Resumen en Español

"The more desperate the need for change in people's lives the greater the potential of architecture to help bring about such change" BHD

OUR GOALS ARE  

To stimulate human development through the provision of inspiring, uplifting and sustainable buildings. To read more  please click here.

BHD RESEARCH NOTES    NEW!

BHD is now actively researching sustainable, low cost and traditional building technologies. In order to archive valuable information and links we have set-up a blog called BHD Research Notes. The idea is to allow public access to our findings. Please click here to view BHD Research Notes.

BHD ACTIVITY SUMMARY 2010

Please click here to read our BHD activity summary 2010.

PHOTOS OF THE NURSERY BUILDING IN PERU

Sketch model by Joelke Offringa and Marion Regitko

"The sketches already give a sense of what the building will be. People will come from all over the country attracted by the architecture and will find a project alive. To be able to live, recreate, dream, create in such a place will be a joy forever"

Sister Angela Mary C.S.C., President of the Centro de Orientação e Educação à Juventude in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2002

THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT      

" ... It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. ... Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities - the range of things that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible. ... The goal is human freedom. And in pursuing capabilities and realizing rights, this freedom is vital. People must be free to exercise their choices and to participate in decision-making that affects their lives. Human development and human rights are mutually reinforcing, helping to secure the well-being and dignity of all people, building self-respect and the respect of others."   

Article from the Web of the United Nations Development Program about Human Development 

To read the full article on the UNDP web site please click here.

OUR  VOLUNTEERS

• Charles Okunya Oode, Reverend and teacher

• Mónica Ángel  Muñoz, dentist and tranlator for BHD

• Robert  Haslett, company director

• Daniela  Stefan, architect

• MO STUDIO,  architect

BHD  says Thank You for Your Great Support!

 info@bhdinternational.org

NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE WITH NURSERY  IN PERU   

Settlement 'Juan Valer Sandoval', Paita (Piura), Peru.  October 2009

Location

The project is located in a settlement called 'Juan Valer Sandoval'. The settlement overlooks the coastal town of Paita in Northern Peru situated close to the equator. The area is a dry, sandy plane with year-round high temperatures and very little rainfall.

Currently the settlement is home to about 720 families living in self made shelters. Due to the collapse of the local fishing industry unemployment is very high and nearly half the population live in extreme poverty. Facilities such as drinking water, sanitation and electricity are severely restricted. If no action is taken these poor conditions will only get worse as the population of the settlement continues to grow.

Collaboration

The Malaga based Foundation HARENA is currently working on an ambitious project to improve the situation together with local NGOs and residents. BHD are providing specialist services for the design and realisation of a construction project at the heart of these improvements, a neighbourhood centre with nursery.

Project

Good design and good buildings can provide much more than just basic shelter. With the skill, patience and a few extra resources buildings can be made that inspire and uplift the spirit. In areas of poverty and deprivation the effect of such buildings can reach way beyond the mere shelter that they provide. With this in mind BHD is very happy to undertake the architectural services for this project.

Please click here to  open a PDF document containing the Preliminary Design for the nursery designed by BHD volunteer architect Mo Studio and Daniela Stefan.

Project describtion

The site is a strip of land of about 2000m2 on the edge of the settlement. In the first phase the whole site will be surfaced over and trees will be planted to the mark out the area of the new Neighbourhood Centre. The nursery will be  located at the western end of the site. Later phases will expand out from this nucleus and will eventually occupy the entire 2000m2. When complete the area will be sheltered by an undulating roof divided into long strips. The strips will be interrupted at certain points to allow for trees and green areas within the centre.

All the facilities provided by the centre will be essential to the health and well being of the settlement. However the requirement for a nursery is particularly urgent. Many parents have to spend their days either working or looking for work whilst their young children remain at home unsupervised. The nursery will provide education, social interaction and nutrition for youngsters who are in desperate need of these basic necessities.

The project is divided into several phases. Funds are now available to realise a nursery for 100 children and will go on site in April 2010. Light and airy classrooms will be arranged around a central patio that will provide an outdoor, shaded play area for the children. In the next phase there will be a kitchen, dining room and extra classrooms. Once the nursery is complete a primary school, recreational areas and additional social facilities are all planned.

The project is based on involvement of local residents in its design, construction and management. The design brief has been drawn up in consultation with the residents. Labour and materials will be provided by the settlement whenever possible. Residents will also take key roles is running and maintaining the project. In this way the centre will become part of the fabric and culture of the settlement 'Juan Valer Sandoval'.

BHD and Volunteer Architects

We are collaborating with two volunteer architects on this project, MO Studio and Daniela Stefan, both based in Malaga.