Design Build Pepel

Updates from TUM Design Build for Pepel, Sierra Leone. Students design + build a Senior Secondary School. 

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Day II.4 - Freetown

A trip to Freetown begins, as always, with an early morning ferry ride on Tuesday. Getting on the boat in the busy hustle of the inbound rush-hour commute makes up for a heavily congested experience and we are lucky to even get a spot on the vessel. We have a wide-ranging shopping list, that involves multiple locations in the city so we have to rush a bit. Once we reach, we are however absorbed by the city’s omnipresent traffic jam, so that our vehicle only can navigate very slowly. Finally, we make it to the first spot, a neighbourhood which has a lot of car mechanics’ shops where we manage to buy some fittings and clamps.  We need these items for a machine that we are planning on building for an alternative treatment of bamboo called boucherie. It is a method that is at the same time affordable and sustainable. It works with a non-toxic boron solution that is essentially pressurized and then pumped trough the pores of the bamboo when it is freshly cut.

After we have assembled all the parts that we need and can find we then return to Maloko on the other side of the laguna.

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Day II.3 - Treatment and Prevention

In the morning we ran some errands and bought small items for the site in the local shops around Lungi. Then we went back to Pepel for further damage assessment.

We observed that some of the bamboo suffered damage by insects that have damaged parts of the culms so we are coming up with a method on how to treat it. The likely treatment will consist of a heat inducing method that will drive out the pest and then the application of chemicals to prevent them from coming back and a final layer of varnish.

Moreover we compiled a list of required materials that are not available in Lungi and that we must purchase in Freetown.

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Day II.2 - Counting stock

After the first observations we are now delving deeper in understanding how the building is performing. We have found a few of the walls to be rather humid. We analysed today how the water is entering the walls. We climbed up on the ring beam again and inspected the roof. It seems to be rain-proof and has withstood the rainy season well. We concluded that the humidity is solely entering from the outside, which means that the winds and heavy rains are pressing the water through the brick wall. This can easily be prevented by applying an outside render. Unfortunately, the funds for that are not there which is why it has not been applied yet. But once money is available the work can be started. We hope to receive the support that is required to cover the expenses quickly so that the school receives its outside render before the next rainy season strikes. The mixture needs to allow for the wall to “breathe” so that the humidity can leave it while the water is prevented from entering. The test that have been done show some promise, but there is a risk of the cement-based plaster to crack, so we are advising for lime to be added for elasticity. Tomorrow we will continue our analysis especially focusing on the bamboo structure. Once we will have made a comprehensive list of all the things that need to be done, we can purchase the required items locally. In addition to that we want to finish the teacher’s room as well as the toilets while we are here. It is good to see that the overall structure and foundations have withstood the storms with no problems and are built to last. Once the walls are plastered there is little reason for concern with the building.

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Day II.1 - Return

After a rather brief flight from Brussels we are back to Sierra Leone. It is indeed such a special feeling to come back to the country after four months of routine in Munich. The rainy season is slowly coming to an end, but everything is so lush and green this time around, in a stark difference to the dry land we got used to the last time. 

We have met Honourable Abu Mansaray and planned the days ahead, so we can be the most effective in the limited time that we are here. The first three days will be spent inspecting the structure as it stands and evaluating the need for adaptions. Once we have assessed it and combined with the plans that we have made in advance, we can order the materials that we need. We are also pursuing the agenda to make an alternative form of bamboo treatment feasible and are working together with other NGOs to establish a supply chain of bamboo and grow the sector overall. To bring this to fruition, processes have to be tried, compared and implemented. 

More technical details will soon follow, but for now we are happy to be back and meet many of the people again, who made this project possible trough their contribution. Having returned to Pepel feels like coming to a very familiar environment despite all the changes that have occurred meanwhile. This community that has welcomed us for more than 10 weeks the last time is still as generous and friendly as before, and their hospitality and support is great. 

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Spende für einen Schulbau in Pepel (Sierra Leone)

Helft durch Eure Spende den Bau einer innovativen weiterführenden Schule in Pepel in Sierra Leone zu unterstützen. An dem Projekt sind Studierende und Mitarbeiter der TU München sowie unser Bauteam aus Sierra Leone beteiligt.

