Here’s a sketch from our meeting last week. It shows a section on top, elevation (perpendicular to the section) at the bottom, and the plan detail of the exterior wall relevant to that elevation.
The main concept is to separate structure from building envelope (columns that hold the roof from weather proofed surfaces). Previous construction in El Shaddai employed concrete masonry unit walls that acted both as structure and as an envelope. By separating the two functions we can reduce the amount of material used, employ local construction techniques (here we show a local woven material, for example the way Swazis build huts, on both sides of a light wooden frame for the envelope), and allow for easy repair or removal of wall sections. Our 3X3 meter grid of concrete columns will give the locals a durable structure they can enclose in ways they see fit. We keep joking it’s like Lego – you can take parts from one place and move them to a different locations. We want to give the Swazis a basic Lego kit.
