Positive Action For Haiti Gonaives Children's Home and Farm: Seattle

SEATTLE
Our approach to creating plans for The Gonaives

Children’s Home and Farm has been to create
interesting, inspiring and affordable plans reflecting
the needs of both the children and staff. Our team felt
the whole site should be considered and all that’s in
the day-to-day life of the children. That’s why we are
incorporating areas relating to farm work: those efforts
needed to cultivate the land. And we are incorporating
sustainability practices, both for real pragmatic reasons
and as teaching opportunities for the children. And
finally, we are creating a range of spaces, from public to
private, to enhance the well-being of all the residents. &M

&M
If this, The Gonaives Children’s Home and Farm, can
demonstrate to the wider community the many benefits
of self of a self-sustaining culture, then we all will have
done our job. Thank you to PAH for the opportunity to N
GU
help in this effort.
Architects Without Borders - Seattle &M

&M
- Maria Garcia Llop N
GU
- Julia Marie Atkins

- Stone Faison
- Joseph Balachowski, RA SITE AERIAL VIEW
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- Chelsea Gorkiewicz AIA, LEED AP
- Buzz Tenenbom AIA
PROPERTY LOCATION
GONAIVES
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Positive Action for Haiti

Gonaives Children’s Home and Farm
Gonaives, Haiti
Master Plan Package - February 28 2019
In Kreyòl the word lakou carries multiple meanings. The
word lakou itself is derived from the French word la cour,
or courtyard. But in Kreyòl, the meaning goes deeper
than that. Traditionally, extended families in rural Haiti
organized themselves into clusters of homes surrounding
a central courtyard. This organizational structure is
called a lakou. The term also denotes the extended,
multi-generational family form that is prominent in Haitian
culture. Traditionally, members of a lakou worked
cooperatively to support each other financially, socially
and emotionally. Often, this included “multiple mothering”
where several women in the lakou shared in the caring
and supervision of young children.
LAKOU COURTYARD
LAKOU INSPIRATION
Gonaives Childrens Home and Farm
DESIGN PRECEDENT
DESIGN/MATERIALS INSPIRATION
SUSTAINABILITY INSPIRATION
I. RAISED BUILDING PLATFORMS TO PREVENT
FLOODING AND AID IN COOLING
II. HIGH CEILINGS WITH SCREENED WALL TOPS

FOR NATURAL VENTILATION
III. SELECTED SOUTHERN SLOPED ROOF

EXPOSURES FOR MAXIMUM SOLAR
EXPOSURE
• ELECTRIC PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS AND

BATTERY STORAGE
• ROOFTOP PUMPED SOLAR COLLECTORS FOR

HOT WATER;
• POTENTIAL FOR PASSIVE SOLAR WATER

HEATING
IV. WATER HARVESTING FROM ROOFS FOR

LAUNDRY, OTHER USES
V. COMPREHENSIVE COMPOSTING OF TOILETS,

ANIMAL WASTES & FOOD SCRAPS
VI. GREYWATER RECYCLING TREATMENT -

SYSTEM BY EWB -
VII. NATURAL SITE OR LOCALLY FABRICATED X. FARM TO MARKET PROCESSING

BRICK
VIII. BRICK LAID UP WITH OPENINGS FOR

VENTILATION
IX. TREES, BAMBOO, AND OTHER FOLIAGE FOR

SHADING
SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES
PRELIMINARY
Room/Space Sq. Meters Sq. Feet

Living 18.58 200.00
Dining 14.21 153.00
Kitchen 9.20 99.00
Girls bedroom, 4 bunk beds 16.72 180.00
Girls bedroom, 4 bunk beds 16.72 180.00
Boys bedroom, 4 bunk beds 16.72 180.00
Boys bedroom, 4 bunk beds 16.72 180.00
Girls Toilets 7.53 81.00
Boys Toilets 7.53 81.00
Girls Shower 13.38 144.00
Boys Shower 13.38 144.00
Depot 1 10.03 108.00
Depot 2 5.02 54.00
Moniteur 5.85 63.00
Nanny 5.85 63.00
Visitor 8.36 90.00
Visitor WC 3.72 40.00
Pharmacy 5.20 56.00
Office 15.79 170.00
Garden Shed 2.97 32.00
Bicycle Storage 11.15 120.00
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00
Total programmed spaces 224.64 2418.00
Walls, add 5% 11.23 120.90
Circulation, add 25% 56.16 604.50
Mechanical Room(s) add 10% 22.46 241.80
TOTAL BUILDING AREA 314.50 3385.20
LOT SIZE 3260.90 35100.00

NET UNASSIGNED (Lot size - tot. bldg. area) 2946.40 31714.80
OTHER:
Chicken coop
Goats?
Parking, 3 spaces
Well house 10.87 117.00
Play areas
Shed for generator and gas 4.46 48.00
TOTAL OTHER 15.33 165.00
PROGRAM
SCHEME A
built area 3600 S.F.
Not including farm building, parking & etc.
The first approach to the design came after doing some

research about similar facilities in Haiti, including schools
and children’s homes. Along with the concept of ‘lakou’, the
proposal focuses on enhancing a courtyard, embraced by a
porch, since we found that much of the vernacular architecture
in Haiti has this feature. Also, the second highlight of the
design process is hurricane and earthquake resistance. A
hip roof with a low angle is proposed as an excellent option
to deflect high winds; a regular grid made out of concrete
columns and beams creates a suitable structure to help
withstand earthquakes. This labor-intensive solution, which
is practiced throughout Haiti, helps to keep the construction
process as simple and minimize costs. Locally sourced clay
bricks are proposed as wall infill with, offset patterns creating
open spaces, to help ventilation. Bamboo for most of the
fence is intended to promote the use of this material as a
potential building material and can be found locally.
The program is organized in two split structures. The

