Concrete Roof Tiles, puzolanic cement, earth houses, ecomaterials: EcoSur - Home

The INTEC (Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo) and the CUJAE (Polytechnical University of Havanna) have recently published two Diploma thesis on buildings with ferrocement panels like the ones used by grupo sofonias in the reconstruction of Haiti. Both came to similar conclusions and recommend the technology because of its high resistance to earthquakes and hurricanes and the savings in materials, energy, time and finances

In the rural and semi-urban communities, that are the main target of the housing projects from the EcoSur network, sewer systems are non-existent and sewage disposal becomes a problem, sanitary and economic. The Dry Toilet, developed in Namibia by the Clay House Project*, has become an adequate and inexpensive solution for countryside communities and outskirts.



Catarina de Albuquerque, special rapporteur from the "Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights" visited Namibia in July 2011. The objective of this visit was to assess the manner in which Namibia is realizing the human rights to water and sanitation.
Ms. Albuquerque visited, among other places, the Clay House Project* and we would like to cite from her press release.

Cecat, the "Center for Construction and Tropical Architecture at the Technical University of Havana learned about MicroConcrete Roofing (MCR) technology early in 1991. In the midst of the crisis called the special period, it became clear that Cuba would opt for MCR, as national authorities concerned with construction and housing were pleased to encounter a viable roofing alternative.

by Kurt Rhyner

There are different means to be used for different situations, target groups and types of knowledge. In this realm EcoSur includes the face-to-face contacts of onsite visits, courses and seminars, as well as published material and internet connections. In the southern hemisphere direct personal contact has been the predominant means of communication, but requires tremendous investments of time, energy and resources. At one point in the process of sharing knowledge it is essential, but other or accompanying means must be sought.

Excerpt from an article by Kathryn Pozak in Basin News back in June 2003

As mentioned earlier, sharing implies having something to share and not being afraid to share it. The people associated with EcoSur not only take pleasure in sharing information, contributing to the expansion of knowledge in the southern hemisphere (we prefer that designation to "third world", "developing countries", etc,), they also create information.

Excerpt from an article by Kathryn Pozak in Basin News back in June 2003