Open Architecture Network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Our 'project' is a network of architects, engineers and others dedicated to making durable, affordable building technologies available to low-income families in Bangladesh. Our aim is to improve present practice and methods rather than to create new designs or materials. The photo shows our first trained village motivator with his experimental cement-stabilised mud bricks, used to build his own house. Methods of making bamboo durable and of retro-strengthening buildings have also been explored together with appropriate dissemination techniques. The programme has led to new rural architecture course modules for student architects. we are looking at ways to develop and spread the early pilot studies across rural Bangladesh.