AA VS Bamboo Lab Haiti 2017

The AA VS Bamboo Lab Haiti 2017 design course culminated with a selection of eight architectural design projects, a built structure bamboo structure and the experience for tutors and participants alike. This was the fifth workshop conducted by the Architectural Association School of Architecture, to synthesise cutting edge tools to the field of bamboo architecture in Haiti, where this portfolio can have the most potent and lasting impact. As we all know Haiti suffers from a perfect storm scenario of deforestation and unsafe building practices and the agenda of the Architectural Association VS Bamboo Lab has been to look at using architecture and the material of bamboo as a catalyst to tackle these head on.

Bamboo column designs drawn by Max Webster Joseph and Wadsonne Leonel.

Following the last four years in which we have looked at bamboo’s role in the urban and rural context, to tackle both public and residential programmes, this year’s course was named ‘Piti Pwoje’, or ‘Small Projects’. The goal for this year was to design and construct a range of small infrastructural interventions on the Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve. These projects were to be greenhouses, plant nurseries and sheltering pavilions all that could build the capacity of the Wynne Farm to receive visitors and aid in the reforestation efforts. Though in the end we allowed a high degree of freedom for participants to explore various scales and programmes.

Day by day

Participants began the course by delving into the world of contemporary bamboo architecture and looking at reference projects for design inspiration. This was very open and over the initial days of the course these initial concepts would be questioned in term so scale and programmatic response to the needs of the Wynne Farm. In order to get participants to think of the scale and usability of their structures through the prism of vernacular Haitian architecture, we all took a trip to Jacmel and conducting urban sketching in the shadow of the City’s New Orleans style of architecture. The metal work on show is second to none, and exposed in various stages of decay allowed students a rich array of references to embed in their design projects. From the technical and innovative details of the metal balcony connections, the use of the galri, or referencing the street scape itself.

Urban sketching exercises on the group visit to Jacmel in the South of Haiti.

Computer testing

As projects continued to develop, this course utilised cutting edge software to test the designs to the climatic threats facing Haiti. Since the course this has also been made even more relevant given the near miss from hurricane Irma with wind speeds close to 225mph, only 25mph short of the 250mph (80 m/s) we test in the class. Applying these computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to the students’ computer models using the software Autodesk Flow, this gives students the real-time ability to refine their designs to reduce drag and identify elements of the design which cause a build-up of pressure.

Igacio Andres Mejia Zubillaga and Jean-Widny Lordeus conducting hurricane force wind testing on Autodesk Flow and using this to inform Karamba FEA testing.

The first design challenge is to use this process to refine the design aerodynamically, whilst not compromising on the interior programmatic need and habitability. Following this the pressure data and its distribution across the 3D model can be translated to kN per sqm and tested using the software Karamba. This finite element analysis (FEA) tool for Grasshopper gives participants the ability to see what the effect of this wind pressure would be on the structure. Applying the material properties of bamboo to this model then allows to see the effect on the structure if build from bamboo and provides an interface letting us optimise the wall thickness and diameter of the poles, concurrently within the confines of available material in Haiti. Questions can then be addressed such as: Which areas of the structure should be re designed? What is the minimum wall thickness or diameter of bamboo to use? Which species? Or how should we orientate the project onsite?

We are clear that this can never replace an engineer, but we hope these computational tools can help the designer to discover new questions which can be brought to an engineer and aid the later conversation with MTPTC (Ministère des Travaux Publics, Transports et Communications).

Thierry Museau, and Eder Guerrier conducting hurricane force wind testing on Autodesk Flow.

Construction

For a period of four days, we left our studio at Quisqueya and ventured up into the clouds, on top of the mountains of Kenscoff. The Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve is the institution at the forefront of ecological restoration in Haiti, and this became our bamboo workshop. The choice of bamboo species was also specified this year for the design projects, to make the buildability of the student work much more relevant to the Kenscoff here and now. Construction identified species such as Guadua angustifolia, Dendrocalamus asper, and Bambusa oldhamii all grow well in other parts of Haiti and would also grow well in Kenscoff. However, it would take at least ten years for the multi-generational growth to produce large quantities of these to make them relevant locally in Kenscoff. Therefore, this year we specified the locally available Phyllostachys makinoi as the material constraint (or opportunity) for students to experiment with. This can generate a local economy by buying bamboo stock from local farmers and we bought over 100 poles from local farmers for the summer course alone.

Participants cutting the phyllostachys makinoi from the land of local farmers.

Tutor Franck Vendryes teaching at the bamboo construction element of the course.

Erecting the prototype structure designed by Thierry Museau, and Eder Guerrier, and will be used as either a greenhouse or pavilion for the farm.

The project, Bamboo Tetrahedron by Thierry Museau, and Eder Guerrier was chosen half way through the course as a project which could be built by the whole group in a short period of time at a larger scale. As well as building a group project, this exposure to bamboo species, construction, treatment and joinery is a chance to also add these considerations to the design projects and develop the technical aspects of these and we find that design or structural questions raised through the physical or computer model can instantly be answered outside in the workshop.

Participants and tutors in front of the completed structure.

Legacy

The curriculum has been tailored to be relevant to Haiti and with the physical bamboo workshop infrastructure at the Wynne Farm along with a trained team of carpenters from our previous workshops now taking on teaching roles, the work and conversation will continue.

AA Visiting School Director: Christopher Pierce

AAVS Bamboo Lab Programme Lead: John Osmond Naylor

2017 Teaching team: John Osmond Naylor, Doria Reyes Cordova, Nancy Leconte, Franck Vendryes, Jane Wynne, Narcisse Barlande, Fedeme LaGuerre

Coordination team: John Osmond Naylor, Doria Reyes Cordova, Nancy Leconte, Franck Vendryes, Jane Wynne, Diego Perez Espitia, Rose Di Sarno, Aditya Aachi, Nathalie Jolivert, Sarah Day, Melissa Day, Mark Ouwehand, Andrea Ghaddar, Dorotea Petrucci, Jolene Malek, Patricia Camilien, Regine Fabius.

Students: Emmanuel Junior Polycarpe, Ignacio Andres Mejia Zubillaga, Lazarre Pierre-Louis, Thierry Museau, Jean-Widny Lordeus, Yves Joseph Dosier, Eder Guerrier, Max Webster Joseph, Shnight-Dy Azilien, Mike Charles, Wadsonne Leonel, Marie Kenia Nicolas, Jean Sebastien Malebranche, Kendy Saintilaire, Jupille Facile, Snard Sam Populaire, and Junior Nelson

Partner institutions: University Quisqueya, and Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve.

Sponsors: Gardiner and Theobald, Foster and Partners, Ian Ritchie Architects, Karamba, Acra Industries, Voyages Lumiere, Aetypik, British Embassy Port au Prince, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, JP Productions, and the World Bamboo Organisation.