Shaping how we interact with information
As the world continues to grapple with global warming and bouts of extreme weather become increasingly frequent, communities across the globe are having to adapt to the changing planet. On the island of Trinidad, permaculture non-profit Wa Samaki Ecosystems is experimenting with using upcycled materials to build houses that are more climate resistant.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
The island of Trinidad has a tropical climate, but, unfortunately, many of its buildings were not designed with that in mind.
Many of the buildings on the island are still made of concrete, since the priorities during their construction were budget and accessibility of materials.
Much of the time, these buildings are not properly adapted to the climate. They cannot withstand the heat of the dry season, nor the hurricanes and flooding of the wet season.
This was not always the case, of course. Throughout Caribbean history, there were various architectural styles that were developed with the climate in mind.
The director of the Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management, Asad Mohammed, has described, for example, ‘European-style’ timber houses that were adapted to the regional climate.
These houses had shuttered windows that could be sealed off in stormy weather, and awnings to protect the home from the heat of direct sunlight.
Nowadays, these have largely been replaced by flat glass windows that have to remain closed to avoid direct exposure to both sunlight and rainfall.
A direct consequence of this is that, in order for them to be habitable, the buildings have to be air conditioned.
Going further back, the very first homes in the region had no windows at all. They consisted of wooden beams and thatched roofs, and they were mostly open to the air.
These were seasonal dwellings, which were constructed in such a way that they could be easily returned to the earth and rebuilt whenever necessary.
By the 1600s, a wattle and daub mud structure known as tapia had become popular. This closely resembles the technique used at Wa Samaki today.
Tapia houses were the result of Spanish colonial influence combined with Indigenous architectural techniques. In general, they had an oval shape.
The frame was made of wood, and a mixture of clay, water, and grass was used for the walls. The roof was usually a thatch made of palm leaves.
The tapia era ended around the 1940s, and these sorts of houses are very difficult to come by on Trinidad today.
However, it is an aim of Wa Samaki to bring back this historical feature of Caribbean architecture, not least because it is a great material for keeping homes cool.
Since clay is more porous than concrete, it traps more moisture. This moisture eventually evaporates, and it pulls heat from surfaces as it leaves.
This means that clay homes are able to remain cool in the heat of direct sunlight, without the need for windows, fans, or air conditioning.
This is particularly important as climate change continues to cause all-time heat records across the Caribbean.
Another historical climate adaptation that contemporary architects are seeking to bring back is building structures that are raised off the ground.
This has a double benefit in that it helps circulate cool air in the dry season, and it protects the home from flooding in the wet season.
In the case of clay structures, it is necessary to build these off the ground, since otherwise they absorb too much moisture from the earth.
The designers at Wa Samaki are not only looking at traditional materials, such as clay, for their buildings. They are also looking towards discarded materials.
For example, one of the gazebos that they have on site was made from bamboo and teak they harvested from the land.
The seats in the gazebo were made from discarded tires, filled with recycled plastic and covered over with clay and sand.
Elsewhere on site, multi-colored glass bottles have been used to give buildings a constant stream of light and color.
Without the intervention of the Wa Samaki team, these materials would likely have ended up in one of the island’s waste dumps.
As a result, they may well have leaked chemicals into nearby environments, such as the Caroni Swamp Nature Reserve.
The techniques used at Wa Samaki are currently the exception, not the rule. However, one of the aims of the project is to change that.
According to the site’s founder, Rahaman-Noronha, the long-term aim is to "educate people on the environment" and "live in balance with nature."
By drawing inspiration from the Caribbean’s rich architectural history, the team hopes to create a culture of using available resources to build homes that are easily adapted to the changing planet.
Sources: (BBC) (Wa Samaki Ecosystems)
See also: Cities that will be least impacted by climate change
The Caribbean island using upcycled materials to build homes
From glass bottles to car tires
LIFESTYLE Architecture
As the world continues to grapple with global warming and bouts of extreme weather become increasingly frequent, communities across the globe are having to adapt to the changing planet. On the island of Trinidad, permaculture non-profit Wa Samaki Ecosystems is experimenting with using upcycled materials to build houses that are more climate resistant.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.