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Affordable housing is one of the focus areas in the project portfolio of the Hilti Foundation. Sustainability, efficiency, innovation and

direct involvement of our beneficiaries to improve their living condi-tions through their own efforts are the key principles of our work.

One of the projects in this area is Base Bahay, a bamboo construction initia-tive founded in 2013. This project aims to counter the housing shortage in the Philippines, where approximately 1.5 million households lack affordable ho-mes. Bamboo is an ideal solution: the material is much eco-friendlier than

steel and concrete, and the houses tend to have much greater resistance to natural disasters, such as earthqua-kes and typhoons. In addition, Base Bahay also creates jobs for the local population. Here are a few impressions of the project.

BASE BUILDS – CONSTRUCTING WITH BAMBOO

MANILA, PHILIPPINESPARTNER: BASE BUILDS

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Fast growing resourceNothing on earth grows faster than bamboo. This plant has more than 1,600 species, several of which can grow as much as three meters a day. The bamboo stem hardens over time and after a period of three to five years, it has achieved a level of re-sistance that rivals that of hardwoods. Bamboo stalks are almost unbreaka-ble, flexible, weather-resistant and

lightweight and hollow. All these cha-racteristics makes Bamboo the ideal insulating material.

This all works for those area, where Bamboo thrives best: in tropical and subtropical climates. where it can en-joy plenty of warmth, light, rain and nourishment to help it grow tall and strong. In tests the bamboo-houses endured typhoons – concrete houses however, collapsed.

Bamboo creates workJohnny Deguzmann used to pass the Bamboo plant carless, without giving it a second thought. It grows as wild in the Philippines as stinging-nettle around here. Now the plant is providing him with work and some extra money. Five to six times striking out with his machete is necessary, until the Bamboo falls onto the ground. An agricultural worker like Johnny harvests several dozen bamboo stalks a day.

Uniformity is essential. In a close by factory, the bamboo stalks are cap-ped to a height of 2.40 meters and stained. A drill through the stem enab-les to inject the wood preservative. This treatment is essential to protect the

material against insects and mold. Put in a wooden framework and they are ready to use as a housing wall later.Poor people’s wood?Carpenter Hazem Fadrigo manages the construction site in the Iloilo sett-lement. When he first heard that the houses would be built of bamboo, he thought: „That’s not going to work.“ In the Philippines, bamboo is considered the „poor people’s wood“ and anyone who can afford it builds houses from concrete. But Fadrigo’s opinion has ch-anged: „European engineering quality combined with the traditional Philippi-ne building material, this combination is the best of both worlds!“ says the tradesman.

Although many Filipinos have a roof over their heads, neither the house nor the land belongs to them. They are of-ten threatened with eviction, which me-ans that they and their children must live literally on the streets.

Communities of hopeIloilo is an hour’s flight from Manila and has approximately 600’000 resi-dents, a quarter of whom live in slums. Partnerships with local institutions are crucial for the acceptance of a pro-ject on site. Base Bahay collaborates with, among others, the Homeless Peo-ple’s Federation of the Philippines, a self-help organization for people who do not have a permanent residence. To date, about 70,000 people have be-nefited from the organization’s help.

Two girls observe the construction of a new house, where they will soon live together with their family. To own a house means to have a home and provides an atmosphere of safety and comfort for parents and their children. Currently, about 50 bamboo houses are being built on the outskirts of Iloilo. Base Bahay was the only organization to decide that the poor should enjoy the same safety standards as the we-althy.

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A better future The bamboo houses are generally single-story, small and simple. Bamboo stalks are visible only from inside the house, the outside is plastered. They cost roughly €5,000, of which the re-sidents must make a down payment of about €300. The remainder is paid off over time, with donations helping to finance part of the cost.

The new owners receive a deed that allows them to register with the po-lice and apply for an electricity supply. The ability to provide a real address is life-changing for most families, as it marks the start of social advancement into a society.

A happy ending for the Dural familyThis dream recently has become true for the family Dural. They just moved into a bamboo house on the edge of the city, in a green valley nearby. It may not be that big, say the parents, but it’s their own house. To them, this represents a dream come true and the hope that their daughters will have a better life.

Family Dural can hardly believe her good luck. „We are really happy and eternally grateful,“ says the young mo-ther. Her family was among the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which stormed across the island in 2013.

Today, the Durals live in a bamboo settlement near the city of Tacloban. The settlement“s name is Community of Hope and it consists of about 60 bam-boo houses painted in pastel colors. The Durals“ house, number 12, is purple and the family is visibly happy with the light-filled, airy rooms. The settlement sits in a green valley surrounded by gently rolling hills.

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World’s capitol of the homelessThere is no place on earth with a grea-ter need for decent housing than Mani-la. The capitol of the Philippines and at the same time the world-capitol of ho-melessness. Approximately five million men, women and children sleep under bridges, creep under plastic canvas or dwell in poor huts.

The family of Rebecca Bargan lives in Patayas, Manilas largest slum. It is hot and muggy in the dark barrack, three persons share one small room. Water leaks through the roof whenever it rains and the walls threaten to collapse in a storm. Any loud noises in the night could herald the approach of the po-lice. „Our sincerest wish is to have our own, sturdy house,“ says Rebecca.

She is now one step closer to this dre-am. When she heard that a small sett-lement of bamboo houses was being built at the edge of the slums, she im-mediately applied to buy one. We hope, that the dream of a house comes true for many Philippine families such as the Durals and Bargans.

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Manila, Philippines

Project partner: Base Buildswww.base-builds.com

Contact: Isabel Fehr, Communicationsisabel.fehr@hilti.comT +423 234 21 99

Facts & FiguresThe Hilti Foundation was established in 1996 as a charitable organization by the Martin Hilti Family Trust. Since 2007, the Hilti Foundation has been a joint institution of the Martin Hilti Fa-mily Trust and the Hilti Group, which contributes two percent of the annual consolidated earnings to the Founda-tion’s budget.

Our slogan „We build a better future” underlines the fact that the Foundation supports activities and projects focu-sing on social development, education and science around the globe. The Hilti Foundation wants to empower people to lead a better, autonomous and inde-pendent life.