Mr. Krisda hoped that the AIT workshop would provide an opportunity to
the public and private sector and other agencies to collaborate so that
people benefit from quality low-cost housing. NHA continues to work on
issues related to eco-friendly housing, energy efficiency, and climate
change, he added. NHA also works on slum housing, community housing,
housing for government employees, dormitories and housing for flood
victims in Southern Thailand.
Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director, AIT Consulting, stated that
participants in the workshop came from Myanmar, Laos, Philippines and
Thailand. He added that AIT had been working on the issue of
infrastructure, construction and low-cost housing ever since its
inception.
Dr. Naveed stated that though housing was mentioned as a ‘human right’
in the 1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, it is yet to be
achieved. “Cost and affordability continue to be a stumbling block
towards the achievement of universal housing,” he added. Dr. Naveed
remarked that low-cost housing need not necessarily mean “low quality,
unsafe and unsustainable housing.”
Prof. Sivanappan Kumar, Vice President for Academic Affairs, AIT,
delivered the opening address. Mr. Gyanendra Sthapit, Interim Director,
Habitech Center, AIT delivered a talk on “Interlocking blocks:
Solutions and Systems for low-cost building.”
Dr. Atch Shresthaputra, Executive Committee, Thai Green Building
Institute, spoke about ‘Ecovillage’ Rating System; while Ms. Sudiksha
Amatya, Senior Architect, AIT Consulting, spoke on “Design Examples for
Low-cost Buildings.” Mr. Owen Waldschlagel, Founder, Intact Structures
Inc., talked about Ferrocement Technology for Low-cost Buildings; while
Dr. Ram Tiwaree, Economic Affairs Officer, Sustainable Urban
Development Section, Environment and Development Division, UNESCAP,
delved on “Practices for Low-cost Housing .”
The workshop also included demonstrations of the manual brick press,
interlocking blocks and ferrocement technology.