[EN] The departure for our current work assignment in Pepel approaches quickly. We would like to draw your attention to the fundraising campaign launched by our partner forikolo. The more money we can raise until we reach the site the more effective our stay will be! It is vital that we have the necessary funds to coordinate the building efforts alongside the community craftsmen to create the biggest impact on the ground. Thank you very much for your support! - - - [DE] Der Abflug für die aktuelle Bauphase rückt immer näher. Wir möchten euch auf die Spenden-Kampagne hinweisen, die unser Partner forikolo e.V.  für unser Projekt gestartet hat. Damit unser Aufenthalt so effektiv wie möglich wird, brauchen wir genügend finanzielle Mittel um gemeinsam mit den lokalen Handwerken die verbleibenden Baumaßnahmen zu koordinieren. Unser Ziel ist es die Schule so schnell wie möglich fertigzustellen, damit der Unterricht endlich beginnen kann. Es fehlen noch Putz, Estrich, Toiletten und die Schulmöbel. Wir danken Euch sehr für Eure Unterstützung!

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Status Quo and Return to Sierra Leone

With the distance of a few months and the prospect of returning to Sierra Leone very soon, it is time for a brief summary of the Status Quo.

It was certainly a very intense time in every aspect. Starting from scratch on an empty field to a building with a roof and walls was an enormous effort in a brief time. The challenges that we encountered were certainly not small and so it was only by virtue of a collective effort that we overcame them. Working side by side with the local craftsmen enabled us to finish so much in such a short time. The personal bonds that formed during that time are intense and make up for a connection much deeper than a merely superficial one. Living in Pepel and interacting with the community on a daily basis were in fact a precious experience. - Not everything worked out they way we wished, so there was a lot of learning and frustration involved, but certainly this is something that will almost inevitably occur in such a complex process.

As students of architecture working on a building from the first line on the paper to a physical entity is an incredibly rewarding process. But it cannot be stressed enough: the main goal always has been – and must be – the long-term benefit of the village. While our immediate gain can already be measured by the memories we hold dearly, it is a much bigger task to evaluate the impact the Senior Secondary School has on Pepel. We are optimistic, after all there is a new building dedicated to providing education for the youth of Pepel. However, one should not let go at this point and just hope for the best. Our responsibility and involvement run deeper than that. We are committed to following the fate of the building even now and stay in touch with the community.  - Hence as the rainy season is almost over now, two of us will return to Sierra Leone to evaluate the School as it stands and to correct possible problems. We would want to do even much more than that: the bigger tasks of plastering the school and putting screed on the floor are still outstanding, as well as the furniture for the classrooms and the teacher’s room.

To create an impact bigger than the single project with a benefit wider than the village we also stay dedicated to promoting the use bamboo in the country. Therefore upon return to the village we are looking forward to evaluating more ways on how to achieve a preservation of bamboo. The smoking oven that was built by us is a very sophisticated technique that is not feasible for a small-scale project. We are striving to treat bamboo with borax and boric acid, a technique that is well-established in many projects.

For all of this of course we need funds. As the money is short right now, we kindly ask you all to support us and our partner forikolo e.V. in advancing the project further and considering a donation, whatever you can give, everything helps.

https://www.betterplace.org/de/projects/68932-spende-fur-einen-schulbau-in-pepel-sierra-leone

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Days 51-60 and Departure.

A few weeks have passed since the last update from Pepel. This post will sum up the final steps that took place on the construction site in April before the last member of our team left the site. - The last days in Pepel certainly were the most stressful ones we had in the time that we have spent there. The time pressure could really be felt, as the departure date approached quickly. Even though our team was gradually getting smaller over time, we managed to achieve a lot in these final moments. The collective effort drained a lot of energy from everyone involved, the students and the local site crew but the result was rewarding. Unfortunately, illness also struck our camp, so that we were indeed reaching our physical limits.

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Day 51 (Sunday), 7.4.2019 – The last classroom receives its final bamboo culms so that it stands ready for the ventilation layer made from bamboo mattes.

Day 52, 8.4.2019 – A larger batch of students flies out from the airport in Lungi, reducing us only about half a dozen remaining members of the team. It was a busy day with the first wall to be plastered in accordance with the recipe that had been developed in advance. A mixture that includes hydrated lime and sand from Lungi (which provides a much finer graining as the coarse sand that is coming from the mines of the North. Moreover, the colour is pleasing in its lightness that is by far easier to blend with the lime as the orange hue) as their main components.

Day 53, 9.4.2019 – The roofing is now the biggest remaining piece of work left and means that everyone is helping together to cover the rooms that have not been cladded so far, beginning with the niches.

Day 54, 10.4.2019 – In a concentrated effort the remaining workforce is focusing in bringing the remaining roofs to a finish.

