Past editions

Guatemalan tile producers meet in Chimaltenango

2005-01-06T15:46:03+00:00

On the second Saturday of March, 19 representatives from different workshops in Guatemala met in Chimaltenango with Kurt Rhyner from Grupo Sofonias who was visiting Guatemala. One of the central points was the discussion of a recently finished clients survey, which shows that 92% of the customers are fully satisfied with their roof and only 2% would not use it again.

Las Mélidas hosts El Salvador producers meeting

2005-01-06T15:46:49+00:00

Two weeks after the meeting with Guatemala tile producrs, a similar meeting took place in San Salvador, at the headquarters of the womens association Las Mélidas. More than thirty people from seven workshops discussed their problems and successes and were able to benefit from the presence and wide experience of EcoSouth expert Kurt Rhyner.

The Andes through Caribbean eyes

2005-01-06T15:48:08+00:00

Fernando Martirena

The arrival at Guayaquil confused this traveler, who had expected to encounter Andean landscapes. Instead he encountered a strong costal accent, similar to what anyone would say of Caribbean cities. The high volume of construction made an impact, although the locals say that “this sector is somewhat low”.

Fernando Martirena with Ecuadorian professionals

2005-01-06T15:49:00+00:00

One of Ecosouth´s top expert, Dr.Prof. Fernando Martirena of CIDEM, was able to share his knowledge with various organizations in Ecuador. Not only professional organization of architects and engineers were able to take advantage of his visit to Ecuador, also various universities and professors.

Synergies in adobe project: women´s association and university students

2005-01-06T15:49:55+00:00

Swiss Workers´Aid and the national women´s association are promoting the construction of forty adobe (sun-dried clay bricks) houses in a small village in El Salvador. The architectural faculty of the National University is cooperating with the design and two students who are in charge of the onsite management. An EcoSur expert in clay construction visited the project together with a lecturer from the university and in intensive discussions it was possible to introduce several small improvement that will cut down costs without lowering safety standards.

News - April 2003

2005-01-06T15:50:50+00:00

Ecomaterials lecture at the College of Engineers
On March 7 Kurt Rhyner of Grupo Sofonias presented a lecture about ecomaterials at the Guatemalan College of Engineers. Around 150 people attended the event and afterwards many people from the College of Engineers, as well as the College of Architects and various student associations approached the Javier Quiñonez, research engineer and director of the Center for Engineering Investigation, to express their pleasure about the lecture of Dr. Rhyner and are interested in coming into contact with other people with similar ideas and to have similar presentations at their colleges and associations.

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A brickmaking village and a university research institute
This village of brickmakers nestled in the Andes produces almost all the burnt-clay bricks used in central Ecuador, and most of the brickmakers are women. Now, through EcoSouth in Ecuador, the villagers are developing synergies with CIDEM that would unite theory and practice. Through this program whereby the experiences of the villagers in brick production would be incorporated into investigations that CIDEM is carrying out about improving the eco-efficiency of clay bricks by taking advantage of modern scientific developments. According Fernando Martirena of CIDEM who visited the village: “Among the main objectives is to maintain tradition and preserve the environment.”