Earth block Lego: Workshop

Earthblock lego kit - children and community consultation tool - designed by Tim Gledstone at Squire and Partners

I show Headmaster brochure for the development design of Earthblock lego into architecture

7 students in a session for 20 minutes, one class of 21 has three sessions in an hour

Star pupil using interlocking blocks to make a perforated wall

alternative design creating bigger opening

young pupil (aged 10) makes corbel arch in curved wall

the boys know what to do!

another set of 7 have a go and making towers of blocks

The opening ceremony

Traditional Rwanda Dancers singers and drummers - Ntrama house building cooperative
official opening in front yard of house
hand compressed earth block house with lime render, right

Front of house compound - tent structure erected to give shelter to 150 people
Front is Damacent and his wife Olive the beneficiaries of the house, their family behind

Pastor Fidele introduces everyone

Founder of Charity REACH, Philbert Kalisa gives his appreciation of the great work that has happened here

Ed Dale-Harris, volunteer part 2 architectural designer, cuts ribbon of house to officially open the house, Founder Philbert is holding ribbon right

Ed Dale-Harris, volunteer part 2 architectural designer, cuts ribbon of house to officially open the house, Founder Philbert is holding ribbon right 

the ceremony warms up with a throng of Rwanda stylee singing and dancing

one of the dancers grins with joy

Fabien (Green), Hutu perpetrator and ex prisoner, who volunteered one day a week to build the house for Damacent, addresses the crowd and testifies that he was once in trouble and did bad things, he has repented, survey his time and now asks for forgiveness from Damacent who lost his brother in the genocide. Fabien was emoting the men who killed his brother.

Olive the wife of the beneficiary  centre in long white traditional robes leads a dance and song

Olive the wife of the beneficiary  centre in long white traditional robes leads a dance and song
Fidel in Red right talks to Damacent the beneficiary 

Clementine, cooperative member Tutsi Survivor, and Ed greets each other after 

beans, cabbage, potatoes, rice and meat (of some description probably goat or beef)

a lot of food is made and met people get a good helping of carbohydrates, 

Anton, ex prisoner, house volunteer and coop member and his wife, greet Ed, with gifts of eggs and papaya
Ed attended the wake of their late son in December 2014.

The gift from Anton to Ed of fresh local eggs and papaya

the scene as we depart form the ceremony

The house is nearly complete!

Front entrance threshold into compound, remarked by wooden fence and hedge

Entrance threshold to house - over hanging eaves , foundation seat and cement terrace floor

view across hilly landscape from front compound

back yard - where messy working of house are hidden
left is kitchen, latrine and store room, Damacent as also added a adobe block room for guests (unrendered)
right back of main house, housing 3 bedrooms and living/reception room

interior lime rendered walls and timber doors
false ceiling can be added later to insulate rain noise and catch dust from above

interior lime rendered walls and timber doors
false ceiling can be added later to insulate rain noise and catch dust from above

Front metal door threshold lines though to internal door and back door

Cinva Ram - Compressed earth block machine - in good condition, stored in a safe locked store room at the back of the compound, looked after impeccably, oiled and greased ready for the next job!

3 point bending test or bridge test - one CEB can withstand the bending stress of a 80 plus kilo's
this block was made from nothing but earth dug from the site, dived and plastered - impressively strong!

CEB wall - interior not rendered in store room, kitchen and latrine at back of compound 

latrine wooden door made from eucalyptus - window cut into top of door for light

Latrine slab cast in reinforced concrete, with step squat toilet design
internal walls not rendered, you cans see compressed earth blocks

rabbit farm business taking off - 20 odd bunnies for sale for eating

Portfolio: Arete Market Place, reconciliation through making and urban food exchnage