Day 55, 11.4.2019 – As not enough roofing sheets have been delivered, we realize that we need additional ones to finish the work urgently. In a last minute effort to secure the supply, the local representatives of the community are asked for help to deliver the sheets by boat from Freetown, however an agreement can not be struck, meaning another boat crew is contracted to bring the sheets from the warehouse in Freetown to the jetty in Pepel.

Day 56, 12.4.2019 – As we have already extended our stay by more than a week our departure is nearing, and the outstanding work is still demanding, the roofs have not been finished, the teacher’s room is still lacking the missing roofing sheets. The crunch time leaves everyone tired and it is clear that our last resources of impetus are almost finished. However in the evening the sheets arrive by boat and some progress is made with the plastering.

Day 57, 13.4.2019 –As the final steps of the roofing of the last room take place, a technical handover of the project is executed with Klaas, the representative of Forikolo and the local workers. All the remaining areas were dealt with in order to give the most comprehensive handover possible and to ensure that when our team from Technical University of Munich has left the site the local community is well equipped to finish the building. As the roofing was finished during the day, all  the major building elements - foundation, walls and roof – have been put in place, so that the school will withstand the rainy season which leaves us delighted. Yet the project is far from being completed and important works still have to be executed. Though as the funds have been used up, the plaster, the screed and the furniture have yet to be completed. We hope that the money for these steps can be fundraised as soon as possible.

Day 58 (Sunday), 14.4.2019 – Official Last Day / Handover Ceremony – As the technical handover had been executed the previous day, this Sunday is the day for the official handover ceremony. Honourable Abu Mansaray ispresent and everyone who participated in the building process in any way (from the ladies fetching the water to the welders to the concrete crew to the masons and many more) is awarded a certificate. This amounts to more than 200 people overall, which of course the high level of involvement of the community. As everyone gathers under the roof of the hall, it is overwhelming to see everyone, and a sense of solemnity is palpable. It is clear also that our departure is imminent, so we use this opportunity to thank everyone involved and say goodbye. After the ceremony is over the fact that our time in Pepel is finally coming to an end really resonates with the group and despite our physical exhaustion a certain degree of sadness that we will leave this village takes hold.

Day 59, 15.4.2019 – Wrapping up - Our departure is organized bit by bit and we collect the tools to be left with forikolo and a final clean-up takes place. By now the rooms in which 20 people have slept during the peak times are almost empty and we are down to seven people on the ground. It is painful to say goodbye to everyone and to leave despite the school not being finished. However as the work has reached a point where we can see it will survive the rainy season our biggest worries are alleviated.

Day 60 – Last Man Standing As everyone had left the previous days, Alex is the last man to stay behind in Pepel! He can not be credited enough. In a herculean effort he manages to get all the doors in place and mount them to the fixtures only a few hours before his flight will leave Lungi International airport. This incredible dedication shows his earnest pursuit and helped to get a major step done. As he finished work and paid his visit to the town, he is the last member of our team to leave Pepel. However, we are determined to come back and to uphold our strong ties with the community and to take a stake in the fate of the school as it grows. 

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Day 50 – Cleaning Day II / Roofing

Due to Cleaning Day a general prohibition of any work is issued by the government which translates to a standstill of the work on the site, as any violation of the ban may have serious consequences.

The involuntary break gives everyone the possibility to unwind a little and enjoy a relaxed morning. The first group of students is leaving the site today, as the official building time has elapsed and the end of the construction activities by TUM students is approaching. 

As the cladding is about to be finished on the library, the first rafters are being mounted in the last classroom. With the usual routine of work after the ring beam is stripped of its formwork the columns are set up in the rear and in the front. Furthermore the preparations for all the remaining rooms can happen as all of them have now reached the final height and are ready for the bamboo construction.

It becomes increasingly clear that with a constantly reducing amount of people on site and the last group of students leaving in the very near future, the next week of the construction is crucial if the goal of finishing the roofing is to be upheld.  

- 06.04.2019

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Day 49 - Last ring beam concreted

In a follow-up to yesterday’s last brick, today was the last time that any action happened concerning the ring beam. In long push, the formwork that had been fixed yesterday and in the morning was filled with concrete in the evening. With a reduced labour force it represented not at all a small task that however was tackled with a very large degree of motivation as again the completion of all remaining concreting on the main structure was well in sight. The action focused on two areas, the staff room and the second learning area and hence followed the order that had already been pursued during the finalization of the masonry. 

The mixture different from the previous batches of concrete and there was a minor incident which saw the formwork break under load, that luckily could be fixed quickly and without any consequences. 

