GRACE COMMuNITY BIRTH CENTER | SERVICE
Project Roles: SD
Model Owner, Architectural Design, + Material Research
Project Team: Three Person Team
Steve Miller | Project Lead
Andrew Stith | Support
Program: Women’s Health Clinic
Location: Grand Bassin, Haiti
Area: 1,200 SQFT
The design of birth center was conceived to be constructed with minimal expertise and materials. The initial phase to be constructed addresses the critical need of the community, with future phases adding amenities as additional funding becomes available.
The building form and interstitial spaces were conceived from traditional Haitian architecture. The large overhangs, and exterior kitchens have their roots in the surrounding communities.
The idea for rammed earth was used because the forms can be built out of readily available building materials. In addition, the earth from the excavation of the site can be used within the walls, minimizing the need to bring in additional materials.
Since rammed earth does not preform well in overly wet conditions, the tropical climate needed to be considered. To counteract the excess water, the rammed earth walls were placed above a concrete stem wall, which doubled as the waiting bench for the community. In addition, each rammed earth wall is placed underneath a dramatic overhang.
