The venture, termed as Project Haiti will substitute an orphanage and children’s centre in Port-au-Prince which was damaged by an earthquake. The building will sport a Gingerbread style featuring deep outdoor balconies. The main structure, surrounding a central east-facing courtyard will encompass three floors and don an L shape. Kitchen, dining and training areas will be positioned on either sides of the structure.
The systems installed in the facility will run low on maintenance while harnessing surplus energy to power street lights as well as public charging stations on the street. The design of the building will draw reference to the local Kapok tree in the balcony’s branching support system and its second skin comprising low emission and heat-shedding properties.
The below-grade space will function as the root of the building. It will collect and clean water while reclaiming nutrients from waste into biogas. The first three floors of the building will serve as the trunk. There will also be a boundary layer which will perform the function of a tree bark. The layer will protect exterior walkways and vertical surfaces from direct sunlight. It will also enable natural light penetration and natural ventilation. Further, the building will be adorned with rooftop gardens which will act as foliage by offering extra green area and supporting the solar energy system.
The facility will consist of public, semi-private, and private thresholds to allow entry of visitors. There will also be a safe zone which will offer protection to the residents in times of natural calamities.
The building will abide by a host of LEED Platinum norms. It includes making extensive use of local materials and artistic pieces such as ironwork, murals and woodwork created by local artisans. There will be a closed-loop system to store and treat water on the site. The facility will also be equipped with a biodigester to provide waste treatment and offer cooking gas.
