D. Questions for the Housing Committee

September 14, 2021

I have included some questions we might consider on our call later this week. Any additional information will help but no single question is critical. We are just trying to understand what is common knowledge and common experience in Nauru. And if there is no strong consensus on some issues of building, it is helpful to know that, too.

There are lots of ways to build. The considerations and tradeoffs are often very subtle, and we always assume that any differences of opinion about exactly how to build, are honest differences between people trying to make the best possible decisions for people on the island.

The thinking behind the Smart House is important but it is not the only thing we might talk about. We know there have been a number of housing programs since World War II, and we would also like to know what you have learned from seeing that housing over a long period of time, since the durability of materials and construction assemblies will be so important to the success of the HGI. Also, we all want to make a case for sourcing as many skills from the island as possible, but we need a good appraisal of them. We need to understand the challenges of off island sourcing and shipping costs, and we need to know which trades are prepared for this first phase of building and which ones require a lot of training.

As our own country looks toward a major infrastructure effort, there is a shortage of labor skills in the construction trades that may impede that effort. When we work in other labor markets, like the Bahamas, we try to tailor design to the skills of the trades

I have previously asked about some of the housing types from World War II through the 1990’s and have received some information already. Here are some other questions:

■ This is a broad question, but what has been learned from the aging of the post war housing?

■ Older housing was on raised piling foundations. Later models were often slabs on grade. What considerations should go into deciding between these two basic foundations?

■ Is one foundation type better for termites? Do you have species of wood for floor framing that will last a long time in a ventilated crawl space?

■ Do you ever build raised slabs on compacted fill and could that be a good third alternate for foundations?

■ I have heard of preference surveys that suggest that concrete and block houses are preferred over wood but the 2011 Census says there are still lots of wood houses. This may be a carry-over from older house types. Do you think the preference is still for block over wood walls or should both be options?

■ A lot of people seem to assume that one advantage of block construction is that block can be made on the island. Do you agree with that? If there is not currently a block plant can one be built for a small first phase building program?

■ Block construction, of course, requires concrete and people cite the presence of aggregate on the island. Do you agree that the aggregate available is suitable for concrete made on the island?

■ Everything else required for steel reinforced concrete- the cement, the steel, maybe the sand will have to be shipped in so we assume block and concrete will require a lot of shipping expenses. Do any of these imported components pose a problem of cost or timing? Do you have a rough carpentry trade that is good at concrete formwork?

■ The smart house has jalousie windows. Is that the preferred window type for the island? It appears to be a common type.

■ What types of insulation are most common on the island?

■ With regards to roofing, almost every photograph, and the Smart House drawings, suggest that you do not use plywood roof decks under metal roof. Has it ever been considered for its strength or for helping to waterproof housing?

■ Have you ever manufactured roof trusses on the island?

■ Do you ever use fiberglass roofing shingles?

■ Is 3 meters your preferred ceiling height?

■ Did you price the Smart House by trade? Were any of the individual trades or assemblies found to be extraordinarily high - as in, are there assemblies that should be further assessed for costs?

■ The Smart House is very consistent with the programming studies in the 2011 Census, and it is very close to the average size of houses in the Welcome house types from thirty years ago. What did you use to size rooms and bedroom counts?

■ Whitfield’s 1994 report, which we find very credible, cites a survey that says the vast majority of respondents would prefer to live in a house with just a nuclear family and not an extended family. Do you have information on this as it will be very important in the programming phase?

We will consider questions about building to be open ended through the entire effort this year, so please feel free to contact us informally, or about single issues between calls. Please feel free to revisit or update things we discuss early in the process.

Thank you in advance for making yourselves available to help us understand how you build. We look forward to working with you and are grateful for your help.

Kindest Regards,

Scott Merrill