A New Dawn AYITI
Apr 26
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By: Sabrina Adewumi, Assoc. IIDA, PMP | Posted in: Culture, Design
On April 8th and 9th I volunteered to participate in a marathon, weekend-long charrette alongside close to 50 interior design students and professionals from the A/E industry. Opening with a reception at the Haitian embassy, the weekend was a collaborative effort on the part of the “A New Dawn AYITI” initiative based out of GW University Interior Design Program, along with partners from Project Medishare/University of Miami, Architecture for Humanity, non-profit organizations and local A/E firms.
The goal of the weekend was to produce a model for a new medical clinic and education center in Marmont Haiti where the existing community health care facility was damaged by the 2010 earthquake. One of the sponsors of the weekend, Project Medishare, will actually implement and operate the clinic in Haiti. The product of our collaborative efforts was unveiled on April 12th, and features multiple sustainable elements including rainwater harvesting, solar power and on-site wastewater treatment.
Two years ago, I worked on the original project while completing my Masters in Interior Design at George Washington University. Initiated by Professor Nadia Volchansky, I, along with 17 classmates, took on a project to design a Women’s Health Clinic in rural Haiti. Our design was presented to the GWU Community, featured in Contract Magazine and placed first in the Annual Healthcare Environment Design Awards, generating significant interest in the non-profit community.
Throughout the life of this project I have really enjoyed collaborating with professionals from various disciplines including Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Design and Public Health, and seeing firsthand how all the pieces fit together in creating sustainable environments. Moreover, the opportunity to participate in an initiative that will truly make a difference in the lives of the people of Haiti, is one for which I will always be thankful.
For more information and to contribute to the A New Dawn AYITI initiative, please visit:
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