CELEBRATING ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE

At All Hands and Hearts (AHAH), we are committed to supporting the unique needs of communities impacted by disasters. We arrive early to meet their immediate needs and stay late to support long-term recovery, such as rebuilding disaster-affected structures.

We firmly believe that post-disaster architecture is not just about constructing functional buildings; it’s about creating intentional spaces that empower communities to flourish and thrive.

Our commitment to thoughtful, innovative design was recognized within our Peru Earthquake Relief program for the Kindergarten rebuild in the earthquake-affected community of Villacuri. The prestigious Colegio Superior de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE) Architecture Awards selected Ander Bados, AHAH’s Senior Construction Manager, to receive the coveted Prize for Profession for Institucion Educativa Inicial 140 Kindergarten in Villacuri, Peru.

Ander, an accomplished architect, joined AHAH as a volunteer in 2017, contributing his expertise to rebuilding a school in Yapatera, Peru, devastated by the 8.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred in 2007. His passion and dedication were evident, and he quickly transitioned to a construction staff role. Since then, Ander has been an integral part of our Program Development Team, using his architectural knowledge to design disaster-resilient structures that cater to the unique needs and cultural practices of diverse communities.

At All Hands and Hearts, we are community-inspired. We take the time to listen and understand the people we work alongside, considering their traditions, practices and materials to create spaces that go above and beyond the functional. We recognize that buildings are not isolated entities but interconnected with their environments, and as such, our designs complement and reflect the communities they serve.

PERU EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

The 2007 earthquake caused widespread devastation across Peru. Numerous schools were damaged and posed significant risks to students and teachers. Our work at Institucion Educativa Inicial 140 Kindergarten aimed to address this pressing issue by reconstructing the school’s six classrooms, toilets, sun shelter, kitchen, office and water retention tank.  Through Ander’s leadership and architectural ingenuity, we provided a safe and secure learning environment that fosters the growth and development of the kindergarten’s young students.

The roof is a prime example of our innovative, community-inspired architecture; drawing from traditional building practices, Ander and the team devised a staggered two-roof design with space between the slabs for air circulation. This bioclimatic response proved highly effective, reducing the interior temperature by three degrees Celsius compared to the standard government-designed schools in the area. Moreover, community members were inspired by the success of this design and have started emulating it in their own home builds, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

OUR WORK AROUND THE WORLD

All Hands and Hearts has been helping to restore access to education in disaster-affected communities for 19 years. We approach each school rebuild project with creativity and a focus on creating engaging and inviting learning environments that enable students to thrive.

In our Nepal Earthquake Relief program, we put considerable effort into our school designs and not just the space within the four walls. We creatively design landscapes that provide resting spaces suitable for students of all ages. Playgrounds, volleyball courts and amphitheaters are just some of the features we incorporate to enhance the school’s overall environment and foster a positive learning experience.

Our 2022 project, Janaprabhat school, received a letter of gratitude from the local leaders not only for the building but also for the playground and environment we provided.

We work alongside communities to build back better. In rebuilding the Cri Cri school for our Mexico Earthquake Relief program, we collaborated with the government to execute a modification of the historical roof design to improve the structure’s ability to withstand earthquakes. 

For our 2023 Philippines Typhoon Relief program, our collaboration with local leaders and government enabled us to incorporate the United Nations (UN) recommendations for transitional construction into our design. Utilizing expert advice from the UN, AHAH built ten Transitional Learning Spaces (TLS) to fill the critical and immediate need to provide students with safe spaces to learn. We also invited the community into the decision-making process by asking for their input on using local materials for future maintenance and ultimately leveraging their invaluable knowledge.

Our program in the Philippines received accolades from the government and sparked ideas for future changes in governmental projects. In particular, government officials commended our work for the following:

•  Addressing the critical classroom shortages in the region by creating an environment that encourages students to return to school

• Stimulating the local economy through promoting the use of local materials and engaging the local workforce

• Building resilience to future disasters through design modifications such as flood and rot prevention measures, and reinforced roof structures to increase the lifespan.

COMMUNITY APPRECIATION

Carolina Castellet Ricoy, AHAH Program Development Recovery Manager, shares her thoughts on Ander’s achievement:

“Regarding the recent recognition of Ander’s award, I can proudly say that the entire Program Development Team is overjoyed with this achievement. However, it is equally heartwarming to receive letters of gratitude from the communities we serve. Their appreciation is just as important to us as an external award.”

Together, we will continue to build a better future for disaster-impacted communities, one resilient structure at a time.

Join us in celebrating the power of innovative architecture and its potential to transform lives and communities for the better.