aim, he has helped to establish local labor co-operatives that organize labor and finance the projects. In summary, Hsieh’s design solution meets a need for affordable, easy-to-build housing, while also teaching and employing the local population, reducing environmental impact by using locally sourced natural materials where possible, and remaining adaptable to a variety of locations.
Text based on passages from http://www.atelier-3.com/mediawiki/index.php/Intro_2009.06, http://www.atelier-3.com/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page.
INFORMATION FROM AUTODESK'S BLOG:
On May 12, 2008 a devastating earthquake (measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale) struck the Szechuan province of China, causing widespread destruction across the region and leaving millions of people homeless. Rather than simply donating money, 24 hours after the quake, Autodesk leadership met to create a disaster response plan, identifying a unique opportunity to use our position as a global leader in building design software and local presence (offices in Shanghai) to assist in the reconstruction efforts.
Over a 9 month period, the teams produced 5 standardized home designs that could be configured in a number of ways. These designs were based on 3 key ideas:
1. Standardized Steel Frame
A standardized lightweight steel frame was optimized for performance. Autodesk R&D team members at our offices in Shanghai ran design simulations on the frame to maximize stability and ensure earthquake resistance.
2. Local Materials
Using local materials like grass, earth, and bamboo helped reduce reconstruction costs, ensure that the project mirrored the existing region, and contributed to environmental sustainability (fewer materials to transport in).
3. Built by Occupants
Using time-honored straightforward construction techniques reduced the level of expertise required and allowed a wider spectrum of local residents to participate in the process - many helping build their own replacement homes.
Text from: http://labs.blogs.com/its_alive_in_the_lab/2010/04/the-szechuan-province...
"A standardized construction model was designed around a lightweight steel frame, lowering the overall weight of the structure. To optimize the performance of the steel frame, Autodesk's Research and Development team in Shanghai ran the design through extensive structural simulations to help ensure maximum stability and earthquake resistance." (Text from display at the Autodesk Gallery)
Links:
http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/4540
http://www.atelier-3.com/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.atelier-3.com/gallery2/main.php
Autodesk collaboration/SF exhibit: http://labs.blogs.com/its_alive_in_the_lab/2010/04/the-szechuan-province...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsieh_Ying-chun
Videos:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5710760207904053400
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7iOuBFMRLQ
Project Details:
Location: rural Taiwan and China
Concept/Lead Architect(s)/Designer(s): Hsieh Ying-Chun
Project Architect(s): Hsieh Ying-Chun
Year (s): 1999 to present
Client: impoverished rural communities
User Client: rural community residents
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Nominated by Kate Stohr
