Usage of neutral elements of constru ction in Latin America

Authors

  • Julián Salas Serrano Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja
  • Aurelio Ferrero Centro Experimental de la Vivienda Económica
  • Patricia Lucas Alonso Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja

Abstract

Self-help construction is a popular and diverse practice in Latin America. In the case of low income housing, in some countries self-help construction loses its condition of exception to become the main form of housing production. Different technologies or adaptations of formal procedures are used when building these units. However, the authors of this research pose that there are more suitable techniques that could be adopted. Components and products cannot work independently from processes. The need for improvement of low-income housing explains the constant, growing and considerable demand for raw materials and neutral construction materials. Users themselves point out some of the requirements of these technologies: materials that are affordable, lightweight and easy to handle. Moreover, there is a large number of local microworkshops or small productive centers attempting to make a step forward. This may be the time to acknowledge contributions from entities or individual professionals which through neutral, tangible and affordable elements, and by means of simple assemblies, provide highly technical solutions with the potential to become cornerstone practices for the construction of low-income housing in Latin America.

Author Biographies

Julián Salas Serrano, Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja

PhD. Industrial Engineer, Universidad Politécnica de Barcelona. Director, UNESCO Chair on Basic Livability. Researcher, Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja CSIC.

Aurelio Ferrero, Centro Experimental de la Vivienda Económica

Architect, CONICET Independent Researcher. Director, Centro Experimental de la Vivienda Económica CEVE.

Patricia Lucas Alonso, Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja

Architect, MA in Architectural Projects. CSIC JAE-Predoc Fellow, Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción EduardoTorroja.