Professor Kaufmann left the site today as he had to return to his office duties. Christoph joined him and left Pepel after three weeks on the ground. 

- 05.04.2019

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Day 48 - Last Block / Celebration

In a very emotional moment not only for the masons, the last of more than 40.000 bricks was laid in the second learning area today. This amounts to a huge achievement, as it symbolizes the formal completion of the masonry work on the walls. In a joyful atmosphere all the remaining masons joined the last wall and pushed towards the final block with great speed and diligence. With pride and happiness they finished the last course bit by bit, as they were cheered on. The overall mass of fired bricks that was used is vast and it is incredible to know that they were all touched multiple times by multiple people each in a collective effort to bring the walls to the desired height.

In the evening this important step was celebrated with an exuberant party. The event included speeches by all members of all the different crews. The bamboo cutting and oven crew performed a literally flamboyant show that was meant to symbolize their aptitude in controlling the fire that was an impressive display of their skill. Another highlight was a little play that was prepared to show the benefits of the bamboo construction which included a small-size model. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to show our gratitude for the great collaboration that has developed on site and to express our pride and happiness with the current status of the building.

Needless to say a lot of dancing and music took place afterwards. It was the first time that a larger crowd populated the courtyard and it was indeed a priceless sensation to witness the building to be occupied and used. After a year of planning and speculation it was touching to witness how naturally everyone interacted in the classrooms and the adjacent verandah. More than anything this showed how far the site had progressed as the building came into use. In a sense all of our efforts culminated in these moments of joy.

- 04.04.2019

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Day 47 - Bricks in supply

As the brick production finally caught up with the demand a good load of bricks arrived twice today. With these deliveries a completion of the brickwork by tomorrow seems perfectly sensible. When all the walls are brought to the final height the ring beam can be concreted afterwards which is in turn the necessary step to accomplish any of the remaining roofs. As the rainy season will strike next month, it is highly needed to close of the envelope of the building. It is our goal to achieve this as the minimum requirement before leaving Sierra Leone. We want to handover the project in a state which will withstand the heavy weather and last throughout. Hence we are very happy to be able to foresee that the end of the masonry is in sight now. Furthermore the work on the roofing of the library and the third classroom continued.

- 03.04.2019

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Day 46 - Rain/Arrival of Prof. Kaufmann

In the late evening we were surprised by rain, about more than a month early as the rainy season is not due to start mid-May normally. While our camp was literally flooded we were worried as to the effects of the weather on the construction site as no preparations had been taken. In the night it was already clear that no serious harm effected the structure and the roofs did exactly what they should and protected the building. This was taken with great relief and optimism as it proofed that the concept were not only valid in theory but practice as well. So the first rain drops in the year were the litmus test for the school and it passed.

In the morning as another inspection took place in the daylight it yielded the same result, and the fresh air provided a little cool that was well needed.

So after the rainfall a normal day of work proceeded with work mainly focusing on the completion of the third class room and the library.

In a great achievement the last of the bamboo elements were finished today which brought the production at the rig to an end after nearly 4 weeks of continuous efforts.

 In the official final week of the project our Professor, Hermann Kaufmann took time out of his busy schedule to visit us on site in Pepel. It was truly energizing to see his commitment and dedication to our work and to receive him in Sierra Leone with the highest level of motivation. He made his way to our camp with Hon. Abu Mansaray. His arrival was met with anticipation of the students and a joyful atmosphere.  

- 02.04.2019

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Day 45 - Starting the library

Going into the final week every single of the remaining days counts and there is a certain tension as to whether or not it is achievable to finish the main construction in time. Though more than before, this makes everyone eager to give their very best to reach this goal.

The final beams for the library could not be assembled due to a bamboo shortage related to the oven fire before. Today finally it was possible to start the work here today, by preparing the openings for the beams and using concrete to level them accordingly, which will enable us to put in the beams on top.

Meanwhile the work continued on the third class room by putting up the bamboo construction even further.

The oven went into normal production mode after the break of the last days which will ensure that all the rafters can be produced in time for all of the roofs to be finished.

- 01.04.2019

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Day 44 - Delays

As yesterday’s strains took a toll on the overall resources of the team it was a day on which we worked with a reduced number of students on the site,

In many ways it was an unlucky day, since despite the bamboo oven being intact and ready to be fired for the first time after some early morning preparation it did not go into operation.

The bamboo workers went on strike to protest for different work conditions, which could only be settled after an intervention of Hon. Abu Mansaray and the local chief. It took a considerable time for the conflict to calm down and it was a gesture of sincere concern. As the money from Germany was delayed so was the payment which was the source of the problem.

