Melbourne firm's winning design to help Cambodian family

9 April, 2013

 http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au

The Wet + Dry House house features ramp access for people with disabilities. Accessibility is a crucial design requirement for all housing but is particularly important in countries with large number of land mines – such as Cambodia.

The results for the Cambodian Sustainable Housing Competition have been announced with Melbourne trans-disciplinary practice, Visionary Design Development, announced as co-winner for their design of Wet and Dry House.
The other winners were Courtyard House by Jess Lumley and Alexander Koller and Open Embrace by Keith Greenwald and Lisa Ekle.
The competition was held in partnership with Karuna Cambodia, Habitat for Humanity and the Cambodian Society of Architects (CSA) which were looking for designs that can provide a sustainable future for housing in the south-east Asian country.
A major stipulation of the competition was to keep below a budget of $2000 and deal with the yearly flooding that effects most residential areas.
The winning designs will now be built by Habitat for Humanity Cambodia and will aim to influence the way they build housing in the region.
Winning entries were selected by a jury made up of representatives from Building Trust International, Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, Karuna Cambodia, MIT, Collective Studio, members of the Cambodian Society of Architects and most also the families that are going to live in the houses once they are built.
Visionary Design Development, Managing Director, Mary Ann Jackson said that the company was honoured to be co-winners in the competition.
“We hope to make a modest contribution, to the life of a Cambodian family. Many thanks to the organisers and their partners, and especially to Muhammad Kamil (Kamil), our Asia Pacific specialist for taking the Lead on this submission.”

Visionary Design Development, Lead Project Designer, Muhammad Kamil added:
“Our approach to this challenge is to understand the problem from a communal viewpoint - if we do it together, we will go a long way. Social architecture, beyond shelter - a place of nurture. "Positivity, at the end, is our attitude when faced with constraints: environmental, site, budget. We work with what is available and utilise them to their fullest potential.”
Visionary Design Development’s expertise in disaster reconstruction has been previously recognised as joint winners of an Emergency Shelter design competition – on display in Federation Square from 1 May until the 5 May 2013 and prior to this, in 2010, the firm were co-winners of the Victorian Government’s Bushfire-Resistant Affordable House Design, built for $150,000 in Marysville, Victoria.
Sokphal Kchao, Karuna Cambodia said that the families who will benefit are grateful to the designers.
"Your contribution will change not only the physical landscape of Cambodia but the aspiration of Cambodians such as the widow and mother of 5, who wants to open a shop to provide for her family. On behalf of Cambodian people, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your generosity."
Sokphal Kchao, Karuna Cambodia said that the families who will benefit are grateful to the designers.
"Your contribution will change not only the physical landscape of Cambodia but the aspiration of Cambodians such as the widow and mother of 5, who wants to open a shop to provide for her family. On behalf of Cambodian people, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your generosity."
David Cole, founding partner, Building Trust International added:
“ The competition builds on the fantastic work that Habitat for Humanity Cambodia are already doing in the region and we are glad to be able to encourage international and local architects to get involved with helping those most in need with the basic human right to shelter.”