Hi Haven,
You’ve clearly done some solid reading and really immersing yourself in this design challenge.
– What has been reported happening to walls and roofs during both seasons of monsoons? Do they experience flooding, leaks, or erosion?
From the 360 interactives and photos, you’ll be able to appreciate that the homes are indeed at risk of being affected by flooding during the wet season, water ingress and the effects of soil erosion. From what we observed during our time in community, we didn’t see any houses in disrepair. The community really support each other, with villagers helping their neighbours with repairs and new builds.
– What are the biggest weather-related problems? (e.g., landslides, strong winds, high humidity, extreme heat)
With extreme wet and dry seasons, Loidahar experiences a combination of landslides, high humidity, flooding, extreme heat, water shortages, depending on the season.
– How long do typical homes last before needing major repairs?
Common are reinforced concrete, concrete blocks and bamboo as mainstay construction materials. You can make some reasonable assumptions on design life and outline these in your design submission.
– How well do homes stay cool during hot months? Do people struggle with indoor heat?
In a development context, the primary focus for locals is to actually have adequate housing. Secondary to this primary need are things such as adequate heating, ventilation and cooling. Though the locals are acclimatised to the pervasive heat (both indoor and outdoor) – these are important elements that support comfort and livelihood, which you should ideally factor in to your designs.
– Do materials like brick or bamboo help with keeping heat out, or do they trap it?
This would be one to research and report back as part of your design.
– Are there any traditional ways villagers try to improve insulation?
We didn’t observe any, but improved air flow and insulation (whilst cognisant of the context specific constraints such as materials, cost etc) should be factored in to your designs.
– Do any houses currently sit on stilts? Is elevation used to prevent flooding or deal with ground conditions?
Some are elevated on supports, which is partly because of the mountainous terrain but also helps with climate related challenges.
I’m exploring ways to improve wall durability and insulation using Compressed Earth Bricks (CEBs) with a recycled plastic seal for water resistance. Do you think these materials could work well in the village?
CEBs or similar technology based solutions would require a benefit analysis on your part. How could these be adapted to a context like the tropical, mountainous terrain and climate of Timor-Leste?
Cheers,
Anthony
Anthony Brady.
Haven Himstedt
Anthony Brady