principal gathering and more public spaces are located in a
single rectangular building on the east side. It is a big, open
multifunctional room that includes the kitchen, eating area,
and a storage space. A slight twist of the volume enhances the
idea of the courtyard and reduces the afternoon sun exposure.
Across this courtyard, the L-shaped construction creates
enclosure for the courtyard, and includes the office and other
semi-public spaces nearest the entry and the private children’s
quarters with toilets and showers are located on the east side
of the building.
A wooden walkway connects both structures and allows

views of the courtyard upon entry. Bike storage and three
parking spaces for cars are provided. The compound is
elevated three feet off ground to avoid flooding. The proposal
takes advantage of this elevation to create a courtyard as
“amphitheater” where children can sit, play or possibly have
community performances. Colorful canopies suspended
from the columns and some trees on the south side provide
shade and lighthearted positive sensitivity to the outdoor
area. Closer to the garden is the farm building or barn, for tool
storage/packaging farm products/and farmyard animals. The
outside area in between the shed and the south end of the
compound locates laundry basins and some ropes to hang
the clothes. There are also a few basins outside the kitchen
for dishwashing and to irrigate the kitchen garden on the east
side. A service path surrounds the back of the compound in
order to access the garden and pick up the compost.
SCHEME A INTRODUCTION
23 24
22 1
1. PARKING LOT
2. BIKE STORAGE
8 4
3. OFFICE
9 7 3 4. PHARMACY
5
5. VISITOR’S BEDROOM
6
2 6. MONITOR BEDROOM
10 7. NANNY BEDROOM
16 8. STAFF RESTROOM
22
11 15 9. GIRLS BEDROOM
10. GIRLS WC/SHOWERS
17
11. BOYS WC/SHOWERS
12. BOYS BEDROOM
13. LAUNDRY AREA
12
14 18 14. LIVING / DINING ROOM
15. KITCHEN
16. STORAGE
13 17. DISH WASHING AREA
18. KITCHEN GARDEN
20
19 19. FARM
21 20. GARDEN SHED
21. FOOD PREP/PACKING
22. COMPOST
23. WELL
24. GENERATOR
SCHEME A PLAN
SCHEME A VIGNETTES
The central spine between the two courtyards is
dedicated to WASH – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
– core to health and wellbeing in any community. The
WASH spine serves both the farm and the home,
solidifying their interdependence. By concentration
all water use within the WASH spine we minimize
the amount of plumbing needed on site. Composting
toilets are also central, grouped to facilitate regular
maintenance. They are close to the compost boxes on
the farm side, and close to the kids’ bunk houses on
the home side. A clean kitchen and secure, sanitary
storage for pantry items tops off the WASH spine.
Surrounding the farm courtyard, we envision the daily

bustle of a teaching farm: compost boxes, a covered
area for produce preparation, storage for produce and
equipment, a chicken coop, space for pigs and goats.
SCHEME B
Sustainable practices throughout the compound, such
built area 3150 S.F. over multiple small structures as utilizing solar energy and water reclamation and
not including farm building, parking & etc. harvesting, provide for numerous teaching moments.
Like a lakou, the Gonaives Children’s Home is an The home courtyard will be the focus of the extended
extended family, grouped together, sharing and caring family. We have grouped similar functions into five
for each other, growing together. With Scheme B we buildings around the courtyard. By building individual
envision a lakou layout for the new Gonaives Children’s buildings, we allow flexibility for slow construction
Home and Farm: clusters of small buildings around (building only a few buildings at a time if necessary)
two courtyards. There are two courtyards because and future additions. All of the buildings will be
this space will provide two overlapping functions: one constructed using a reinforced concrete frame with
is a home, the other is a farm, and both are equally clay or masonry block infill. The buildings will be
important in this compound. Both provide sustenance raised to protect against flooding, and each will have
to the children and adults who will grow there. a large outdoor porch. The WASH spine will have
a flat concrete roof, with space to wash and hang
laundry upstairs. The rest of the buildings will have
shed roofs – flat but sloped to one side, with large
overhangs for shade and openings just below the roof
to promote airflow.
The spaces between the buildings provide small

havens for quiet play and homework away from the
larger group. We envision shady trees around the
courtyard and buildings, and also a fast-growing
bamboo grove, providing shade, construction
material, and portions of the security fence. Much
of the remainder of the perimeter security will be
provided by the sides of the buildings themselves,
reducing the amount of fencing required.
SCHEME B INTRODUCTION
N
20
1
1. PARKING
2. BIKE STORAGE
26 3. MONITOR BEDROOM
2 4. OFFICE
27 5. PHARMACY
14 3
16 15 6. VISITOR’S BEDROOM
17 7. NANNY BEDROOM
23 8. GIRLS BEDROOM
4
9. BOYS BEDROOM
5 10. WATER CLOSET
13 11. STAFF WC
17
12. SHOWERS
6
24 13. HAND WASHING
12 STATION
22
14. LIVING / DINING ROOM
12 7 15. KITCHEN
25 21 16. FOOD STORAGE
11 17. PRODUCE PREP /
PACKAGING
22 18. COMPOST
18 10 19. ANIMAL PEN
20. WELL & GENERATOR
21. COURTYARD
10
22. SHADED QUIET AREA
23. THICK BAMBOO
19 ENCLOSURE
24. LAUNDRY DRYING
22 8 AREA (ON ROOF)
9 25. FARM YARD SHELTER
26. ENTRY GATES
27
23 27. VEHICLE GATES
26 28. GARDEN
28
SCHEME B PLAN
SCHEME A VIGNETTES
NOTES

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SEATTLE

Our approach to creating plans for The Gonaives

help in this eﬀort.

Architects Without Borders - Seattle &M

- Julia Marie Atkins