Eco construction & Maintenance

The Eco-Construction and Maintenance (EC&M) Department is responsible for the upkeep and expansion of the project site and our buildings. This requires the regular repair and maintenance of the project buildings and services, including the houses, irrigation line. The line needs cleaning and on occasions dams and other structural improvements to the system need to be made.

The EC&M Coordinator is also responsible for the initiation and implementation of new works for infrastructure and research purposes. In all cases a mixture of traditional and ecological building methods and materials are used.

In addition the Eco-Construction coordinator/s are committed to new innovation on the project, so encourage volunteers to come with an idea of the work they hope to achieve.

What we did during the last months?

AUTUMN 2011
Winter proofing of the houses: windows, doors, etc…
Working on the washing area and new shower; using recycled and reclaimed materials such as bottles, tiles, etc…
Building a stand for Sunseed made out of agave wood.
Revamp Gaye´s houses library and installing a stove.
Building efficient stove low wood consumption, as ones used in Tanzania project, for the 25 Anniversary.
Working with volunteer Johan.

Agave wood stand - stand de madera de pita

Winter proofing doors - Mejora del aislamiento

Efficient African Stove - Estufa eficiente 25 aniversario

New shower washing area - Nueva ducha y lavadero

What's going on next month?

WINTER 2011-2012
Revamping and improving Sunseed main house:
Designing of the spaces between all staff and volunteers.
Creating a study area: building benches with recycled/ reclaimed wood, building shelves.
Installing a stove in the office
Painting and decorating.
Repairing main house floor.
Painting, decorating and refurbish Geoff house.
Making cupboard doors, shelves.

Eco-construction Co-ordinator

Leonardo Alvárez Pinel leonardoalvarezpinel.blogspot.com

I was born in Oliva ( Valencia ) in Spain. I studied Arquitecture Design, Photoshop 3D and 2D.

After studying I continued working as a self-employee builder and tiller in Spain. I then decided to move to Liverpool, where I began to work with recycle wood.

In Liverpool I worked for TAO (an Art Organization) as maintenance and in Kazimier (a Collective Performance Company) building spaces for the venues in the local.

One of the my best experiences was working with Kazimier www.thekazimier.co.uk where I discovered my abilities to source building materials from rubbish, using then to built eco green house bed sits for Tracy Lewis www.tracylewis.co.uk , another artist from Liverpool.

My aim is the 3R: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.