Building in Mexico

[jwv]

Here's a link to a very detailed description with lots of pictures of building a 4 unit "condo" for a family in Lerdo, MX.  Those who have traveled in Mexico will recognize the building style, materials and Oh, how they love colors.  Hope you enjoy it!  There is just so much to think about as you look at the pictures.

When was the last time you saw anyone carry a bucket of concrete on his head?

http://www.rollybrook.com/building_directory.htm

Judy

Amanda, didn't you live in Mexico for awhile?

[Amanda_931]

Played Anthropologist there one summer--80 miles or so west of Tampico.  45 minutes walk away from the nearest motor vehicle.  4 hours by horseback from the county seat.  Chosen because there were four or five different ethnic groups within the "county."

[Amanda_931]

I can't get that sweetie to open.

No concrete, no sawn logs.  And unfortunately I don't remember exactly how houses were built.  Roofing was corrugated iron, probably brought in on mule-back (the nearest motor vehicle was a tractor--sometimes fuel had to be brought across a river for it on horse- or mule-back.

Lime--for tortillas--was also brought in on horseback in 50 pound bags.  Clearly marked "not for human consumption."

Not your stereotypical Mexican desert at all.

But every place else I went was concrete Ixmiquilpan, Jalapa, Mexico City.  Not to mention sleeping in the "camper" setup in a pass somewhere in the north beside a small truck stop.  The place seemed to be called "Las Culebras"--The Snakes.

[jwv]

These are actually nice places-4 apartments/condos, 2 on first floor, 2 on second floor. Cement construction, tile, lots of sweat work, cervezas and taquitos.  Sorry it won't open.

Amanda, I'd love to hear all your stories sometime-if you ever get to Tucson...

Judy

[JRR]

Judy,

Very enjoyable site.  Thanks for the link-up.

I didn't do the math but it seems the columns are over-reinforced.  It surprises me that this would be done in a seismic active area.  Normally you would want the re-bar to fail before the concrete ... as the re-bar will "yield" before breaking whereas the concrete will fail abruptly without warning.

Once again, I'm just guessing about the "over-reinforcement" ... I'm certainly no expert ... could be that the brick walls are to be considered in the calculations also.

I'm sure these folks know much more than me about the subject.

[Amanda_931]

Ha.  It opened without any problems today.  I don't know what was going on.

Kind of looks like what they do in the CNMI.  Although no bricks.  Plenty concrete, though.

I've got to let Mr. C. B. Barker (should give you some idea of his species) out for a run.  Back in a bit.

[mark_chenail]

Now that was a fascinating site.  Sure wish there were more like it.  A really nice clean simple design and you cant beat the cost.  Shame we dont do similar things in urban areas of the United States.   Wish they had some video of those concrete guys carrying the loads on their heads.  I cant IMAGINE doing that.  Talk about grueling backbreaking work.  Can you imagine asking an american construction laborer to carry a bucket of concrete on his head up two ladders.  Oh the language.........  

[glenn-k]

Interesting site -- It reminds me of my times in Mexico.  Lots of good people in old Mexico.

The country people are much like in this site.  The big cities have business people much as you would find here.

I was nearly always treated well there -- In the village of Ocoroni where we did the clinic the children led me around and kept me out of trouble protecting me from overzealous law people and rowdy young men who may have liked to give me a bit of trouble.  The doctors called me the pied piper as I always had a following -- (or was I following--?) of about 20 to 30 regulars and around 200 to 600 drop in kids.  Lupita was the ringleader and definite boss.  She was very smart and always trying to make deals with me to bring them back stuff on the next trip.  She once got me to bring a whole bunch of used roller skates.