In the Grau and San Martín regions of northern Peru over two million people are vulnerable to disasters including those caused by floods, landslides and earthquakes. To alleviate this problem Practical Action introduced an improved building technology that it successfully employed in the Alto Mayo region of Peru called quincha mejorada.

Traditional quincha building technology results in a flexible structure with an inherent earthquake resistance. It has been used in parts of Peru for many centuries.

Traditionally, a quincha house would have a round pole set directly in the ground; infilled with smaller wooden poles and interwoven to form a matrix, which is then plastered with one or more layers of earth.

In May 1990 an earthquake struck the relatively isolated Alto Mayo region of northern Peru. It destroyed 3,000 houses. In the town of Soritor 90% of the houses were damaged or destroyed.

Practical Action worked closely with builders, householders and community organisations in Alto Mayo to introduce improved, earthquake resistant building technology - quincha mejorada.

Improved quincha had the following characteristics over and above traditional quincha:-

• Concrete foundations for greater stability.
• Wooden columns treated with tar or pitch to protect against humidity, concreted into the ground with nails embedded in the wood at the base to give extra anchorage.
• Using concrete wall bases to prevent humidity affecting the wood and the canes in the walls.
• Careful jointing between columns and beams to improve structural integrity.
• Canes woven in a vertical fashion to provide greater stability.
• Lightweight metal sheet roofing to reduce danger of falling tiles.
• Nailing roofing material to roof beams; tying of beams and columns with roof wires.
• Incorporating roof eaves of sufficient width to ensure protection of walls from heavy rains.

In April 1991 a second tremor hit the region damaging a further 9,600 homes.

The 70 improved quincha houses that had been built since May withstood the tremor so well that a further 4,000 houses were built together with several schools and community centres.

Today, knowledge of the design and building skills are so widespread in the local communities that Practical Action has been able to move on to new work.

Imagine living with the constant danger that you could lose your home at any time. With your help more people can benefit from improved quincha technology. Please donate what you can, or share this page with your friends via Facebook and Twitter.