**2. The simple housing solution project**

The SHS project started in 2009 (phase 1), and from 2017 on the project underwent improvements at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), when it was transformed into a course (phase 2). The most direct users are members of technical staff (engineers, architects, building technicians, social technicians) who have the option of using the project's content free of charge in support of their work with the affected communities. It presently relies on a website [9] and a YouTube channel [10], with about 30 video lessons. The project was one of the finalists for the 2019 Sasakawa Awards, a United Nations (UN) award in the area of disasters, with impacts on Sustainable Development Goals 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17.

#### **2.1 Strategic SHS directives**

The SHS project is based on the strategic tripod Simple Professional Design, Low-Cost Construction Technologies and Community Labour System (mutual help

**79**

*Simple Housing Solution Project: (Re) Building in Critical Situations*

theoretical–experimental research and laboratory analyses.

the savings may reach 50% [12] of direct costs.

acceptance in Don de l'Amitié, Haiti [14];

field activities (interviews):

homeless [13];

**2.2 SHS framework**

project directives.

covered, as illustrated in **Figure 1**.

rainwater facilities) and options for the urbanisation.

or joint working system), targeting the fundamental principles to a sustainable housing recovery stated by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Recovery Platform (IRP) [3]: environmental, technical, financial and

The idea is to allow aesthetically attractive and ergonomically appropriate projects in rectangular plants that can be easily built and expanded by the community itself over time, according to needs and possibilities. Gable roofs were chosen for their simple execution and aesthetic appeal in conjunction with rustic-looking brickwork. Engineering projects were developed based on technical standards,

Nowadays, the technology chosen is reinforced masonry with Compacted Earth

The interest of the vulnerable population in actively participating in the recovery work is widely documented in the literature and has been confirmed in at least three

• Reconstruction in the municipality of São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, after the 2011 disaster, with 90% acceptance among the

• After the 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, with 100%

• Relocation of residents from risk areas in the municipality of Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with 85% acceptance among vulnerable people [15].

The adaptable enterprises of the SHS project were designed for three scenarios: 20, 50, and 120 homes, aiming to complete the work within 18 months depending on the availability of the land and resources. For the construction of more units, it is possible to replicate various 120-home developments in parallel (within the same deadline) or carry out several projects in series (adding together their deadlines).

The SHS methodology content has been organised into three broad thematic axes (Design, Communal Labour and Materials) representing the three strategic

The project activities were organised around the thematic axes and production of slides, spreadsheets, and video-classes, which comprise the didactic material of the SHS course and are available on the project website as they are finalised. Multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity are outstanding elements of the contents

The Design macro-theme combines knowledge of architectural and engineering building designs (structural masonry, foundations, electrical, hydro sanitary,

Blocks (CEBs), which allows block production using manual presses and local materials. It is also considered easy to build, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, since the blocks are not kiln-burnt but use small ratios of 6:1 or 8:1 of soil and cement as a binder. Compared to the traditional Latin American building system (non-structural brick masonry associated with reinforced concrete structure using pillars, beams, and slabs), the proposed technology can save up to 30%. This is because it does not need wood moulds for concrete or wall cladding (except for wall façades exposed to moisture). When combined with a community labour system,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94953*

socio-organisational sustainability [11].

## *Simple Housing Solution Project: (Re) Building in Critical Situations DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94953*

*Natural Hazards - Impacts, Adjustments and Resilience*

expertise by the agencies involved in the implementation.

developed countries, and Africa is rarely addressed.

skilled technical assistants.

**2.1 Strategic SHS directives**

**2. The simple housing solution project**

nucleus.

individual project, and grouping together hundreds, thousands, and even millions of homes constitutes much broader reconstruction programmes. From this perspective, it should be considered that recovery needs to be approached from two aspects: collective solutions and individual solutions that reflect each family's needs and provide specific recovery routes that take into account the peculiarities of each

Housing provision should be understood as a process (and not merely providing a product) that should involve the people stricken by the disaster and the communities directly or indirectly affected by the situation [4]. According to UNDP and IRP [3], victims who can immediately begin their reconstruction effort will want to do so as soon as possible. Although the impact that a speedy start to recovery has on morale, those responsible for planning must ensure that the earlier vulnerabilities are not repeated. The authors also claim that in areas where immediate work is possible, there is less dependence on temporary housing, and victims feel that recovery is progressing. On the other hand, Leykin et al. [5] pinpoint three aspects that contribute directly to the resilience of a community in emergencies: preparation, leadership and collective effectiveness. Barakat [6] indicates that joint reconstruction must be carefully organised and managed, requiring managerial and technical

Concerning technical aspects, Marcial Blondet comments that in developing countries most people live in non-engineered low-rise constructions made of inferior materials, thus making them more vulnerable [7]. Considering the issues related to post-disaster reconstruction, Yi and Yang [8] mention that research efforts in developing countries in Asia and South America are far behind those in

This chapter introduces Simple Housing Solution (SHS), a methodology designed to facilitate the reconstruction process in critical situations, and necessary for recovery with few resources (i.e., post-disaster, post-conflict, relocation from risk areas, refugee settlements). It was conceived with the philosophy of gathering basic knowledge that can help build housing units and essential collective equipment (schools, health clinics), in a joint effort (community labour system), by adopting low-cost constructive technologies. The idea is to help local governments, support agencies and, above all, vulnerable communities to better organise the process for the recovery of tens, hundreds or thousands of families with the guidance of

The SHS project started in 2009 (phase 1), and from 2017 on the project underwent improvements at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), when it was transformed into a course (phase 2). The most direct users are members of technical staff (engineers, architects, building technicians, social technicians) who have the option of using the project's content free of charge in support of their work with the affected communities. It presently relies on a website [9] and a YouTube channel [10], with about 30 video lessons. The project was one of the finalists for the 2019 Sasakawa Awards, a United Nations (UN) award in the area of disasters, with impacts on Sustainable Development Goals 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17.

The SHS project is based on the strategic tripod Simple Professional Design, Low-Cost Construction Technologies and Community Labour System (mutual help

**78**

or joint working system), targeting the fundamental principles to a sustainable housing recovery stated by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Recovery Platform (IRP) [3]: environmental, technical, financial and socio-organisational sustainability [11].

The idea is to allow aesthetically attractive and ergonomically appropriate projects in rectangular plants that can be easily built and expanded by the community itself over time, according to needs and possibilities. Gable roofs were chosen for their simple execution and aesthetic appeal in conjunction with rustic-looking brickwork. Engineering projects were developed based on technical standards, theoretical–experimental research and laboratory analyses.

Nowadays, the technology chosen is reinforced masonry with Compacted Earth Blocks (CEBs), which allows block production using manual presses and local materials. It is also considered easy to build, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, since the blocks are not kiln-burnt but use small ratios of 6:1 or 8:1 of soil and cement as a binder. Compared to the traditional Latin American building system (non-structural brick masonry associated with reinforced concrete structure using pillars, beams, and slabs), the proposed technology can save up to 30%. This is because it does not need wood moulds for concrete or wall cladding (except for wall façades exposed to moisture). When combined with a community labour system, the savings may reach 50% [12] of direct costs.

The interest of the vulnerable population in actively participating in the recovery work is widely documented in the literature and has been confirmed in at least three field activities (interviews):


The adaptable enterprises of the SHS project were designed for three scenarios: 20, 50, and 120 homes, aiming to complete the work within 18 months depending on the availability of the land and resources. For the construction of more units, it is possible to replicate various 120-home developments in parallel (within the same deadline) or carry out several projects in series (adding together their deadlines).
