Open Architecture Network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Concept for a small single-family home that can be built quickly and with minimal materials. The size of the dwelling, measured in man-units, can be increased proportionally as needed. The design is well suited for families living on the outskirts of cities or in the mountains and foothills. We‚ve borrowed the Dhajji Dewari construction method, popular in the region by reinforcing the structure with a timber frame and covering it with a light, single-plane sloped tin roof. Finished lumber is not required. Rough-cut tree trunks taken from the land and stripped of branches will do. Required tools include axes, shovels, hammers, nails of varying lengths, ladders, and a few family members or friends to help with the work. The beauty of the concept is what we‚ve termed Œupgradable design‚ which allows for flexibility of schedule and resources. Once the timber-framed walls and corrugated roof are erected, the walls can temporarily be covered with the U.N.-issued tent material. Later, the walls can be upgraded to corrugated tin and eventually masonry in keeping with the Dhajji Dewari style. Each material is an improvement on the last and increases weather resistance. No matter what the façade, the structure‚s timber frame and tin roof will keep the home flexible and light-weight, ensuring safety for the occupants and durability in the event of an earthquake.