Builders Without Borders’ Haiti team, led by architect Martin Hammer and builder Andy Mueller, completed its first project in March 2011 in Port-au-Prince. BWB’s Ti Kay Pay (Small Straw House) is the first straw bale building in Haiti.

Rubble trench complete

Mesh reinforced concrete footing over rubble trench

Tarp remnant is sewn to become a gravel bag

Gravel bag foundation, using salvaged tarps sewn to fit

Jean Louis Elie tying off barbed wire reinforcing for concrete cap of gravel bag stem wall

External bamboo pin grabs gravel bag stem wall.  Galvanized  mesh awaits a lime-cement plaster.

Steel compression mould with farm jack is used to compress rice straw into a bale.

First strawbale building in Haiti, under construction

Roof trusses using dismantled pallets for webs and bottom chords

Jean Louis and Annio apply exterior scratch coat of earth plaster

Site soil, sand, and chopped floor base being installed over crushed rubble drainage layer

Haiti's first Ti Kay Pay (Small Straw House)