Overview:
Following the success of the 2003 project, a new, larger group of students teamed up with REDES to continue the development work in Costa Rica.

This project focussed mainly on the housing for the community. The group worked with the community to build 17 houses. Unlike previous years, the buildings were designed to be light weight to reduce the the shear force in an earthquake. They consisted of a steel frame that was set in a concrete base. The walls were then filled in with 'Barra Castilla', a type of bamboo, this was then plastered with a weak cement based screed to provide weather proofing.

The team also tackled another obstacle. The community had a fairly modern school building, however, whilst the building was relatively unscathed during the earthquakes, its future safety was seriously compromised. This was due to a large embankment for a road that was adjacent to the school building, it was deemed that it may slip in another earthquake and as a result the children couldn't go to school.

The group solved this problem by constructing a 30m concrete retaining wall to protect the school.

Once again the project proved very successful, for all parties.

            2003 Gallery