As the situation developed the normal execution of the work was affected naturally. Furthermore the truck’s front tyre broke due to the condition of the road leading up to Pepel which will affect all deliveries that are scheduled for tomorrow such as bricks. As the truck had loaded a batch of bricks work can continue tomorrow but then a pause will occur. It has been arranged for the truck to be fixed as quickly as possible but no one can say confidently how long this may take.

So despite the great success of yesterday’s reassembly of the oven things look less bright today.

Though the construction continues always in the best way possible and if shortages in material occur other works, such as the toilet are happening in the meanwhile. It is clear however that the main elements of the work flow such as the masonry cannot be replaced or delayed without an impact on the final date of completion.

- 31.03.2019

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Day 43 - Fire at the oven

In a truly tragic dramatic turn of events a giant blaze took the oven in the late night. As we arrived on the site at around 1AM, the fire had already destroyed the structure inevitably and burned it down to the ground. It is now assumed that in fact the embers were not extinguished properly before leaving the site, and therefore the fire ignited itself again at about midnight. The brave men who were woken up by the night guard, reacted immediately. They realised quickly that there was no hope of saving the oven any longer and instead focused on containing the fire. With long bamboo sticks they ensured that the fire did not extend to the bamboo storage or worse even the main structure. They were able to contain the fire until the final collapse of the tower. The rubble and remnants of the structure were removed in the night still in order not to create a place for the heat to remain. The fire and smoke were incredibly and the shock facing the devastation was big. It was hard to estimate the damage at first, but it was clear that the tower of the oven was lost, however not the fireplace itself.

Hence in the night still it was agreed to rebuild the oven as quickly as possible, as there were no other chances of treating the remaining bamboo in both a lasting and efficient way. It was clear that this will be a huge challenge, but as this unforeseen disaster struck we were left with no choice.

After a brief night in the early hours of the morning, we still found a pit full of smouldering embers that we put out accordingly. After a comprehensive cleaning, no time was lost in the reassembly of a new oven. In a gargantuan effort under high pressure a new tower was assembled in a single day (which had taken a week the first time that it was done) and even set up. It was a wonderful example of teamwork at its best. After a sobering wake up, it was clear that everyone was committed to give their best to tackle the consequences that arouse from this setback. A time delay in the preparation of the bamboo is inevitable of course and the consequences of the night time fire will be felt.

Then again it was remarkable how this joined us as team as it became clear that without a coordinated effort we will not succeed.  In the same spirit the work in all other sectors continued despite the fact that many were working on the bamboo tower meanwhile.  As the new tower stood in the place of the old, less than 24 hours after it had burned down, a sense of pride and accomplishment prevailed and that hopefully can be invoked in the days to come when it will be stressful again.

Video courtesy of Abu Bakar G. Kamara, sometimes people call him discipline

“Fire has no friend!”

 -30.03.2019

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Day 42 - Hot Bricks II

Another batch of bricks arrived as a hot load today as the truck arrived. Hence the anticipated spark in the production of the bricks that was pursuit with both an increase in manpower (as some men from Pepel were sent to the brick site at Mathen to support the team in place) and a different approach came to fruition and translated to an increase in material on the site. These bricks are urgently needed to complete the final rooms as the masons are working with an increased speed and motivation.  It is hoped to complete the masonry by Wednesday next week, April 3rd, in order to have enough time to complete the roofing before our team is leaving the site. That means that on average 2,500 bricks are to be used daily to reach this goal. Any delay in material will translate to an overall delay. This rises the level of stress among the team but to have this clear goal in mind helps to focus on the work ahead. The dependency on the material is of course not ideal, but as according steps have been taken to speed up the production, we are confident to achieve the goal. 

- 29.03.2019

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Day 41 - Normal brickwork

It remained a busy day throughout, as due to a normal supply of bricks the masonry could continue with the speed that is necessary in order to reach the goal of finishing the walls in time so that all important works can be finished before our delegation leaves back to Germany. The work is now focusing on the Northern parts of the plot with a focus on the second learning area, the Northernmost class room (street facing) and the staff room.

The strains of the past weeks of continued work begin to show as the group is more and more worn down and the motivation and dedication is temporarily on the decline. However this does not hamper with the work, as all activities continue with the usual energy despite this.

As the oven has been in constant use during the past weeks it was renovated with new zinc sheets as the old ones had received holes from the constant exposure to the heat, the oven team is motivated that these reparations will make the oven much stronger and hence last longer. 

- 28.03.19