'Butterfly Houses' showcase the caring face of architecture

By Matt Ford for CNN, October 27, 2010

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/27/sustainable.architecture/index.html
http://www.trendir.com/house-design/thailand-wood-prefab-houses-with-modern-butterfly-roof.html
http://home.worldinteriordesignnetwork.com/news/butterfly_houses_project_by_tyin_tegnestue_shortlisted_for_earth_awards_2010_100825/
http://mtidry.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/butterflyhouses/
http://www.dailytonic.com/soe-ker-tie-house-in-thailand-by-tyin-tegnestue/
http://www.decodir.com/2009/08/thailand-wood-prefab-houses-with-modern-butterfly-roof/

A remarkable design by Norwegian firm Tyin Tegnestue to build 
and manage a sustainable community project that will give
50 Thai orphans their own individual homes -- the so-called 
"Butterfly Houses" -- won the Social Justice category at this
 year's Earth Awards and nearly took the top prize.(CNN) -- 
A new generation of architects seems determined to use their 
skills for the greater good, producing buildings that are 
ecologically and socially sustainable.

The Earth Awards celebrate creative ideas and link designers,
architects and others with the investors who can make their ideas
happen.


Andreas G. Gjertsen from Tyin Tegnestue told CNN he believes
 his project represents a shift in emphasis among some architects.


"I guess the combination of focus on ethical and aesthetic values 
makes the project interesting," he said.


"We want to address basic challenges and find answers to these
through logical, socially sustainable and beautiful solutions."


The architects say the aim of the Butterfly Houses was to recreate
what the children would experience in a more normal home. Every
child has a private space collectively organized into neighborhoods
where they could live and play together.


"We have searched for a deeper meaning in our profession, and find
it in building projects for people that really benefit from improved
physical surroundings," said Gjertsen.

The specially shaped roofs act as a conduit for ventilation and have
a rainwater harvesting function.

The houses have foundations made from recycled tires to prevent rot,
while the walls were built using a local bamboo-weaving technique,
with most of the bamboo harvested within a few kilometers of the site.

"For us this motivation to 'do good' is empty if we don't bring our 
interest and love for architecture into the mix."

Gjertsen hopes that knowledge of the project will spread locally
in the village, and inspire similar projects in the local community.

"[Now] we are pushing forward towards new projects ... There are
thousands of projects that can change people's lives and literally
millions of clients, if architects and other experts just lower their fees."

We may think of disaster relief as providing food and water, but 
shelter is also vital, especially over the long term -- and nowhere
more so than in post-earthquake Haiti.

Tyin Tegnestue is currently working in the country offering advice
to a group of architecture students in Port-au-Prince.

"This [is] without a doubt the most challenging situation we have 
encountered until now, and even though it might seem hopeless, 
we will try to use all our experience to provide a better physical 
framework where people in poor communities might improve their lives."

But Tyin Tegnestue isn't alone.

Architecture for Humanity (AFH) employs "design fellows" for six to 
12 months to work with local architects and builders in developing 
countries to realize a project.

"Over the years we've built a community of such generous folks and
their peers who see Architecture for Humanity as a tremendous
resource for executing humanitarian architecture and design," said
AFH design fellow Karl Johnson.

"Architecture can enable the provision of human rights such as shelter,
water, privacy and stability.

"It's important to incorporate all these aspects in every kind of shelter, 
that the residents might attain some self-sufficiency and retain self-worth."

For example, AFH has just completed the Mahiga Rainwater Court in 
rural Kenya, which is a set of basketball courts covered with 
a rainwater-collecting roof.

"The design is both elegant and functional, and is a perfect example
of what we do," said Johnson.

"But perhaps the most exciting project on our 'boards' at the moment 
is the Haiti Reconstruction Program.

"Following the earthquake last January we saw a need for a facilitator
in engaging and empowering the Haitian architecture and construction 
community to help rebuild their nation."

AFH established an office in Port-au-Prince to coordinate five on-the-ground 
staff members and a team of volunteers working with local professionals 
to help in the design and construction of permanent schools around the 
country.

"For many reasons Haiti is the most ambitious and difficult project we've 
ever engaged in," said Johnson.

Where possible the buildings use extremely local materials and employ
local labor in construction.

"This way there is a double benefit," said Johnson. "The buildings are 
cheaper -- saving on transportation costs, to say the least -- and the 
ocal economy is stimulated.

"Appropriate architecture not only pursues ecological sustainability, but 
economic and cultural sustainability as well.

"There are huge challenges, an incredible need and an opportunity to 
showcase the best of what ... sustainable architecture can offer."

For Tyin Tegnestue, finding a way to use their skills for the greater good
has been a tremendously empowering experience.

"All in all the most important mantra for us is: Do it! There's a lot of talk, 
and a lot of plans, but we find that practical exercises and tests give 
much more results than all the talk and planning," said Gjertsen.