Every journey begins with the first step We had a personal connection with the Neros Foundation - a charity building essential facilities for remote communities on the Indonesian island of Flores. Initially approached to help with fundraising, we realised we could bring far more to their cause through our design skills. In essence, through designing a local medical centre, we adopted a first principles environmental approach that sought to wean the cash-poor community away from expensive and unsustainable building practices. Instead of cement – a carbon intensive material brought at huge cost to the community and environment from over 1,000 miles away – we proposed sun baked clay bricks, made on site using hand operated presses sourced from Thailand. Instead of unsustainable hardwood, we reintroduced the structural use of local bamboo (also used to reinforce the brick walls in an earthquake zone) , and researched innovative jointing techniques using found materials such as stainless steel crate packing straps. We sponsored Keila and Sophie, both Part 1 qualified students who were doing work placements with us, to go to Flores and work with the local charity representative to help set out and start the construction process. The issues arising on site were a bit different from the normal argy bargy of a British building site, but challenging nonetheless - particularly for two young female architects in a male dominated society. We are proud of what they achieved and we hear that the brick machines are still in great demand. It might even catch on‌..
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Photo: Neros Foundation
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES