Population growth and natural disasters are certain to place demands on the housing industry that current building methods are unable to meet. In fact there are currently over 1 billion persons living without adequate shelter.
It is difficult and in fact unwise to separate those without clean water and sufficient food from those without shelter as all three of these elements, food, water and shelter. are essential to sustaining life.
My belief is that we are capable of developing adequate, and in fact desirable housing for a fraction of the present cost of traditional construction. Further I am convinced that when we demonstrate our capability and commitment to provide rapid relief for these basic needs to those in dire circumstances the social capital attained will allow tremendous savings in security and when configured using wise urban design our various cultures will adapt not only to the new structures but thrive, attaining self sufficient status within an globally maturing society.
The exact nature of construction materials and manufacturing techniques are to be explored and debated in detail. There are several methods being proposed from the building material industry from which I came but I believe that we are destined to undergo revolutionary change as we develop new ways of addressing the cube, or housing envelope, as a single unit deliverable to serve as the robust building block for complex urban complexes.
the key would seem to be the thriving, "attaining self sufficient status within a globally maturing society". adding to the necessity for life a fourth dimension of dignity.
ReplyDelete"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction."- John F. Kennedy
ReplyDeleteSupport Global Shelter Project (GSP), in an active response to positive change .
While I support shelter projects like these, I see a flaw in the assumption that "various cultures will adapt not only to the new structures but thrive, attaining self sufficient status within an globally maturing society."
ReplyDeleteThe history of relief measures shows us that it is dangerous to ignore the impact of corruption and military control on relief efforts. It is an element capable of undermining or even terminating relief for underfed, undersheltered and homeless populations.
Quite true.
ReplyDeleteCorruption is present when communication is obscured by ignorance and fear. Holistic absorption of corruption via education is required.