“One is thus dealing with the design of the environment not with architecture and needs to go beyond housing. For one thing, people do not live in buildings alone - they use buildings, villages and neighbourhoods, they inhabit and use systems of settings which include buildings of many types, streets, open spaces, settlements and many others, the specific components and mix need to be discovered. One must also discover how these, and the relationships among them, support particular activity systems in different and highly culture-specific ways.” - Amos Rapoport
Village Life approach to design
Water filtration and disinfection was recognized as a critical element of the work of the VLOP Life Committee.
"Village leaders identify their own needs. Then we strategize with them on how to solve those problems together. This buy-in solidifies the idea that they are going to do their part. It's a 'hand up rather than a hand out' mentality. This program is totally sustainable. We don't have to infuse any funds. Instead, each village organized a water committee that goes to the other villages to teach people how to build these filters. The last time we gave money to the water committees was to buy each of them two bicycles so they could travel to the other villages." — Dr. Chris Lewis, VLOP Founder This sustainable methodology profoundly impacted every aspect of design of the health center. |