and techniques. A number of countries are already carrying out such projects with United Nations assistance.
In Peru, for instance, 1,500 houses will be completed this year in a pilot housing scheme being constructed in a Lima suburb. The 10 to 15 different types of homes in the project were selected in a design contest and soon local families will be using the low cost housing. The experience gained in the pilot scheme will also be useful in the rebuilding of communities devastated in recent earthquakes in Peru.
Housing to improve living condi- tions in rural areas is the subject of a pilot scheme in South America. Here, the Governments of Venezuela, Co- lombia, Ecuador, Trinidad and Toba- go, are co-operating with international organizations to apply new techniques and economic local materials.
Mass production techniques
Efficient planning and organization of building could bring costs down by 20 to 30 per cent, the plan states.
'It should be clear', the plan con- tinues, that there is a mass demand for housing and this mass demand can only be met by mass production.' It suggests that the changeover to indus-
Sugar cane fibre for building. Non-fibrous materials are removed from bagasse in this machine working in Thailand
trialized building methods should be gradual. Initially, partial pre-fabrica- tion of doors, windows, kitchen fit tings and other building components could be introduced.
Education of technologists
Industrialized techniques, the plan notes, means that building time is shortened and less labour and mate- rials wasted.
We are proud to be associated
with SHERATON (BANGKOK) HOTEL
Far East BUILDER, April 1971 Page 43
Sole Distributors in Thailand.
The housing proposals, in common with the other priority projects in the plan, depend to a great extent on in- creasing numbers of educated scien- tists and technologists. The plan ad- vocates that in addition to current ef- forts 1,000 building research workers should be trained in the developing countries over the next 10 years. Also, it provides for about 100 graduate fel- lowships in the construction sciences.
(O)
HITACHI ELEVATORS
*Hitachi Elevators offer pleasant
and comfortable ride,
*Reduce installation Costs, *Fitted with maximum safety
devices,
*More carrying capacity.
THAI DAIMARU CO.,LTD.
65 Rajprasong Shopping Center, Bangkok. Tel: 56463-4, 59732
37