Base Bahay Foundation

Affordable Housing & Technology
Written By Fritz Hanselmann

Over the past 25 years, disasters caused by natural hazards have claimed 1.3 million lives[1] and caused tremendous damage around the world.

Peru has experienced earthquakes, the Philippines have seen more volcanic activity, Bangladesh is frequently flooded, and typhoons continue to hit Indonesia. Disasters can affect any country and those living in inadequate housing conditions are often the hardest hit. By 2035, the number of families living in substandard housing is expected to double to 3 billion. Helping to make houses safe and resilient to future disasters will help protect lives and livelihoods.

Project description

Base Bahay Foundation - Affordable Housing & Technology - Hilti Foundation

The Cement Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT) has been developed by the Hilti Foundation. It is a disaster-resistant and ecological building technology for social housing which uses bamboo as its sole structural element. BASE Bahay, an initiative founded by the Hilti Foundation, has used this technology to build almost 800 homes for families in need across the Philippines. CBFT has also helped local farmers establish strong businesses as they contribute to the supply chain of treated bamboo poles. The BASE Innovation Center (which opened in 2020) serves as a research and training hub for CBFT as well as for other safe and affordable housing products from a range of regional developers. BASE takes an active role in promoting the use of its technology both by developers and government institutions.

Project objectives

  • Providing sustainable housing technology made from bamboo to builders and developers

  • Engaging in continuous research and developing better solutions for affordable housing

  • Creating employment and supporting local businesses by establishing value and supply chains

 Impact

  • Almost 1,000 already inhabited homes have survived numerous natural disasters

  • A sustainable supply chain for treated bamboo has been developed which provides regular jobs and incomes to hundreds of families

  • Habitat for Humanity has used BASE technology to build 10,000 homes in the Philippines

  • The technology is AITECH-accredited and costs less than a conventional house

 
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[1] World Bank, 2019

Fritz Hanselmann
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