UNs definition of shelter is a habitable covered living space providing a secure and healthy living environment with privacy and dignity. PHOTo/courtesy/ Habitat for Humanity Uganda
As human beings we come inbuilt with the need for survival. This is a good thing as it has helped our species evade extinction and literally find our way at the top of the “food chain” even when we are not the strongest or fasted of animals.
Unfortunately, in many cases this has worked against us and our better judgement. We are taking many decisions on the need to survive and neglecting other critical aspects of our existence.
When embarking on a construction project, I want us to first pause and realize that one has most likely conquered their basic need for survival that is food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, education, and healthcare.
The shelter referred to when we talk of basic needs, is basic shelter. The UNs definition of shelter is a habitable covered living space providing a secure and healthy living environment with privacy and dignity.
Doesn’t say expensive or permanent.
It is no longer a basic need if you can put aside millions of monies towards this development. This applies to any construction so to speak whether commercial, industrial, private development, residential; lumpsum or phased funding etc.
You are no longer in danger; your thinking has to evolve to long term too otherwise you can find yourself back in a bad place by unnecessarily exposing yourself and your investments to risk.
You need to pause and realize that you have moved away from your basic need to survive, accept, and embrace your new level. Change your mindset too from survival to adopt principles of resilient construction.
Resilient construction is founded on 10 pillars or principles namely, Robustness, Energy efficiency, Functionality, Aesthetics, People, Adverse weather, Environmental & Social safeguards, Adaptable to change and Draws Inspirations from nature & surrounding.
“When shelter is no longer a basic need, you need to think resilience to protect yourself and your investment from risks”.
Buildings don’t have to collapse for us to get the wakeup call to think resilience. Simply put, it is first your responsibility as the owner or developer to ensure you protect yourself from the eminent risk that lies ahead and threatens your hard-earned monies. In the wrong hands, you will lose part or all your money in form of failed projects.
I have personally had experience with friends who approach me only when the project has gone wrong or sometimes face the pain of living with these construction mistakes for the rest of their lives. For the average person, you may not have the kind of money for a redo. This may be a once in a lifetime so you will need to get it right from the very first time. Demolitions and rework are expensive, engineering professionals are NOT.
Avoiding professionals does not guarantee you a cheaper project. It only exposes you to risk.
Your favourite Fundi can only optimally perform within his knowledge limits and experiences. In order to get the best results from your favorite Fundi you, you need to support him or her by pairing them with the right professionals.
Most Fundi’s have learnt the trade on job and informal apprenticeship, there is always a danger of carrying forward wrong or poor practices with them until a catastrophe strikes (Talk of experience in doing the wrong thing).
One of the biggest problems we are facing in this sector at the moment is that a lot of well-meaning people out there taking on massive construction projects but approaching cost saving the wrong way.
Cost saving comes with other compromises and without proper guidance and caution can turn catastrophic.
There was a video recently circulating on social media of a boundary wall being swept away by floods in a Kampala suburb and I could hear voices in the background shouting “Fake Engineers”, and sadly I was agreeing with them.
The “Yinginia’s” may mean well but they cannot work independently; we all need to understand this.
Engineering professionals are passionate about their work; money is really a secondary benefit as we want to give you a good product first.
The writer, Diannah Aanyu, is a construction Engineer, Project manager
