Architecture and Health

     On my last day in Bangladesh this past trip, I sat with the director and some of the other higher-ups in the NGO I visited, and we talked about my trip, what I learned and what my ideas for the future of my project were. At that point it wasn't quite clear in my mind where I could take my research further since what I learned wasn't exactly what I expected, and the problems I saw didn't require an architecturally based doctoral thesis to fix.
     They really tried to impress on me that if I wanted to work with them further, that I should keep in mind that they focus on health, economic and family issues, not building construction. I guess I could take my (as yet undefined) building ideas and go elsewhere, but during our conversation, the issues I brought up of what I observed made us both realize that there is a common link that we share: Architecture and Health. How are the conditions of rural housing directly affecting the inhabitants physical and mental health? What can be done to improve their housing conditions in a economically sustainable way?

 Thin leaf walls, the only protection against
the cold,wind, and rain

     During my last two trips to Bangladesh, I only stayed 2 weeks, and at both times, the weather was reasonable. I avoided the monsoon in the summer and the cold weather they have in the winter, and the extreme heat they have in between. So, there was no first hand observation of how villagers lived or what health issues came up during these times. When I asked them how what they did under bad weather situations, they said they used thick jute blankets in winter, stayed inside mostly when it rained, and the heat just seemed to be something they lived with. Only one older woman complained the cold gave her arthritic type symptoms, and when that came up, other women admitted their kids had bad colds as well. But still, it was hard to judge the extent to which people were suffering, especially because no one seemed to complain.

Mold found on the exterior of the foundation

     Most of the villagers had been working with at least one NGO, and thus had access to clean sources of water and latrines. But still, I saw examples of a latrine that was built within two feet of pond, and could potentially contaminate it; leaky roofs; thin walls that couldn't possibly guard against the cold; farm animals and their fecal matter living in the same building as their owners; enclosed smoke-filled cooking areas that could cause eye and lung damage; suspicious green mold on the courtyard floor and exterior walls of houses.
     I'm thinking further study would have to include medical professionals to observe what illnesses arise, and to test if there is a connection between building materials or building conditions and people's health concerns. Are there particulate matters in the air that come from the materials or from smoke inhalation? What serious health concerns are associated with having a cow defecate and urinate in the same living quarters as their owners? How can walls be better insulated in an economically sustainable way, when the level of resources is next to nothing? 
     At this point, I have more questions than answers. But isn't that always the case? At least I feel I'm moving in the right direction.