Noah Diemer . class of 2010
Design Across Boundaries (www.designacrossboundaries.org) is an organization of designers, professionals and students based at Iowa State University. The group began in 2010 after an Haitian ISU Alumnus approached current Iowa State design students of a need for a youth center in La Croix. The New Testament Mission in La Croix educates children through grade 12 and was founded by Father Pierre. During the summer months though, 70% of the students would leave and not return the following year. Father Pierre felt a youth center in La Croix would keep the students there, and therefore keep them there for school in the next year.
Design Across Boundaries’ (DAB) students went to La Croix in the summer of 2012 to begin construction of the modular youth center built from discarded and abandoned shipping crates. The crates arrived following the destructive hurricanes and earthquakes of 2010. La Croix was not structurally affected by the hurricanes and earthquakes, but many of Port au Prince’s residents have since migrated to La Croix. Students plan a return trip to La Croix in the summer of 2013 to continue the construction of the youth center.
Meanwhile, another group of DAB students are preparing to travel to La Croix in December with another project planned. They have been in contact with Harvey Lacey of Texas who has developed the Ubuntu Block House. The Ubuntu Block is composed of discarded plastics which are plentiful in Haiti. The plastics (shopping bags, food containers, cups, etc.) are shredded into pieces and then compressed into blocks. The blocks are then used like cement blocks. They are wired together into walls, and then covered with stucco. Lacey’s structure has been hurricane and earthquake tested and has passed with rave reviews. Not only does the Ubuntu Block House provide a safe home for Haitian residents, it also keeps additional garbage out of the ocean and off the land and provides jobs for the residents.
Six architecture students from Iowa State are traveling to Haiti from December 15-22, 2012 to educate the citizens of La Croix on the process of making the blocks and building the houses. The students are:
Noah Diemer of Freeport, IL
Zach Sunderland of Cedar Rapids, IA
Nicholas Lyon of Iowa City, IA
Heather Bednar of Antioch, IL
Shraddesh Anavkar of Marion, IA
Kevin Wood of Flower Mound, TX
They are currently perfecting the machine and processes of the block system, in conjunction with Lacey. They are also raising funds to finance the expense of their trip--round-trip airfare (about $600/per person) and living expenses and supplies while there.
If you are interested in donating to this project, there are 2 ways you can help. Aquin will be collecting donations for the group as Noah is a 2010 Aquin alumnus and has other projects in Haiti that groups help.
1. You can donate via Paypal below.
2. You can send direct donations to: Noah Diemer
2915 Oakland Street
Ames, IA 50010
Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.
Links to stories about Design Across Boundaries, the New Testament Mission, and Ubuntu Block Houses:
Trale Bardell . Class of 2001 I'm back from my latest adventure, and thought that a word and a few pics might bring a smile to some of you there:
My motorcycle trip to Argentina was a wonderful journey and probably almost as educational as the few years I spent there at Aquin. There are of course many stories, but I suppose the most important themes of the trip would be first the affirming experiences I had out on the road, and the actual accomplishment of physically making the trip and with favorable conditions being able to reach the summit of Aconcagua.
There are a few pictures included with the playoffs '00 shirt; unfortunately the shirt was burned somewhere along the way but I felt that its significance was not lost, so I carried it to the top of the "hill" for a commemorating picture.
