Sanitation Goal with "Zero Project"
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Business
The Project Started by BuildAChange Hopes to Establish StructuresAcross the Developing World to Remedy the Lack of Existing Sanitation Systems
Althoughthe practice of architecture has historically done little to address the basic needs of those in the developing world, in recent years architects have gradually extended their reach into the realm of humanitarian work, as most notably exemplified byPritzker PrizewinnerShigeru Ban.
Despite these advances, one third of the world's population does not have access to adequate sanitation. This is astounding given the amount of resources and technology we have available to us in the 21stcentury, and it is a problem that architects have the opportunity to solve; somearchitects, includingJulia King, have already begun to take on this challenge. It is also the focus of"Zero Project," the first initiative of non-profit organization BuildAChange. Read about their proposal after the break.
BuildAChange wascreated in 2012 by the Italian architecture officeFAREstudiowith the aim of improving the living conditions of those in the developing world through an adequate built environment. As a firm,FAREstudioplaces an emphasis on social responsibility and creating architecture that is rooted in its context, both culturally and economically. Many of their projects are a response to social issues, intended to be efficiently constructed by local laborers and utilize inherently sustainable construction technology.
The Zero project hopes to establish similarly independent structures which can be deployed across the developing world to remedy the lack of existing sanitation systems. This is a serious need, as the lack of adequate sanitation systems causes the spread of diseases and results in millions of deaths each year in developing countries.
To counteract this, the Zero Project begins with the design and implementation of a network of self-sufficient public toilet systems, or "Improved Sanitation Hubs." Each of these hubs will provide tools for basic sanitation in coordination with the treatment and recycling of organic waste. The first prototype of the design will be implemented in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, with the goal of involving local organizations and authorities to allow the design to be replicated throughout the city.
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