Casa Llanta
Casa Llanta (El Carizal (6.6 kilometers south of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua) is a logical approach to building in rapidly developing nations like Nicaragua. The project employs local community members and educates them in the skills of sustainable building by utilizing readily available byproducts, such as tires and plastic bottles, in conjunction other local materials. The aim is to empower local Nicaraguans that live near the Casa Llanta community and create skills that will foster a healthy independence from economical fluctuations that might affect the basic needs of its members and while demonstrating to future developers that the cleanest water comes from the sky and the most reliable energy source is independent.
Through the development of this independent community, Casa Llanta will demonstrate that aside from the obvious securities of living “off grid,” the best development, and consequently the best investment, is one that invests in the local people and community.
The project employs local community members and educates them in the skills of sustainable building by utilizing readily available materials. In addition to their training, the local work crew is paid at, or slightly above, the wage typical of local construction workers. Through the construction of several homes, a local work force will develop skills in sustainable building that can be repeated throughout the local area for minimal costs. Revenue generated by the project will provide the local population with the more costly components of sustainable building, such as solar panels and water filtration systems, for community improvement projects.
This project will demonstrate safe and effective methods of rainwater catchment, grey and black water treatment, solar and wind energy, temperature regulation via thermal mass and passive solar design, as well as sustainable agriculture. Aside from the obvious economical securities of living off the grid, Casa Llanta will further demonstrate that the best development, and consequently the best investment, is one that invests in the local people and community.
Ongoing needs
Ongoing needs: tools, materials, and salaries for construction workers and engineers
