Taiwan Cooperative Construction Workshop, LaiJi 2012.01
From Architect HSIEH and Atelier-3
2012 Laiji Village Cooperative Construction Housing Workshop
Laiji Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan
Preface
Tsou Tribe in Laiji was devastated by Typhoon Morakot 3 years ago and reconstruction work is about to begin.
Based on the many years’ experience of reconstruction, from Taiwan 921 earthquake to Sichuan earthquake and
to Typhoon Morakot flooding, Architect Hsieh Ying-Chun and his team will assist the villagers of Laiji to rebuild
their home cooperatively, while promoting sustainable architecture of low cost, earthquake and disaster resistant.
Taking place at the Laiji Village in Alishan Mountain, the workshop will construct one permanent house and one
transitional house in order for the villagers and workshop participants to learn effectively and hands-on, from
transitional house to permanent house in one go.
I. Objectives
▲ Sustainable Architecture
▪ The lightweight steel structure is carefully designed, using the least material possible, it has high structural strength,
high seismic capacity and recyclability. Its openness allows the residents to adjust the spatial layout and
modify incrementally. Besides lightweight steel we can also use recycle material or source locally according to local
condition and custom such as earth, grass, bamboo, stone, wood and ect.
▪ During the workshop, we will also test out interior urine diverting toilet, a waterless and sanitation toilet of composting
urine and feces.
▲ Cooperative Construction
▪ The well designed lightweight steel system can be constructed using simple tool, low technical requirements and
highly efficient.
▪ Through developing local labor resources and creating job opportunities, it will attract the youth to return to the
village and allow culture heritage continuity.
▲ Transitional House
▪ In order to response to the frequency of natural disaster, the tribal community must acquire capacity to resist
disaster impact independently. Besides advocacy, we will demonstrate rapid construction of lightweight steel
transitional house during the workshop. The transitional house is resistant to earthquake and wind damage,
it can also be enhanced for severe weather. It can be inhabited for more than two years; materials and parts
can be reused for permanent house to reduce waste.
II. Workshop Course and Content
▲ Village Reconstruction Development Center (Permanent House: 218 sq.meter)
▪ Task: project assessment, foundation work, lightweight steel structure set-up, masonry, adobe wall, floor grout,
bamboo wall, and lime mud wall construction.
▪ Related Course: labor health and safety, sustainable architecture discussion, material and construction technique
explanation and discussion, related topics film screening.
▲ Construction of Transitional House (60 sq. meter)
▪ Task: lightweight steel structure set-up, covering material installation and ect.
▪ Related Course: thermal insulation structure, tent and work tent set-up, introduction to knot tying and
other emergency techniques.
▲ Community Work and Logistical Assistance
▪ To assist in maintaining environmental sanitation, helping in the kitchen and other aspects of daily logistics.
▲ Documentation and Reports
▪ Set up workshop blog and update progress everyday (Hsieh Ying-Chun and Associates/Atelier 3)
▪ Images/video documentation (Hsieh Ying-Chun and Associates/Atelier 3)
▲ Workshop Schedule
III. Technical Support
▪ Hsieh Ying-Chun and Associates/Atelier 3: workshop planning, architecture design, construction management and consultant
▪ Huang Guang-Xun Engineer: structure calculation
IV. Workshop Organizer
▪ Director: Hsieh Ying-Chun
▪ Project Manager: Liao Wei-Zuo (Hsieh Ying-Chun and Associates/Atelier 3) tel: 0963-365691
▪ Project Contact: Ati Tsai (Hsieh Ying-Chun and Associates/Atelier 3) tel: 08-7216080 email:ati88t@yahoo.com
▲ Supporting Partners
▪ Laiji Reconstruction Committee
▪ Laiji Cooperative
▪ Hsieh Ying-Chun and Associates
▪ Atelier 3
▪ Da Wen Construction Group
▪ Atelier 3 Cooperative
▲ Workshop Participants: 20 members
V. Location
Laiji Village of Alishan Township: Located in Chiayi County Route 149 (Laji Village under Da Ta Shan)
Reference Material
Laiji Village, Typhoon Morakot reconstruction rendering images
Project: Lightweight Steel Structure House Units: 60 units (tentative)
Sponsors
Lin P-S, Chair and CEO of Taiwan Glass Group
Pauian Archiland
Sunshine Enterprise, Chengdu
World Vision Taiwan
Project Contact: Ati Tsai /e-mail: ati88t@yahoo.com /tel:+886 8-7216080
