::Karavan Pakistan::

The Karavan Programme for Indigenous Technology (KAPIT)

1. Project Summary
The recent earthquake has created havoc and excessive loss of life because of the ill-built structures, primarily those built with reinforced concrete. The Karavan Self-built Vernacular Housing unit seeks to maximize the use of local workforce, locally available materials and time-tested traditional methods that are cost-effective, speedy and a safer option in the seismic context. This concept is based on the observation of the good performance of traditional timber, masonry and mud in large earthquakes in Turkey and Afghanistan. It is believed that by providing help in enabling improved vernacular or traditional construction for walls, providing lightweight materials for roofs and technical guidance during construction earthquake mitigation can be achieved. The project particularly hopes to provide assistance to those who may not be able to receive help from the organized and official sectors.

2. Project Background
The devastation wrecked by concrete buildings has been seen through images of collapsed structures during many a recent earthquake in various parts of the world. It is difficult to control the quality of reinforced concrete due to pilferage as well as lack of knowledge regarding the requirements of reinforced concrete. The recent earthquake in Northern Pakistan has exposed the vulnerability of buildings where design and execution parameters cannot be maintained. In reports prepared for building in earthquake regions it has been acknowledged that “from an earthquake safety standpoint, most new buildings will continue to be deficient.” This was found true even in Turkey “that have up-to-date building codes and a high-level of professional training of engineers and architects.” (Randolph Lagenbach).

The analysis of the destruction of buildings in the recent earthquake shows that:

Masonry walls are weak against horizontal seismic thrusts and were unable to support the heavy reinforced concrete slabs.

The walls collapsed under the reinforced concrete elements, with the concrete slabs playing further havoc with their excessive loads.

Lack of control over quality of construction contributed to extensive structural collapse.

The Project acknowledges the following ground realities:

Tents are at best a temporary solution.
Attempts at rebuilding by the community have already begun.
Technical assistance is needed to build better and safer houses.
Onslaught of winter requires immediate construction of livable housing units.
Community regeneration needs to be taken up urgently.

The Project is based on the recognition that new or high-tech building solutions e.g. prefabricated or solutions based on techniques with which the local people are unfamiliar will exclude them from any building activity within their area, thus providing little chance of rapid economic regeneration. Other solutions which rely on the use of fibre glass or similar materials, apart from using non-local technology, provide little insulation against the severe winter that will be setting in.

The Karavan Programme for Indigenous Technology (KAPIT) seeks to provide improved ways of construction of vernacular buildings in the areas recently devastated by the earthquake. It seeks to rebuild lives and regenerate communities by involving the local people in the rebuilding effort. The programme is based on general acceptance of lessons to be learned from traditional construction techniques utilized in Northern areas of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan; the insufficiency of structural calculations alone for seismic resistance and the need to include other aspects e.g. siting and location, improved local techniques, materials and construction workmanship. The case of Turkey earthquake has amply demonstrated that the problem was not of structural analysis or the building codes but the lack of quality control and appropriate use of materials.

Accordingly, the project seeks to provide direction for improved vernacular construction, along with guidance by technical experts to achieve a better constructed and a safer house.

In view of the large number of housing units to be built, the project demonstrates that a vernacular house, which provides the necessary degree of comfort against the severe weather, is likely to be far more economical than other, more high-tech options. The use of local materials will allow recycling of some of the material from the collapsed houses as well as stone and mud for masonry of walls. It is expected that in addition to providing lime or cement for stabilization, other elements which are not easily available e.g. timber and g.i. sheets, could be transported in the form of packs and kits.