In November 2019 the strongest earthquake of last centuries occurred in Albania. The most damaged area was Ish Keneta- informal suburbs of the second largest city in Albania- Durres. It is inhabited by approximately 60 000 citizens, mostly consisted of external migrants from meager mountain’ areas on the north and south part of the country. They started to settle there in the beginning of 90’ in seek for life conditions’ improvement.
Their houses were built from the cheapest materials therefore couldn’t provide a proper level of safety. After the earthquake a lot of families remained without a shelter. Up to now they live in temporary houses which cannot be long-lasting accommodation.
A response for Albanians’ living issues (but in the future also as a solution for other countries) can be a natural building- ecologic and economic method based on natural resources available in each location. Natural building is founded on usage of low processed, natural materials suitable for recycling (e.g clay, straw and wood). Building up with a usage of natural materials decrease costs and construction time in comparison to other conventional methods. What is more, it covers all requirements of modern construction.
The solution is brilliant in its simplicity and that is why HumanDoc Foundation joined 6-motnhs project “Build Back Better”- realization of natural building in Albania” for- together with partners- Albanian leader of the project “Today for the Future” with support of Bashkia Durres and experts from Polish Natural Building Association, Slovak Organica and Czech Baobaby stand and act for disseminate the knowledge among natural building.
Our project focuses on particular aims:
- Providing a knowledge and skills in frames of natural building and adapting it to a local conditions in Albania;
- Spreading the idea of natural building among professionals, but also a decisive official figures and involving them in a natural technology building processes usage with an emphasis on renovation using-efficient recycled and environmentally-friendly materials and technologies.
- Supporting and promoting experience exchanges as well as further natural building development in Visegrad group countries and Western Balkans, especially in the face of challenges posed by rapidly advancing climate changes.
experts from Visegrad group, who share their long-term experience
of natural building workshops, thanks to which is presented how to rebuild damaged houses in Albania with a usage of natural building technology
of online trainings’ while experts of V4 group were sharing their professional knowledge in natural building and experience with other architects and officials from Albania
In frames of a project, participants will get to know the methods of natural building. First part was focused on creating a common platform where the knowledge about natural building can be shared and a transfer if experience is possible. Experts from V4 group together with local specialists (architects, officials etc.) took place during 3 days online trainings. Experts were sharing their knowledge and skills, availability of local materials but also a specific selection of technology corresponding to local conditions and needs. The culminating point was the brainstorming the aim of which was to determine…what is going to be built in the next stage of the project to show how wide possibilities of natural constructions are.
A further step in a project will be a development of the project using natural materials available in Albania. Even though it will be realized in just 5-days, a tailor- made workshop will take place in Durres and all V4 group experts and local specialist will take part in it.
Moreover in a partnership of all mentioned groups we are going to publish a handbook that presents possibilities and potential of natural building in Albania. Thanks to it we will deliver a practical knowledge combined with various materials and technology, including local conditions and implementation in the context of reparation of the damages caused by earthquake.
Donator
A project is co-funded by the governments of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in frames of visegrad grants from International Visegrad Fund. The main mission of the funds is to promote ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in a Central Europe.
