Haiti’s vulnerability to natural disasters like earthquakes makes sustainable and resilient housing construction essential. CRAterre is an organization leading in the field of earthen architecture, and after the 2010 earthquake, they were able to provide technical assistance and rebuild homes – promoting local building techniques that would make homes more resilient during times of natural disasters. CRAterre’s technical support enabled the construction of 1,150 buildings, along with the repair of 500 buildings.
As these local building techniques took hold and saw success, CRAterre also carried out advocacy campaigns and made teaching materials available to vocational schools. These building techniques were then adopted throughout the country, especially by government agencies. Collaboration with government authorities, universities, and vocational centers has allowed this work to grow, promoting more resilient construction in Haiti.
Source:
World Habitat. (2018) Promoting local building cultures in Haiti. World Habitat Award Winners: Special Mention 2018.