World Habitat Awards: Preventing Typhoon Damage to Housing in Central Viet Nam

In October 2008 Development Workshop France (DWF) was presented with the World Habitat Award in recognition of its Preventing Typhoon Damage to Housing in Central Viet Nam programme. This short film outlines the main features of the programme and the international study visit that took place in May 2008. Organised by the Building and Social Housing Foundation, the international study visit bought together a diverse group of 24 housing practitioners from 16 countries with a view to sharing, transferring and learning about DWF's innovative approach to reduce the impact of typhoons and flooding on people's lives. The programme has worked over many years with families and local governments in Viet Nam to apply key principles of safe storm and flood resistant construction, both to existing and new homes, as well as to community buildings. Over 1,300 cyclone-resistant houses have been provided to date through the programme, with many other households choosing to use the construction techniques. Communicating these basic principles to local people is an important part of the programme. The building techniques are now being progressively adopted by local and provincial governments, as well as other NGOs and agencies, both in Viet Nam and Indonesia. For further information please visit the World Habitat Awards Website at www.worldhabitatawards.org