Worldwide house examples
Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire)
Papua New Guinea
Romania
Guatemala
Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire)
Habitat housing
Substandard housing
Habitat for Humanity builds houses with bricks made from a Cinva-Ram press, which compresses a mixture of cement and dirt or clay. The bricks dry in the shade for about two weeks. Spaces above the interior and exterior walls improve ventilation.
Average house cost: £1,700
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Papua New Guinea
Habitat housing
Substandard housing
Habitat for Humanity builds houses on stilts so they remain dry during Papua New Guinea's heavy rains. Families use the area under the house for storage, community gatherings and livestock. Concrete is expensive and not widely used in Papua New Guinea, so we use wood that has been treated to prevent decay and termite infestation.
Average house cost: £1,540
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Romania
Habitat housing
Substandard housing
Romania's traditional block houses usually take at least a year to build. However, thanks to a plentiful supply of wood, Habitat for Humanity affiliates are choosing wood frame construction which is quicker, more volunteer-friendly and more energy efficient. A combination of rigid foam insulation and fibreglass insulation for the walls and roof means families stay snug through Romania's cold winters. Stucco protects the house walls from weathering, and locally made clay tiles finish the roof.
Average house cost: £6,950
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Guatemala
Habitat housing
Substandard housing
Earthquakes are common in Guatemala, so local experts have designed Habitat for Humanity houses to resist tremors. The houses are made of hollow concrete blocks with steel rods to reinforce the walls every metre. Horizontal rods run through U-blocks at the foundation, window sill and top, and the spaces around the rods are filled with concrete. The window coverings and door are typically made of wood, but in areas where wood is more expensive, we use metal.
Average house cost: £1,400
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