Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Mid-Term is Up!

Our mid-term product is finally all the way up. The Final for the project is Due on Monday, and all the images should be switched out by then. Any Building critique is very welcome. Thanks

Jesse Wolfe

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Idea of Organization

We are splitting out project into 3 stages of construction. The first will be everything needed for the agricultural process, the Second will be a Textile Processing plant, and the third is a Materials Plant to create building materials out of the excess material.

Within these three steps we are able to create a full cycle of the banana, and bamboo plants. We are able to get food, fabric, and building materials. These can then be used, exported, or sold locally in order to allow for an economic option under any situation.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Welcome

Our economically feasible program for Haiti would be a dual agricultural farm of banana plants, and bamboo trees. The advantages of these crops create a situation that is very favorable. Both of these crops take around a year to reach maturity, this makes it possible to create a very quick income. The plants uses both include food and fibers. While the bamboo can also be used to create wood and reinforce concrete. The banana plants can also have its sap used for water proofing, dye, and tannin, the leaf as a membrane, storage container, plates, or cooking seasoning.

Because of this variety of uses the financial possibilities are limitless in terms of economic possibilities. Because of this variety our idea would be in a series of three steps. The first would be a school, chapel/windmill, housing, and an agricultural processing warehouse. This would allow for a self sustaining food source, and basic processing. The second would be a textile warehouse where the fibers from the plants would be able to be used to create clothing and other fibrous products. The third would be a materials plant where the different possibilities of materials would be created. This would create a cycle of many financial production opportunities within the plantation.

The agricultural circle of this combo is also a large advantage. Because bamboo is able to renew soil conditions, the banana plants have the opportunity to be in constant production. This combination also allows for a natural reforestation as the plants grow better as a non-patterned crop. Natural reforestation promotes animal habitat and also provides a higher level of erosion protection.